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Every day is a "9/11" event to firehouses and small communities across the globe…
There are so many stories including one not too long ago when a family of four was killed in Quito, Ecuador because the responding firefighters didn't have a rescue ax or breathing devices. Today Gear Up, carries on the life saving mission in the name of comrades, and all those taken from us September 11, by providing equipment and safety education to children and fire fighters around the world. The Gear Up team has put together an overall program to collect, recycle and distribute used fire-fighting equipment to developing countries, beginning with Ecuador.
In the United States, each city has hundreds of well-equipped fire stations to protect families in their trust. Equivalent cities in South and Central America, and around the world, have a fraction of that support network. To illustrate this shortfall: Guayaquil Ecuador at the time of this posting, only has one working “jaws of life�? rescue device for its four million citizens.
Collection of Equipment: The United States Fire-fighting industry saves lives and property by constant improvement of equipment and fire training, required at all levels due to government regulations. Thus, there is a natural surplus of equipment available for donation from manufacturers and “obsolete�? storage. Also, through grants relating to Homeland Security, new equipment is being offered to firehouses in an accelerated manner. This process has liberated increasing amounts of "old" equipment which is practically like new. New equipment donated by manufacturers is made available to firehouses in need here in the United States.
Communities from around the world have requested trucks, ambulances, hoses, pumps, personal equipment and of course, US training. GEAR-UP wishes to send this useful “outdated�? equipment to those firehouses in need. American Airlines, 1-800-Mattress and two maritime freighters have pledged to transport the equipment at cost. Life-saving experience will be passed on throughout the country by ensuring an instructor cadre is fully trained in rescue, fire fighting procedures and truck maintenance. Under the GEAR-UP master plan, an advanced fire fighting training academy and maintenance facility will be programmed in-theater, once funding is available. As part of Gear-Up's “Adopt a Firehouse�? program,many American Fire Fighters have already volunteered their services to instruct in these national Fire academies, on a ten day rotational basis.
At present, GEAR UP has donated several trucks and several tons of equipment to Ecuador, Bolivia, the Philippines, and other locations around the world.. WORLD MEMORIAL, Air Ambassador, New Freedom Partners and Gear Up have cooperated together to provide a donated modular ambulance to the impoverished town of La Mission, Baja, Mexico. We are currently working closely with our partners in the UK staging a nearly 1 million dollar donation of gear destined to poor firehouses in South America. We are also working directly with the UK Consul General Sir Alan Collins on a major teaming arrangement with Rio in preparation for the 2016 Olympics. Stay tuned!!
