On Sunday November 16th a handful of Thorndale’s Fire Police Officers traveled to Jim Thorpe in Carbon County, PA to attend the PA State Fire Police Association meeting. The weather held out, the food was good and the people were awesome. Thanks to the Penn Forest Twp. Volunteer Fire Company #1 for hosting the event.

The reason for the trip was a general meeting and the usual business was discussed including a bill that’s trying to get introduced into the Capital in regards to LODD for Fire Police. Awards were given out for traffic units and Thorndale received an award for Traffic 38.

It was great to meet new people and circulate new ideas with the members of the association that were in attendance. The association was represented by 20 counties in PA with the farthest member driving in all the way from Westmoreland County, which is next to Pittsburgh. A presentation was given to the membership by Stephen Austin, the Project Manager from Respondersafety.com, which “serves as an informal advisory panel of public safety leaders committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America's Emergency Responders. Members of the Institute, all highly influential in the fields of fire, law enforcement EMS, DOT and towing, are personally dedicated to the safety of the men and women who respond to emergencies on our nation’s streets, roads and highways. Members of the Institute include trainers, writers, managers, government officials, technical experts and leaders in the public safety world who through their individual efforts and collective influence can bring meaningful change.”

Respondersafety.com is a free source of online, up to date training, that 1st responders can access at their pace to help empower themselves and promote safety to those they work with.