Due to the global pandemic, and after speaking with some experts on COVID-19, the Ohio State Fire Academy is looking for ways to disinfect various types of PPE without having to launder it, which could compromise the integrity of the materials.  The challenge is to design and build a device to disinfect various types of PPE without laundering it.  

‍

‍

Firefighters are exposed to various types of particulates and possible carcinogens while fighting fires.  When the work is done and they travel back to the fire station, they may be carrying these particulates and possible carcinogens on their uniforms, masks, and other equipment. The Ohio State Fire Academy has challenged the students to design a mobile remediation device to clean uniforms and equipment to remove particulates and other contaminants.

‍

The Ohio ASSIST Post Critical Incident Seminars began in Ohio in March of 2017 but were originated in 2020 in South Carolina.  Ohio partners with 11 other states in offering these 3-day seminars.  To date, Ohio has held 9 seminars for 252 first responders and support persons.  (A support person is a spouse, boy/girlfriend, co-worker etc. that the first responders wants to have with them).

Ohio ASSIST PCIS is open to law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch and anyone who works for these agencies.  We have also had first responders from other states attend.

The 3-day seminar gives participants the chance to tell their story and how the event or events impact their lives today.  The support persons sit at the table with the first responders as their story is equally as important.  

In addition, participants are given the opportunity to meet with licensed clinicians with experience in public safety personnel. We offer both large and small group interactions, meeting with clinicians, non-denominational prayer service, yoga, group discussions regarding relationships, addiction, resilience and fear & coping.  

Subsequent to attending the seminar, participants are contacted at regular intervals by peers to check in and offer assistance, as needed. 

Often, the seminar can be very emotional for participants as they relive traumatic and stressful events from their service.  It would be very beneficial to their on-going progress to have a secure means of communicating with others they have connected with during the seminar.  Normal social media is not conducive to secure communications, especially for first responders and their families.         

The challenge is to create an app for Ohio ASSIST PCIS participants to use to communicate with each other and to share beneficial resources and information to help them deal with stress and traumatic events.

EDIT