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Industry News
REGISTRATION NOWOPEN FOR FDSOA 2023 HEALTH AND SAFETYCONFERENCE
The Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Health and Safety Conference. The Health and Safety Conference will be held in conjunction with the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) Health and Wellness Symposium January 17-20, 2023, at the Tradewinds Island Grand in St Pete’s Beach, Florida. Pre-conference programs will be held January 15-16. Registration for the Apparatus Conference, held January 8-10, 2023, at the Gilbert Fire Academy in Gilbert, Arizona, will be available soon.
The FRCE has held successful cancer and behavioral health symposia over the last five years and aims to take a more holistic approach with this year’s event. Combining the two events provides for a more robust group of speakers and allows participants to attend both conferences for one great price.
There are other significant additions to the Health and Safety Conference in three co-sponsors. F.I.E.R.O., Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) and the Science Alliance, a new community of scientists and fire service professionals dedicated to improving the health and safety of first responders, have all signed on as sponsors of the event to participate in some way and expand the reach of the conference.
As firefighter health and safety has become a topic at the forefront of the fire service, including these organizations expands our pool of subject matter experts.
Pre-conference events include Health and Safety Officer (HSO) and Incident Safety Officer (ISO) 2-day academies, Response to Battery Emergencies, Infectious Control, Accident Investigation, a F.I.E.R.O PPE Workshop and The 5 Reads. Schedules are now available at https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=17130, an assemblage of notable and highly-skilled instructors. General session speakers include Dr. Richard Gasaway, founder of Situational Awareness Matters!; Dr. Lori MooreMerrell, US Fire Administrator; and Chief Dennis Compton, Mesa, Arizona (Ret.). Registration is available for these great classes and events. A10-percent discount applies to all registrations until October31, 2022. We look forward to seeing you at one of these great conferences!
The 5th Annual Firefighter Health & Wellness conference is coming soon to Beavercreek, Ohio, on October 26, 27 and 28, 2022. The Firefighter Health and Wellness Conference is the most affordable health and wellness conference in America! This year’s speakers include Former Firefighter, Police Officer, Author, and Comedian Travis Howze, Save-a-Warrior Founder Jake Clark, FDNYDeputy Chief Frank Leeb, Retired FDNY Captain Mike Dugan, Retired OKCFD Major Chris Fields, Dr Sara Jahnke, Dr Jeff Burgess, and more! Visit our website to view our entire lineup and purchase your tickets! https://events.brothershelpingbrothers.org/ffhw2022
FireNews.com Fire News, October/November2022, Page 45 Portsmouth’s Hoddinott
Calls it a Career
Congratulations to Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Hoddinott, who has completed his career with the Portsmouth Fire Department.
Fire Marshal Hoddinott was hired on July 29, 1996, and served the city for 26 years. Congrats on a great career.
The City of Portsmouth and the community, are thankful for your dedicated service. FM Hoddinott's official retirement date was July 31, 2022. - Photo courtesy of Portsmouth FR
Artist Does Fairfax Station 24
If you passed by Fairfax County Fire Station 24, in Woodlawn, lately you may have noticed the newly completed mural on its façade, featuring portrait depictions of six firefighters. This beautiful mural reflects the diversity of the Fairfax County Fire Department, and the diversity of community we serve. The mural was painted by artist Nicholas Zimbro. - Photos courtesy of Fairfax County FR
Hanover’s Tom Nelson Retires
Please join us in congratulating Tom Nelson as he begins his first day of retirement from Hanover FireEMS. Firefighter/Medic Thomas ‘Tom’ Sydney Nelson began his service with us in 1996 as a volunteer at Chickahominy Station 10. He was then hired and served as a career Firefighter/Medic on August 1, 2002 until his retirement. During his career he served at Station 10, 13 (Volunteer), our Technical Services Division (Volunteer Training Officer served as Training 5 and Training 6), Stations 2, 4, 9 and 11 (Operations), and Training (assistant instructor). He served on the following Specialty Teams for the department: Original instructor for the Hanover County Fire Academy (HCFA—which is now known as The Fire Academy), Introduced Drill and Ceremony. He wrote the Instructor Code of Conduct, introduced the Instructor Core Values (this information published in The Volunteer Training Officer’s Handbook, 2003), Burn Team, Instructor/Evaluator for Fire Academy, Planning Staff member for Tomato Festival and an original Honor Guard Member (volunteer and career). He co-authored for the promotional revamp project 2013 (Advanced Leadership Program). Tom is the Founder and Board Member of the Hanover Crisis Relief for Emergency Workers (C.R.E.W.) Foundation. This foundation provides aid in times of financial crisis, hardships or emergency situations to Hanover County Emergency Responders, uniformed and civilian, both active and retired and their families. As well, he is a graduate of the Virginia Fire Officers Academy.
Tom was the first Black senior officer in Hanover Fire-EMS, becoming an Assistant District Chief in Chickahominy District 10 and was the first Black firefighter hired by Hanover County. During his long career he has served the citizens of Hanover County, The Commonwealth of Virginia and US Army (active duty, National Guard and Reserves).
Tom is supported by his wife Yun, Ssn William, daughter Kimberly, son-in-law Justin and four grandchildren. In retirement he plans to continue golfing, working with the Hanover C.R.E.W. Foundation, teaching for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and volunteering to teach with the Hanover Fire-EMS Training Section.
We wish you only the best in retirement, Tom! - Photo courtesy of Hanover County FR
Norfolk’s FF Donald Teasley Jr. Calls it a Career
Fire Station 6 in Norfolk, may be a bit more quiet in the future, as the famous ‘Donald Teasley laugh’will be missing. FirefighterDonald Teasley, Jr., worked his final shift with his B shift crew Tuesday, August 30, 2022. Having served the citizens of Norfolk forjust under27 years, he now officially gets to wearhis “NFR Retired” hat. Thank you foryour service and commitment to Norfolk Fire-Rescue, Donald- enjoy your retirement! - Photo courtesy of Norfolk FR
