By Chris Mc Loone
Anna Lones, marketing director, PPE; Kindra Beck, marketing manager, TotalCare; Matt Gardner, marketing director, Training Products
Over the years, LION has evolved its product line to cover the fire service before, during, and after fire events. It does this by providing personal protective equipment (PPE) cleaning and maintenance products, fire training products, and PPE.
Editor in Chief Chris Mc Loone of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment recently asked LION representatives to describe these products. Anna Lones, marketing director, PPE; Kindra Beck, marketing manager, TotalCare; and Matt Gardner, marketing director, Training Products, provided responses.
CM: Please providea a brief history of LION.
LION: LION is a family-owned, global business headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, that has been operating continuously since 1898. Municipal, state, federal, and military agencies are our primary customers throughout the world. Our mission is to fulfill our customers’ personal safety, readiness, and identity needs with innovative, game-changing solutions. From uniforms to training products to PPE and PPE repair and maintenance services, LION has the fire service covered before, during, and after fire events.
CM: Describe LION’s gear cleaning and maintenance products.
LION: LION TotalCare is a leader in the industry in verified PPE cleaning, decontamination, disinfection, and repair. Our goal is to ensure that firefighters have access to clean and functional PPE to keep them safe long after the fire.
Our unique cleaning process with ozone removes 99.999% of harmful bacteria and viruses that can compromise firefighter safety. Ozone cleaning also attacks most organic soils and kills bacteria 3,200 times faster than chlorine bleach, while being completely biodegradable.
Our RedZone CO2 Clean (powered by Tersus), a technology that uses liquid CO2 to clean and sanitize PPE effectively, is available for annual cleaning or specialized to remove harsh contaminants like paint, tar, diesel, and lithium. The RedZone CO2 Clean system removes 95% of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared with typical water wash, which only removes 50 to 55% of the bad actors. The technology is water-free, allowing for quicker turnaround time because of no required dry time; ecofriendly; and easier on the life of the gear.
Our team of experts has extensive experience in PPE cleaning and maintenance, and we offer comprehensive services including:
- Inspection
- Cleaning
- Decontamination
- Specialized cleaning
- Repair
- Alterations
- Retrofitting
- Rental
CM: What’s new with PPE at LION?
LION: LION provides innovative, comfortable PPE with a focus on mobility. We know that first responders’ skills are enhanced and evolve over time. Their PPE should evolve as well. That’s why LION offers various models and styles of turnout gear, boots, helmets, gloves, and firefighter essentials. For decades, LION has been an industry leader in the fight against firefighter stress by incorporating design features and materials to deliver the most natural, least restrictive movement possible. We are the innovator of dozens of meaningful inventions, many of which have been patented.
LION focuses on providing some of the safest, most comfortable turnout gear available. Our V-Force employs LION’s V-Fit™ Design. V-Fit takes the best technology from combat and professional sports clothing and applies it to turnout gear. The result is the optimum balance of comfort, mobility, and protection.
All LION turnout gear has:
- Innovative, ergonomic design through every layer of the protective ensemble so that firefighters’ gear moves when they do.
- The Semper Dri™ System that reduces water absorption in pants legs, coat cuffs, and yoke to keep firefighters’ working weight lighter.
- Knees with water-resistant FR closed-cell cushioning to add thermal protection in this high-compression area.
- The Ever-Dry™ Reach System that reduces vulnerability to water, steam, and flame. When firefighters reach, full protection stays on their wrists.
CM: Describe LION’s training tools.
LION: LION training products support firefighters with the training tools they need before they go into action and are built to be safe, clean, and effective for training.
The use of technology is what puts LION at the forefront of fire training for both private industry and the fire service. We understand that when it comes to training, having the right tool for the job makes all the difference. Our products range from basic fire extinguisher training to advanced Smart Class A Training Ready units with high-tech sensors and controls. By putting the ability to customize training evolutions in the fingertips of the trainers at every level, LION products can be used to enhance the effectiveness of each evolution.
LION provides training tools for the full escalation of training. Our digital products like ATTACK™ digital fire panels can be used in any environment without risk of damage to property or risking the health of those participating, while our SG4000™ smoke generators provide a safe alternative to training in real smoke. Our propane-based training props provide clean burning, live fire, and safety. When it comes to training in Class A fire scenarios, our Smart Class A Training Ready units are made with technology needed to make the training as safe as possible. LION’s training products are an essential resource for those who want to take their training to the next level without compromising safety.
Our primary focus has been in the following categories:
- Fire extinguisher training (BullsEye™, R.A.C.E Station™).
- Hoseline training system and props.
- Digital Fire Training (ATTACK™).
- Community fire safety trailers.
- Training Ready units (confined spaces, digital, Smart Class B, and Smart Class A).
CM: What keeps you up at night?
LION: Every day, the threats that first responders face become more complex. Staying at the forefront of innovation and technology to ensure their safety is what drives every employee at LION.
