During Saturday morning’s general session at Fire-Rescue International in Atlanta, former IAFC President Chief Ronny Coleman presented the IAFC’s Award for Excellence to the San Ramon Valley (Calif.) Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) for its app, Fire Department (http://firedepartment.mobi). The location-aware app empowers citizens to provide life-saving assistance to victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Specifically, app users who have indicated they are trained in CPR can now be notified if someone nearby is having a cardiac emergency and may require CPR. The app also directs citizen rescuers to the exact location of the closest public access AED.
Co-sponsored by the IAFC and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies, the Award for Excellence recognizes innovations and achievements in managing resources to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and other emergencies. The award was conceived in 1989 by Chief Coleman, IAFC president 1988-1989, and sponsoring partner, Wayne Boyd, president of U.S. Safety Fire Technologies, which is changing its name to Global Safety.
