In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara provides the Weekend Wrap-up audience with a recap of his presentation at the 2022 PFAS Conference.  During the conference, presenters were allotted only 10-minutes to speak so Kevin thought it would beneficial to recap his presentation and go more in depth to what his message was for conference attendees.

Links:
2022 PFAS Conference

WTKR News 3 Interview Regarding PFAS Contamination in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia

DoD Firefighter PFAS Blood Test Survey

Veterans Affairs PFAS Blood Test Stance

Eurofins / EmpowerDx PFAS Blood Test Kit

EPA Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Fact Sheet for Communities

DoD Draft Performance Specification Fire Extinguishing Agent, Fluorine-Free Foam (F3) Liquid Concentrate for Land-Based, Fresh Water Applications

5th Annual Firefighter Health and Wellness Conference

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 302, Restricting PFAS Chemicals from Firefighting Foam

H.R. 3967 - Honoring our PACT Act of 2022

AFSO21 Subscribe Link (Scroll down on home page and enter E-mail)

Feedspot 30 Best Firefighter Podcasts (Weekend Wrap-up is ranked 16th)

Feedspot 15 Best Fire Protection & Safety Podcasts (Weekend Wrap-up is ranked 5th)

AFSO21
Delivering strategic & operational planning fundamentals to emergency services around the world

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara talks about the need for regulating and managing fire departments, in particular volunteer organizations.

In addition to his discussion in managing fire departments, Kevin talks about PFAS legislation that is currently being discussed that will impact Federal firefighters, and how PFAS has impacted a New Mexico Dairy farmer.

Links:
H.R. 2499 Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act - Cancer in the Occupation of Firefighter

Daily Herd Management - Air Force Pollution Forces New Mexico Dairy to Euthanize 3,665 Cows

AFSO21 LLC Blog - Managing PA Fire Departments

Pennsylvania SR6 Final Report

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara talks with Andrew Patterson and Taryn McKnight from Eurofins and EmpowerDX about their PFAS Blood Test Kit.

Highlights of the episode include talking about who Eurofins are and how they became involved with testing for PFAS as well as some of the behind the scenes efforts that went into developing the test.  Also discussed during the podcast is defining half-life of PFAS substances.

PFAS Blood Test Kit Giveaway
Eurofins is giving one lucky audience member a free PFAS Blood Test kit.

To be eligible, you must subscribe to our YouTube channel or one of our podcast channels.

Links:
EmpowerDx PFAS Blood Test Kit

Eurofins

AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up YouTube Channel

Feedspot Best 30 Firefighter Podcasts

Feedspot Best 15 Fire Protection & Safety Podcasts

First In Wellness
Goal-oriented, personalized, preventative health & wellness programs designed for firefighters.

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

Kevin welcomes audience members for their continued support which has been instrumental in the podcast being ranked number 15 of the "Best 30 Firefighter Podcasts" and number 5 of the "Best 15 Fire Protection & Safety Podcasts" in the world!

Kevin addresses legislation affecting Federal Firefighters (H.R. 2499), recently discussed during "mark-ups", and is now sitting in the House of Representatives awaiting further action. 

Kevin discusses H.R. 7089, the Vet PFAS Act which calls to furnish hospital care and medical services to veterans and dependents who were stationed at military installations and exposed to PFAS, to provide for a presumption of service connection for certain veterans who were stationed at military installations at which the veterans were exposed to such substances, and for other purposes.

Mentioned is the  upcoming Senate Confirmation Hearing for Bill LaPlante who if confirmed, will be the new Department of Defense (DoD) Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S) which would make him responsible for issues pertaining to PFAS issues plaguing the DOD.

Kevin encourages audience members to contact their Senators and ask what their stance is on Mr. LaPlante as well as asking them some questions below in this description.  The focus of these questions is to hold the DoD accountable for PFAS remediation efforts and reporting requirements, some of which the DoD has already missed deadlines of.

Questions to ask Senators:

• When will DoD release it's report on the 50 most contaminated sites?
• How will DoD improve communications and engagement with DoD communities?
• When will DoD alert veterans and service members they may have been drinking contaminated water for decades?
• How will Mr. LaPlante comply with the Executive Order to avoid products made with PFAS, products like firefighting foam and firefighter turnout gear?

Links:

• H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2021
• Mark-up Session Discussing H.R. 2499 YouTube Video (Starts at 2:49:16)
• H.R. 7089 , Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act, or the VET PFAS Act
• H.R. 2111, Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act
• "Filthy Fifty" List
• Mr. LaPlante Senate Confirmation Hearing Article
• EmpowerDX PFAS Blood Test
• Feedspot Best 30 Firefighter Podcasts
• Feedspot Best 15 Fire Protection & Safety Podcasts

First In Wellness
Goal-oriented, personalized, preventative health & wellness programs designed for firefighters.

Fire Dept. Coffee
Veteran owned and run by firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee offers a wide variety of delicious coffee

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host, Kevin Ferrara clarifies what "Burn Pits" is defined as and how it is  misleading to military firefighters.

The Promise to Address  Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, proposes to establish presumptive of 23 service connected medical conditions to include respiratory illnesses and cancers for eligible veterans who deployed to certain locations where "Burn Pits" were in operation.  Kevin explains how these provisions will not affect military firefighters exposed to toxins from fire training "burn pits".

In addition to the legislative provisions, Kevin talks about the AFFF registry that will only apply to "eligible" individuals. 

As always, please comment on  the episode and share your questions with Kevin and his audience.

Links:
 Plan to give new benefits to burn pits victims passes House, faces difficult path ahead (Military Times Article)

H.R. 3967, Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021

Link to H.R. 3967 actions

Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act

  

AFSO21
Delivering strategic & operational planning fundamentals to emergency services around the world

Fire Dept. Coffee
Veteran owned and run by firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee offers a wide variety of delicious coffee

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara talks about concerns within the volunteer fire service impacting both the organization and the community.  Areas that Kevin speaks about include training & certification, membership, issuance of Fire Taxes, NFPA Standards, accountability, leadership, and legislation.

Before the podcast begins, Kevin take time to remember the tragic Station Nightclub fire that occurred on February 20, 2003 that killed 100 people and injured another 230.

Kevin encourages audience members to discuss issues he speaks about among themselves as well as discussing them as comments on whatever platform audience members are listening to the podcast on.

As the episode continues, Kevin speaks about PFAS and the need to have blood tests conducted as well as the need to file exposure reports after each time firefighters don turnout gear.

As the episode closes, Kevin speaks about PFAS legislation and the EPA's Lifetime Health Advisory about PFAS and how legislation and the EPA need to reduce acceptable levels to zero because PFAS is a man-made chemical and does not naturally develop within the human body.

Links:

Station Nightclub Fire Video

NIST Investigation of Station Nightclub Fire

First In Wellness

Pennsylvania Fire Departments Facing Volunteerism Emergency

Pennsylvania Does Not Require Volunteer Firefighters to be Trained

Eurofins / EmpowerDX PFAS Blood Test Kit

Michael Lecik Military Firefighter Protection Act

Lawsuits Claim Chemicals in Firefighter's Protective Gear Cause Devastating Illnesses

DuPont Chemical Political Contribution Recipients by State

DoD Firefighter PFAS Blood Test Results Survey


Email Host Kevin Ferrara: [email protected]

AFSO21
Delivering strategic & operational planning fundamentals to emergency services around the world

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara introduces the Weekend Wrap-up Podcast audience to First In Wellness.  First In Wellness is a team of experienced health and wellness coaches who provide goal-oriented, personalized, and preventative health and wellness programs designed to meet specific challenges firefighters face everyday.

Kevin speaks with guests Danielle Cook Kawash, the founder of First In Wellness and Mike Salemi, the founder of Kettlebell Lifestyle.  Together, Danielle and Mike have developed an amazing set of individual and group health and wellness programs that anyone can use.

Throughout the podcast, Kevin asks Danielle and Mike their opinions on why health and wellness is so important to firefighters, both career and volunteer.

As the episode wraps-up, Kevin gives Danielle and Mike an opportunity to highlight what makes First In Wellness stand-out from other programs.

Links:
First In Wellness Home Page

First In Wellness Challenge

Firefighter Cancer Support Network

5th Annual Firefighter Health and Wellness Conference

Brothers Helping Brothers

Firefighter Cancer Consultants

Fire Dept. Coffee
Veteran owned and run by firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee offers a wide variety of delicious coffee

AFSO21
Delivering strategic & operational planning fundamentals to emergency services around the world

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara talks about his personal PFAS blood test results received from Eurofins.  Eurofins is an alternate source of PFAS blood testing.  Their testing capabilities look for 47 PFAS analytes.

As Kevin talks about his own PFAS levels, he also highlights why it is important to have blood tested for PFAS and what health risks are associated with each analyte. 

As the podcast continues, Kevin talks about his recent interview with Spotlight on America.  Kevin's interview is a continuation of the amazing work Spotlight on America reporter Joce Sterman has done to highlight the significance of PFAS contamination through America and how certain organizations like the military knew PFAS was toxic but said and did little to nothing to prevent unnecessary exposures.

Kevin reminds audience members the next episode will host guest, Alison Fienning, Owner of Pinpoint Behavioral Health and how her work to treat first responders, veterans, and their families has benefited those in need as well as emergency services.

Links:

Eurofins

EmpowerDX PFAS Test Kit

Toxic firefighting foam: Exclusive documents show military knew about the risk for years (WJLA.com)

Toxic firefighting foam may have harmed U.S. Service members (The National Desk)

Pinpoint Behavioral Health

Brothers Helping Brothers

5th Annual Firefighter Health & Wellness Conference

Fire Dept. Coffee
Veteran owned and run by firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee offers a wide variety of delicious coffee

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

In this episode, host Kevin Ferrara talks about his recent presentation at the 4th Annual Firefighter Health and Wellness Conference in "exotic" Beavercreek, Ohio where firefighters from 14 states converged to obtain information and listen to industry experts talk about health and safety.

The focus of Kevin's presentation was on PFAS exposure to military and DoD firefighters and what the DoD is lacking with respect to minimizing unnecessary exposure and health care for those exposed.

Throughout this episode, Kevin gives audience members an insight as to the severity of PFAS exposure to military personnel, in particular firefighters and their families.  Additionally, Kevin highlights how the DoD continues to refuse to publicly speak about PFAS contamination.

AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast is ranked in the top 15 Fire Protection and Safety podcasts!

Links:
AFSO21 LLC

Fire Department Coffee

DoD IG Report on PFAS

Evaluation of DoD Actions on PFAS

CDC NHANES PFAS "Averages"

Environmental Working Group PFAS Interactive Map

Brother Helping Brothers

AFSO21
Delivering strategic & operational planning fundamentals to emergency services around the world

Fire Dept. Coffee
Veteran owned and run by firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee offers a wide variety of delicious coffee

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

*UPDATE* After speaking with the law firm identified in this podcast, they apologized for the article and have since removed it from their website.

In this episode, AFSO21 Radio, The Weekend Wrap-up host Kevin Ferrara thanks his audience members for their support with recognizing his cousin Stephen Ferrara's recent passing.

As the episode continues, Kevin speaks about Hurricane IDA and how those along the Gulf Coast need to be prepared for what is being reported as a catastrophic storm.

Kevin talks about the political impact of Afghan refugees coming to America might have on emergency responders at military installations as well as in municipalities where the refugees are being temporarily housed and eventually relocated.

Kevin then talks about Emergency Response Capabilities and asks audience members if responding with just one person on an apparatus is effective.

As the episode wraps up, Kevin speaks about how he and other firefighters he's supporting were recently named by a law firm's blog without their knowledge and how a reporter they have been working with was shocked at how the law firm essentially stole her work.

Links:
IDA strengthens into major Catagory 4 hurricane ahead of US landfall (Fox News)

Pentagon opens up more military bases in US to hold up to 50,000 Afghans (Fox News)

Some Afghan evacuees flagged for concern by CBP at military bases worldwide (Fox News)

Firefighters Denied Coverage by Veterans Affairs After Exposure to PFAS Firefighting Foam (The Intercept)

Fire Dept. Coffee
Veteran owned and run by firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee offers a wide variety of delicious coffee

AFSO21
Delivering strategic & operational planning fundamentals to emergency services around the world

Contact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast -

• Email us at [email protected]

As always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!