How Amarillo Fire Department Modernized Their PPE Management

Pioneering NFPA 1851 Compliance through Innovation

In the heart of West Texas, the Amarillo Fire Department (AFD) stands as a testament to the commitment and bravery of its firefighters. With 13 stations and a team of over 280 firefighters, AFD has been diligently serving the city's 200,000+ residents. But behind the scenes, managing the personal protective equipment (PPE) crucial for their safety was once a laborious task.

The Transformation from Paper to Digital

For decades, AFD relied on the traditional pen-and-paper approach, coupled with Excel sheets, to manage their PPE. The result was a time-consuming process prone to errors, making audits and historical data tracking a challenge.

But change was on the horizon. By integrating the innovative Firefighter Zones solution, AFD has not only streamlined but also automated these once manual processes.

Addressing the Challenges Head-On

The switch to Firefighter Zones tackled multiple issues:

Issuance and Return of Gear: Manual entries and paper documents gave way to efficient barcode scanning, linking each turnout gear to its firefighter.

ISP Inspection and Cleaning: Writing down 10-digit barcodes for bulk ISP shipments became a thing of the past. Digital shipment tracking now provides accurate data and timely deliveries.

Inspection and Destruction Dates: The error-prone Excel entries were replaced with digital tracking and automated email alerts, ensuring that inspections and destruction happen precisely when needed.

Daily PPE Checks and Cleanings: AFD now utilizes a digital NFPA 1851 compliant checklist application, ensuring consistency and reliability in routine safety checks.

The Road to Enhanced Safety and Efficiency

The Firefighter Zones program brought a multitude of benefits:

Access to turnout issuance/return history at the click of a button.

Complete visibility into ISP inspection and cleaning statuses.

Eight detailed NFPA 1851 Compliance & Expense Related Reports.

Looking Ahead

As AFD continues to protect and serve, the implementation of Firefighter Zones is a commitment to safety and efficiency. The transformation from paper to digital is not just about compliance; it's about ensuring our heroes have the support they need to do their job safely every day.

At Amarillo Fire Department, embracing innovation is not just a choice; it's our responsibility.

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