At MSA, it is our mission to help protect the first responders and ensure that they, their families, and communities live in health and safety. While on duty, fire and rescue services face high variability of working environment conditions. The safety and wellbeing of first responders are crucial. Over a period of time, their job has become even more challenging. Firefighters can find themselves working in harmful and rapidly changing conditions under various risk factors. When they are well-trained, physically fit, and safely equipped it can make all the difference.

As a safety equipment manufacturer, we support a variety of both communities and organizations and continuously engage in initiatives where the impact on the importance and awareness of health, safety, and well-being is critical.

We were proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the 2021 British Firefighter Challenge that marks a symbol of health, well-being of firefighters, and the communities while raising funds for the Fire Fighters Charity. During the two-day challenge competitors from U.K. and other European countries, including Germany, Portugal, France, and the Czech Republic, undertook various tasks at speed in full fire protection equipment and while wearing MSA’s M1 SCBA. In a fair-play atmosphere, they showed the audience how much physical fitness is required from the emergency services on a daily basis, thus encouraging support for the Fire Fighters Charity which helps firefighters in financial, physical, and mental crises.

John Gregory, Director at the British Firefighter Challenge and Crew Manager at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The British Firefighter Challenge is all about social responsibility. Fundraising for operational and retired colleagues requiring physical and mental health rehabilitation, we inspire health and fitness in the British Fire and Rescue Service plus equality and diversity, as this is a unique fire service sporting event that boasts ages 18 to 60+ entering, with over 10% female entries. In addition, we open a social platform that brings firefighters and their families together and we engage with the younger generation providing activities for the whole family, including community safety and fitness challenges.”

Apart from the M1 SCBA, MSA’s Bristol EOS fire kit, GALLET F1XF, and GALLET F2XR were used by some firefighters during the whole race. Of particular interest was the pink GALLET F1XF helmet, which was part of a special race to increase visibility for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Speaking about the latter, in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) estimations, 12 percent of women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. MSA actively supports European Pink Firefighter Brigade formed voluntarily by firefighters from many European countries under the lead of Vendelin Clicques, a French professional firefighter and CEO of an International Emergency Drone Association (IEDO). With open hearts, dressed in pink, and donning the pink GALLET F1XF fire helmet, the Pink Firefighters take part in many European firefighter challenges competing with each other. But this competition has a purpose: carry a supportive message, educate and raise awareness on breast cancer prevention.

John Gregory added: “We are happy to create space for charitable causes and any firefighter, volunteer, or spectator who is fundraising at our events, a very selfless thing to do. Like this year, when two of our colleagues Vendelin and Pete – the Pink Firefighters as they are better known, raced for Breast Cancer awareness and helped raise much-needed funds after a particularly challenging year.”

Every year, in October, the Cancer Leage (Ligue Contre le Cancer) organizes an awareness campaign against breast cancer across France. This year, MSA joined forces with the League’s Chatillon, and MSA’s pink fire and rescue helmets, as well as pink hard hats, were installed in public places across the city to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention throughout October.

These efforts show just a little of what MSA has been doing. To stay up to date on MSA socially responsible initiatives follow us on Linkedin.