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December 2007
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12/13/2007
First Responders Learn Latest Rescue Techniques in the Water
December 13, 2007
Contacts: Robb Leer: 612-701-0608, Andy Skoogman: 612-803-1868
MEDIA ALERT - MINNESOTA ICE DEATHS ON THE RISE
FIRST RESPONDERS LEARN LATEST RESCUE TECHNIQUES IN THE WATER
St. Cloud - Five Minnesotans died last winter falling through the ice, up from two deaths the previous two years, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In the last 10 years, nearly 1/4 of the 52 ice deaths involved children under the age of 9, and the DNR is still warning people to stay off the ice despite the frigid weather.
“Don’t let the freezing temperatures fool you,” DNR Water Safety Specialist Tim Smalley says. “Many Minnesota lakes are still not safe.”
Experts say in order to save lives, first responders must be armed with the latest techniques and technology. Stearns Inc. is providing several dozen Minnesota first responders with both this weekend.
Stearns, the leading manufacturer of lifejackets worldwide, is hosting two ice-rescue training sessions on Friday and Saturday for approximately 60 first responders from across the state. Atlas Outfitters, a national recognized training firm, will conduct the dramatic in the water sessions.
Directions: Traveling North on Hwy 10 towards St Cloud, go 3 miles past Sauk Rapids to County RD 33, intersection is marked with Golden Plump Mill. Take a left, go over the overpass, and then take the second road right to County RD 55 – aka Northeast River Road – go over railroad tracks and follow that Road less than one mile – and Ice Rescue training location will be on your left.
Who: 60 Minnesota First Responders
DNR water safety specialist Tim Smalley
Atlas Outfitters Trainer- Susan Atlas
Stearns Inc. Water Safety Team members
What: Ice Rescue Training
When: Saturday December 15, 2007 @ 12:30 PM
Where: Sauk Rapids – Mississippi River – public landing near Sartell Dam
NOTE: Tim Smalley, Atlas Trainers and/or Stearns, Inc. representatives Jim Cermak of Industrial Products are available for interviews on Friday or Saturday (morning show live-shots) prior to the demonstration. |
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12/03/2007
Stearns Selects Shopatron to Help Their Customers Get Outdoors Faster
- Allison & Partners Laura Ciekot, 415-277-4934 shopatron@allisonpr.com Shopatron, the leading provider of eCommerce solutions for consumer goods manufacturers, announced today that it has partnered with Stearns, Inc., a premier manufacturer of marine and outdoor activity products. Stearns selected Shopatron for fast and easy shipment of online orders to consumers via local authorized dealers.
With Shopatron, Stearns can assign online orders to local retailers and dealers for packaging and shipment, providing faster delivery to consumers. The Shopatron system allows Stearns to work as a retail partner with the dealers of its seven product brands. As Stearns increases its market share through online sales, retailers augment their in-store sales and both partners gain greater visibility into the needs and demands of consumers.
"Shopatron is helping us grow our online sales," said Mary Snyder, marketing manager for Stearns. "We reviewed several other solutions, but found that Shopatron was unmatched in reporting and providing ways to measure our success. It ultimately provides us better insight into our business and allows us to better serve our customers as we continue to make products available online."
"Shopatron solves channel conflict by allowing manufacturers to work seamlessly with retailers to generate more sales," said Brian Clausen, president of Shopatron. "Stearns, a respected company with more than 60 years in the outdoor industry, can now sell more products online while maintaining valuable relationships with its retailers."
About Shopatron
Shopatron, Inc., the leading provider of global eCommerce solutions for consumer goods manufacturers, enables consumer brands to accept and fulfill orders online while avoiding channel conflict. Through Shopatron, orders placed on manufacturer's Web sites are fulfilled by shipment or in-store pickup using the manufacturer's existing network of retailers.
Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, CA, Shopatron manages a network of more than 400 manufacturers and 6,000 retailers, across 30 industries. Some of Shopatron's clients include: Alex Toys, Berkley Fishing, Brooks Running, Callaway Golf, D'Addario, Johnson Outdoors, MK Diamond, Nordica, Philips/Avent, Salomon, Spy Optic, Stearns and Thule. For more information and a full client list, visit www.shopatron.com.
About Stearns, Inc.
Stearns, Inc. has a 60-plus-year tradition of quality and expertise in water safety solutions, which continues today with innovative new products for active lifestyles. Under its Stearns®, Sevylor®, Sospenders®, Hodgman® and Mad Dog Gear® brands, the company offers flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, and gear for hunting and fishing, along with industrial equipment built for the harshest conditions. Owned by Jarden Corporation (NYSE:JAH), Stearns is part of the Jarden Outdoor Solutions business segment. For more information, visit www.stearnsinc.com.
Shopatron Enhances Online Shopping Experience for Provider of Fine-Quality Outdoor Products |
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September 2007
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9/12/2007
Stearns Inc. Introduces Rapid Rescue Drysuits: Affordable Comfort and Durability for Rescue Professionals
(ST. CLOUD, MN) Stearns® Inc., a leading manufacturer of water safety and survival products, is pleased to announce its new Rapid Rescue™ line of drysuits for rescue professionals. These suits are designed to be comfortable and durable, enabling hard work in the most punishing environments.
The I800 Rapid Rescue Drysuit, a high-quality, entry-level suit made of breathable, waterproof fabric, includes a waterproof entry zipper, internal suspenders, waterproof latex seals around the ankle, neck and wrists with Cordura®-reinforced knees and elbows for added durability. Suggested retail price is $499 USD.
The I805 Rapid Rescue Extreme™ Drysuit is the first and only suit in its price category to offer a built-in air purge valve. It includes all of the features of the I800 suit, plus the purge valve, a built-in waterproof sock, neoprene seal protectors around the wrists and neck, a relief zipper and reflective tape around the wrists for added visibility. Suggested retail price is $659 USD.
Rapid Rescue drysuits are available from all Stearns industrial distributors. Other new additions to the growing line of Stearns ice and swift water rescue products, include rescue helmets, Wadewear® fleece pants and pullovers, neoprene wading shoes and Surf & Reef™ boots.
About Stearns Inc.
Stearns continues to develop products that meet the demands of professionals, for the harshest conditions, making the manufacturer a one-stop solution for swift water and fire rescue units, as well as law enforcement agencies.
Stearns Inc., is a marine and outdoors company based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. For more information, contact Colleen Becker at safety@stearnsnet.com, visit our website at www.stearnssafety.com or phone (320) 252-1642. |
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9/04/2007
National Partnership Award - Outstanding Supporters of Recreational Boating Safety
CITATION
For the period of April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007, Stearns, Inc. worked in conjunction with Bass Pro Corporation and in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s National Marketing Group to develop and implement a national lifejacket promotion, called FIT TO FLOAT as part of the 2007 North American Safe Boating campaign. This promotion offered any person with a worn out lifejacket to exchange it for a discount towards the purchase of a new one at any participating Bass Pro retail store.
Stearns’ participation with this campaign resulted in 41 local live news media cut-ins, which reached over 1.2 million households in five key boating markets and a national live segment, which reached 1.8 million households nationwide with the United States Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety’s You’re in Command – Boat Responsibly message. Additionally, 34 local radio station interviews and 17 newspaper articles promoting correct PFD wear were aired and published respectively. Inside many of the participating 44 Bass Pro Shop retail stores numerous recreational boaters, many in the key sportsmen/angler target group, were provided information about how to correctly fit a PFD. As a result, over 1700 unserviceable and worn PFD’s were removed from public use through the Fit-To-Float Campaign. This promotion also exposed members of the boating public to available public education opportunities, the Vessel Safety Check program, and the America’s Waterway Watch program.
This entire outstanding campaign paid significant dividends in promoting recreational boating safety to a vast national audience and raised the image of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary significantly as a whole.
We thank Stearns, Inc. for their outstanding dedication and support of recreational boating safety. |
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August 2007
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8/31/2007
Stearns Inc. Donates Flotation Vests to New Orleans Fire Department
Chief Charles Parent, Superintendent of The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) was pleased to accept a donation of flotation vests from Michael Grupa, Vice President of Stearns. Superintendent Parent expressed his gratitude to the employees of Stearns by stating..."When we needed to rebuild and strengthen our water rescue program we looked to the industry leader. The NOFD is pleased to accept these much need life vests donated by Stearns, it is this type of generosity that will help rebuild this city and strengthen our communtities". The donation was made on behalf of all Stearns employees to show support to the citizens of the historic City of New Orleans during their rebuilding process. The donation consisted of Stearns Versatile Rescue™ vests to be used by members of the NOFD swift water rescue team, Stearns Comfort Series™ vests for boat responders and a mixture of Stearns First Mate™ vests for citizens that are rescued by the NOFD.
Stearns Inc., is a marine and outdoors company based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. For more information, contact Colleen Becker at safety@stearnsnet.com, visit our website at www.stearnssafety.com or phone (320) 252-1642. |
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June 2007
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6/01/2007
Stearns VR™ Versatile Rescue Vest - featured in the "Carolina Fire Journal"
I had the opportunity this past fall to evaluate the new Stearns Rescue PFD. Over the years, I have had the chance to use a number of different flotation devices while training and during actual rescue operations. I was extremely impressed with this new PFD as were my fellow team members that also used and evaluated the vest.
The vest offered great flotation and performed well as it was used to navigate a class III rapid during a defensive to offensive swim. The vest not only allowed the protection for the rescuer, but also offered the rescuer the mobility they needed to perform the swims. The vest has a four strap torso system allowing it to contour to your chest. The straps adjust to make the vest a multi-fit unit, so you don’t have to size all of your rescuers. All straps are plastic quick release. The sides of the vest are designed with a two way flap system. This allows you to open up the sides of the vest when it may be warm or you are operating in warmer waters. You can close the side flaps and this offers added heat protection in colder waters, as well as extra padding.
There are two inch straps sewn vertical from front to back on both sides that gives you a shoulder handle to pull a rescuer or victim up as well as being adjustable for the chest and shoulder portion. These straps also display reflective tape on the front and the back. The back has a telpher quick release ring that is connected to another waist strap that utilizes the quick release pull system found on many rescue PFDs. The back has a Velcro flap that the telpher line can be secured through so it does not flop around.
The front of the vest has a padded and zippered flap that comes across the front of the vest and zips in for added security. This flap also has an upper and lower horizontally zippered pouch for holding equipment. The extra flotation in the front also helps to keep you higher in the water. Both the upper and lower pouches have horizontal reflective tape. There are two equipment attachments in the front and two equipment attachments just behind each shoulder.
The vest never rode high on my chest or came up around my neck. It kept me high in the water and it allowed the flexibility to do both a defensive and offensive swim. It also worked well for doing Combat swims and victim contact rescues. I also wore the vest for doing throw ropes and it did not hinder my ability to accurately throw. I was extremely pleased and satisfied with their new rescue vest and would give it five stars.
Thanks to Stearns for coming out with a versatile rescue PFD. You can see the vest at www.stearnssafety.com
Until next time.
David Pease, Carolina Fire Journal |
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