Why? Because we ARE first responders!

Today marked the 13th annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk here in our hometown. This year the US is observing the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. And like every year, the T2T foundation is honoring the brave firefighters and safety forces who gave everything they had to help the victims of what we remember today as 9/11.

But since T2T's founding, it has grown not only to memorialize those who came before, but to actively support all first responders and veterans -- those who gave their lives in the ensuing war against terrorism, and those who ever served, or are now serving.

For the founders of Redline Fire and Safety, the events of 9/11 are a distant yet impactful memory. We remember our moms (or, in this case, one of us was the mom) picking us up early from school. We remember the eerie quiet. And we remember disassociating in front of our boxy TVs as the planes crashed into the Twin Towers on repeat. Quite a disruption from our everyday cartoons.

But that's where the fire began. Those images stirred something in us. Not blind rage against an unseen enemy. Not prejudice. Not hate. Just a burning desire to help. And so our founders built their careers-- and lives-- on that one single day in history that changed everything. 

Both Kevin and Geo, our founding partners, actively serve on multiple fire departments, in both career and volunteer capacities. Geo is also a military veteran, having served as an Air Force firefighter. Quite literally, our blood is fire. And today Kevin and Geo donned their full firefighter gear and tackled the run in 98% humidity, along with your friendly Marketing Director, sans gear, of course.

Redline Fire and Safety is built on that desire of our founders to solve complex, life-altering situations. Although we live in a commercially driven world, Redline approaches each customer interaction with the sincere desire to help improve-- and save-- lives. Whether it's by teaching your staff how to react quickly in an emergency, or ensuring you're ready to handle what comes up, or keeping you compliant (or all three), we strive to ensure you're prepared.

When we're fighting a war, or responding to an attack on human lives, we are, unfortunately, dealing with the worst in human nature. But by helping others to save lives, be prepared for emergencies, and prevent issues before they emerge, we work to elevate the best in human nature.

Find out more in person. Contact us today.

Image: L-to-R:  Kevin Laux, Co-founder; Lori Ditty, Marketing Director; Geo Moreland, Co-founder

Who doesn't love a restaurant that makes you feel like one of the family? Think Cracker Barrel... or Olive Garden, whose tagline literally lets you know that "when you're here, you're family". Makes you feel pretty warm and fuzzy, right?

But what does it really mean to treat someone like family? 

Treating someone like family goes beyond casual kindness. It’s about creating a deep, trusting, and supportive relationship that helps that person feel like they are part of your inner circle. At its heart, it means showing them the same level of care, loyalty, and respect you would give to a close relative, and doing it with-- key word here-- sincerity.

So what does that mean for your relationship with Redline?

When you engage with us, it's not unlike calling your brother Joe when you need help with a brake job. Or, if the job's beyond what you and Joe can do in the backyard, it's like taking your car to your Uncle Milt's repair shop. Milt won't (pardon the pun) steer you wrong 😁, and he's gonna give you a really good price.

That's exactly what you'll get with Redline.

First, we're going to give you personal and customized service. Have a few extinguishers that are out of date? No problem, Need one AED? Or one for every department in your facility?  Also not a problem. Need to train your staff of 2 (including your dog) on CPR? Or need a refresher for a group of 100-- or more? We got you. Whatever your need is, we'll meet it.

And when you call us, you're not going to speak to a call center in East Jubaba (not a real place, so no actual East Jubabans have been offended by this comment). You're going to get one of us, listening to your needs then meeting them. Right here. Right now.

And just like with your Uncle Milt, you're going to know what everything costs upfront. No surprises. Except being pleasantly surprised at how painless and transparent it all is.

In today's world of tactics that obscure value for the money and make things just that much more difficult, we know you're hungry for clarity and fairness. So just like with the endless salad and breadsticks, if you come hungry, you're going to leave happy.

Hungry for more? Contact us now!

Image: Magnific

Some of us at Redline grew up with that memorable kids' video series, Veggie Tales.  We were either watching it on repeat on the VHS at home, or were introduced to it at Vacation Bible School (affectionately known as VBS). Or we were the moms who were on hand to continually unjam and rewind the VCR. 

So the ubiquitous "Silly Songs with Larry" play over and over in our minds (and sometimes pop out at random times). I, for example, can occasionally be heard belting out "OOOOOOHHHH... [dramatic pause]... eeeeeverybody needs a water buffalo! Mine is fast and yours is slow..."

Pro tip:  As I write this, I have just discovered the Veggie Tales remix on Spotify. Imagine Larry with a backbeat.

Ok, thanks for going on that journey down Memory Lane with me. But what, you ask, do water buffaloes have to do with AEDs?

Well, nothing. And everything.

Why? Simple. Everyone needs one.

AEDs, that is.

Why? WHY do you (and I) need an AED?

Well, they save lives.

Here's what the American Heart Association has to say about that:

"Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, stopping blood flow to the brain and body. Without treatment within minutes, death is likely. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, survival chances drop by about 10%. AEDs can deliver a shock in the first few minutes, which is when the heart is most likely to respond."

So that's the number 1 reason. 

Tbh, there is no number 2. Every reason to have an AED is important. Especially this reason:

Redline makes it easy to own and keep an AED in top working condition. 

Here's what we offer:

• Affordable options

Because large and small businesses and any customer-facing entity should have AED devices in place, Redline offers competitively priced devices that enable everyone to own as many as they need to ensure safety is at the forefront of daily operations.

• Service even before the service starts

When we arrive on-site to install your devices, you're assured that they're fully inspected and tagged for their first year of operation.

• On-site training

If you've never used an AED, or if it's been awhile, they can be intimidating. Redline understands this and provides training for as many people as you require.  We even offer safety and CPR training. 

• Affordable inspection 

Yes, affordable. And again we say, "In this economy?! Again yes." We also manage the details of your inspection to keep you compliant. We'll remind you of when inspection is due, and recommend replacement when needed or required.

We can hear the voices (in addition to the kids' show jingles) in our heads. And you've probably heard them too:

"I don't know what AED to buy"

"I don't know how to use an AED"

"I don't know how to maintain an AED"

"I don't know where to start"

So... start now. 

We ensure that the AED we put our name on is in optimal condition when we deliver it to you. We teach you how to use it. We keep it fully inspected and updated, and we'll tell you when replacement is needed. This keeps you compliant, and now I'll say it again, louder, for the people in the back: you'll save lives! And that makes you a hero. And everyone needs a hero (even more than a water buffalo) these days.

Don't wait. Talk to us now.

Image: Magnific

Disclaimer: This is NOT a political post

If you've been to the gas pump lately, you've seen the crazy price jumps. Same with at the grocery store. And everywhere else, really. But we promise, we are not talking politics here.

Rather, we are doubling down on our position that value for money spent is important-- for families, and, of course, for businesses. In fact, businesses spending carefully and strategically is one of the key factors that will get us through this economy.

So what does that mean for Redline, and by extension, for you?

Unlike most other companies out there, we're not passing on price hikes to you. 

Let that sink in.

Redline is committed to keeping you compliant without letting you get crushed by costs-- at least not on our watch. We've reduced our already lower-than-the-competition pricing across our key services. 

Wait, what?

You heard that right. Redline is built on doing what's right. We're local firefighters. One of us is a Veteran Air Force Firefighter. And one of us was a Boy Scout, where the motto "Be Prepared" and the slogan, "Do a Good Turn Daily" say it better than we could. We're going to keep you prepared for a safety or medical emergency. And doing a good turn by keeping prices low may even help you save a life.

It's easy to defer maintenance when times are tough. So if that's where you're at-- or even if you just want to see how our prices stack up against the competition-- call us today. You'll discover what you actually should be paying.

Learn more about:

•  AED sales, service and training

• Fire extinguisher inspections and maintenance

• CPR training

• ... and more

Click here to contact us,

Image: Magnific

Since Redline is a locally owned and operated company, you may know that there are some young ones in our family. Toddlers and pre-schoolers to be exact. The pre-schoolers have just come out of the "me do it" phase-- the one where they think they can do eeeevvvvverything, from make dinner to drive the car, but neglect the basics, like slipping into their coats or shoes as you try to race out the door. 

We're proud to say that the pre-schoolers now pretty much do what's asked of them-- except  when they don't. And they're pretty confident that they CAN do it-- except when they're not.

The toddlers, meanwhile, insist that they can do all things, no matter how whack. And they sometimes loudly demand to do them. But coats and shoes? Nah.

So we're noticing over here that when the littles DO actually help, even with the smallest task, life gets easier. But because they're not yet full-grown adults, it's not consistent. Today's perfectly slipping into a pair of flashing light-up shoes is tomorrow's abject refusal.

And that's just the small stuff.

If you're a small business-- or even a larger one-- you may have that same get-it-done spirit. But here's the thing-- you probably can't get it all done-- and you probably shouldn't.

Why not?

Here's one example: when you have someone in-house servicing the fire extinguishers, you, of course, need to make sure they do it correctly. Do they know how to properly charge them? Did they update the inspection tags? And are they doing all of this at a regular cadence? Are they even certified to do these things?

If not, you're not compliant.

Same with your AED devices. If you haven't looked at them lately, you may not realize that they have a shelf life, beyond which they are not considered compliant. And whether it's extinguishers or AEDs, your emergency preparedness is  compromised.

That's where Redline Fire and Safety can help.

• Our services keep you OSHA-, ANSI- and NFPA-compliant

• Our personalized tracking system uses state-of-the-art in-house inspection software to keep track of your sales, inspection and service records, providing tangible proof of compliance

• We remind you when inspections, services, or replacement are due, and reach out to schedule the required services

Bottom line: When you work with us, we handle everything you need to stay safe and up-to-date.

Isn't that easier than fighting with a toddler over leaving the house with only one shoe, a combination of two different ones, or none at all?!

Find out more. Call us today.

Image: Freepik

Everybody loves big-box warehouse stores that sell everything from groceries to bicycles to tires and trendy fast fashion to sheet cakes for your biggest celebrations-- and everything in an extra-large, bulk size.

Why do we love convenience? Well, it's Saturday afternoon-- your one weekend day for running errands. Why spend more time in the car driving to various shops than you do shopping in them? And why not grab your weekly goods from a known source, rather than taking a chance on an unknown item on sale somewhere? 

Big-box stores have been around for several decades now, but they surged in popularity during the Pandemic years, largely due to the need to minimize store visits by choosing a single source and buying larger quantities.  And the newest generations of families, Millenial and GenZ, have adopted these stores not only for convenience, but for perceived value in a down economy.

That's not to say we don't love supporting the locals-- we do, very much-- especially because we're locals too. And sometimes (okay, pretty often) you can get great deals at the locals, and shopping locally can be a wonderful journey of discovery. But when you're in a just-get-it-done frame of mind, convenience is key.

One of the best things about Redline is that we're both local and convenient. Did you know that Redline can be your single source for all things fire and safety? In fact, Redline is now your complete fire protection company, offering everything you need to keep your business safe.

We provide sales, inspection, installation, service, and training for these safety products:

• Sprinkler systems

• Alarms

• Fire extinguishers - all types

• Eyewash stations

• AEDs

• Safety kits

We also offer these  services:

• Commercial kitchen hood inspection and maintenance

• CPR and first aid training

Who knows-- we may just throw in a cake for your company's next outing. After all, Redlne is your one-stop, complete, single source fire protection company. Reach out to us today to see how we can help you.

Image: Freepik

So you know what the "Fire" part of Redline Fire and Safety is all about, right? Fire protection and, hopefully, prevention by inspecting your fire extinguishers, teaching you how to use them, and instructing you in proper fire practices. 

But what about the "Safety" portion of our name?

Maybe you haven't discovered yet that Redline can fully equip you to save a life.

Of course, we can teach you CPR. This is a first-line defense in case of most medical emergencies. CPR manually simulates the pumping of a heart. Most importantly, it can keep the blood flowing  to prevent damage to critical organs until medical assistance arrives. In fact, if you have no specialized equipment, CPR is the only way to help.

In contrast, an AED can take over the good work that CPR begins, sensing the heart's rhythms and electrically shocking the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.

So, of course, two is always better than one, right?

Generally, yes. This is where AEDs come in. The American Heart Association notes that survival rates from cardiac arrests that occur outside of hospitals nearly double when AED defibrillators are administered in addition to CPR. AEDs can get the heart beating again, helping to prevent brain damage or even death.

That's also where Redline comes in.

Redline Fire and Safety has created an array of options that includes everything you need to protect your employees and your customers, from wall-mounted device cabinets to portable packs, plus the training to use them effectively when minutes count. We also help you handle other emergencies with our bleeding and airway evacuation kits.

Lives saved.

While we provide in-person fire protection and training services throughout Northeast Ohio, we ship our products to customers across the United States, ensuring businesses everywhere have access to trusted safety equipment. And we can do remote training to get you up to speed on the kits we offer. That's what's behind the 'Safety' in our name.

Find out more. Contact us for your customized solution.

Image: Freepik

Over here in the Redline family, we have a few princesses. And like all littles, they like to wear their princess dresses all the time. It's not uncommon for Elsa to show up for lunch, or Moana to be tearing around the backyard with Dad. And we're here for it!

Now that the holiday season is here, we're thinking extra hard about things like this, because candles and fireplaces, and those gowns can be flowing, and while somewhat safer due to the inherent properties of polyester material, will not completely resist flame.

Yikes! That got dark fast.

But stay with me here.

Flame-retardant children's clothing-- in particular, pajamas, arose out of economic necessity. In 1800s England, "flannelette", a cheap substitute for naturally flame-resistant wool, became popular due to its affordability for budget-minded parents. The unintended consequences, though, resulted in tragedy when children got too close to a major heat or light source of the time, like a fireplace, candle, or kerosene lamp.

The US didn't react to the situation until 1953, after an epidemic of post-war rayon materials catching fire. It was then that our government mandated flame-retardants in children's pajamas. Although this saved lives, it came at a price. 

By the late 70s, environmental concerns began surfacing, and flame-retardant toxic chemicals were removed from clothing. Manufacturers responded with new standards: tight-fitting pajamas with no flame-retardant chemicals, made with fabrics with properties that provide greater safety. Because the fabric lies close to the skin, it allows less oxygen to feed any flames. And because of the tight fit, the fabric is less likely to come into contact with a flame. As well, the molecular structure of materials like polyester allows the fabric to fall away from the skin as it melts, allowing more time to react.

The last thing we want to do over here is to dampen your holiday spirits with thoughts of what could happen. But key to what Redline offers is preparedness, which starts with awareness. Unless they fit tightly and are made of material with safety features like polyester, those gowns aren't designed for sleeping. Running around the yard is probably okay, but make sure the flowy bits stay far away from moving machinery, playsets, or anything they could get caught in.

And as a general rule, you should always have fire extinguishers rated for purpose available and fully charged at strategic points around your home or business. Oh, yes, and working smoke detectors. Even if they're  hard-wired, please test them periodically, and replace batteries as needed.

Let's pull it back from the edge a bit here and focus on the joy. From the Redline family to yours, we wish you a glorious holiday season and an abundant new year. And as long as you're making resolutions, resolve to contact us for more information on fire safety and emergency preparedness.

Image: Freepik

Ever heard the term 'thermal runaway'?

If you have an overly active sense of humor (as I do), you might be picturing a cartoon character (like Reddy Kilowatt) hitchhiking on the side of the road.

But no-- a thermal runaway is not nearly as innocuous as a cute little corporate icon meant to teach electrical safety. Thermal runaway is actually  a rather dangerous failure that results from some sort of damage to an item with an internal power source, like a lithium battery.

So, like your impact wrench? If you drop it and damage it, let it overheat or charge too long, if you're using inferior-quality batteries or chargers, or if there's some sort of internal flaw, you could see thermal runaway in action. You might get a flash of ignition with  intense heat of up to 1000° C, and/or a catastrophic explosion.

What's worse, even if you do manage to put out the blaze, the fire could result in the release of toxic gasses, or run the risk of re-ignition later, after the shop is closed or you've shut the garage door for the night.

Of course, prevention is the best cure. So even though you're  obsessed with installing that modded exhaust stack on your project car, or you're racing to finish a construction job before the next contactor's scheduled to start, there's no excuse for taking shortcuts-- or cutting corners. Make sure you're not leaving your tools on their chargers too long. Make sure you're using high-quality chargers and batteries (NOT after-market ones!). And if you do drop that tool from a rooftop onto the concrete below? Ehhh, it's toast. Figuratively AND literally. Don't try to fix it.

At Redline Fire and Safety, prevention is always our first goal. So whether you need to install some extinguishers in your shop or garage, or (if you already have them) get them inspected-- or if you need to know how to respond in an emergency, we've got you covered. From sales, service, installation and training, check out our services here. And be prepared to do your best work ever.

Image: Freepik