Belize firefighters can breathe easier after an incredibly generous SCBA donation by Municipal Equipment Services!
Currently, Belize Heroes is working to outfit all fire stations in the country of Belize with Scott (3M) NexGen 2 (NxG2) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
MES (Municipal Equipment Services) is the United States’ largest supplier of fire service equipment.
In 2018, Belize Heroes’ President, Mac, and Belize Firefighter Jamere Young, who was attending Hanover Fire & EMS Fire Academy, met with MES Regional Sales Manager Todd Morgan about acquiring serviceable SCBAs that were being replaced through local fire department upgrades to current NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards.
As a result of this meeting, Mr. Morgan pledged his support to donate over 200 SCBA harnesses, over 600 SCBA cylinders, and associated items such as face masks and fit-testing machine.
The size of the donation means that all Belizean firefighters can use the same breathing apparatus — a huge step towards standardizing equipment across the country!
This also means that training can be standardized. Which is one of the things that sets Belize Heroes apart from other international charities: We don’t just send equipment. We train on its use so that your donations don’t go to waste!
To that end, two Hanover Fire & EMS Firefighter/SCBA Technicians have also generously committed to donate their time to travel to Belize and train the Belize firefighters on the proper use of this equipment.
They will be assisted by 6 Belize firefighters who previously spend 6 months in Virginia at the Hanover Fire &EMS Fire Academy and have become proficient in their use. (Another part of our commitment to training.)
We’ll provide to a few of the training participants further instructions on how to perform annual fit-testing for the Belize National Fire Service members, as well as teach them how perform minor basic, non-technical repairs to these equipment. This training is scheduled for spring/summer of 2020.
Thank you again to Todd Morgan, MES, and the volunteer trainers for making this happen!