Team Wendy Sponsors Tactical Medic Training at OTOA Annual Conference

CLEVELAND – June 4, 2010 – Team Wendy was a main sponsor of the Ohio Tactical Officers Association’s (OTOA) annual conference, May 23-26 in Westlake, Ohio.  The conference consisted of numerous events including a 5K run, a hospitality reception, a vendor tradeshow, competitive tactical events, and advanced training and educational sessions.

“The OTOA’s annual conference combined many great opportunities for local law enforcement professionals to advance their state of readiness while networking with their peers,” said Emily Mullins, Team Wendy marketing specialist. “We were very proud to be a part of this event.”

A highlight of the event was the Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) Advanced Airway and Penetrating Trauma Lab training held May 24-25 at McKinley School in Lakewood, Ohio. This rare opportunity allowed 32 fire department and general “street medics” to train directly with SWAT team members, interaction that funding challenges generally don’t permit.

“The TEMS program in Ohio is in its infancy and the majority of these operators are attached to local fire departments,” said Patrick Fiorilli, OTOA secretary and Westshore Enforcement Bureau S.W.A.T. team commander. “With the SWAT teams’ manpower coming from police agencies, there are incidences of budgetary concerns between the police and fire departments and the TEMS programs have been taking a back seat.”

Matthew Evenhouse, M.D., director of Medical Security International, agrees. “The medics who respond to SWAT emergencies don’t work with the cops on a regular basis – they just come in when there’s a problem,” he said. “Unfortunately, the way the departments are organized, there is no clean way to integrate everyone, and these medics usually obtain training on their own, or figure it out on fly. The industry is starting to realize that we’re not going to get anywhere with the medical aspect of SWAT unless the medics are trained directly with the cops.”

Team Wendy’s support paved the way for the 32 medics to attend the training, and Metro Health Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital’s St. John Medical Center contributed instructors, simulation equipment and course materials. “This type of joint effort has never been done before,” said Evenhouse.

Throughout the two-day event, the medics were trained in six primary areas: tactical medical training, care under fire (CUF), rapid field assessments, mass causality triage, advanced airway techniques and evacuation care. In addition, each medic had the opportunity to perform five simulated rescues in realistic settings. “We had a full day of simulated rescues in real-world settings – with all the gear, smoke, noise, chaos – during which everyone really got to play the role of a tactical medic responding to an emergency,” said Evenhouse. “This type of training is relatively new in this industry – it’s really state of the art.”

The integration of the cops and the medics really boosted morale and established a precedent for future conferences, said Evenhouse. The event was a learning experience for everyone involved, and the OTOA will strive to generate the donations to do this again next year. “Team Wendy did not blink an eye when it comes to supporting us, and that kind of support makes all the difference,” said Fiorilli.

For more information contact:
Emily Mullins
Marketing Specialist
Team Wendy
216.738.2518 ext. 259
emullins@teamwendy.com

Team Wendy Achieves FR Certification
CLEVELAND – Team Wendy, the industry leader in protective material development and the sole authorized provider of ground combat helmet liner systems for the US Army and the Marine Corps, has added a new fire retardant (FR) formulation of Zorbium® foam to its product offerings. The ZFR™ family of foams offers a new performance standard for the leading energy absorbent material.

"ZFR™ carries forward the best characteristics of our current Zorbium® foam," said Scott Burk, Team Wendy CEO. "Our goal was to achieve the requisite fire retardant standards, while maintaining the superior impact absorbent performance of the original material. The marriage of full FR compliance and impact performance will translate directly into other applications, such as military aviation (seating) and ground combat vehicle (seating). Foam has been largely overlooked as a significant contributor to shock, vibration and blunt-impact mitigation in both standard and specialized seat products. Attaining this certification will afford even greater performance and, ultimately, fewer injuries."

Team Wendy’s ZFR™ meets the testing requirements for the Federal Aviation Administration FAR 25.853 Appendix F part IFAA FAR 25.853 Part 1 and the standards for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 302.

Team Wendy is the sole authorized provider of the standard issue helmet pad system for the US Army Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) and Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet (LWH). This system is procured through the mandatory source, National Industries for the Blind (NIB), as part of the AbilityOne™ program. Team Wendy’s products are made with the company’s patented Zorbium® foam, which was specifically engineered for headgear safety. Team Wendy is a certified U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) HubZone Company headquartered in Cleveland.

Team Wendy – Overprotective, and Proud of It.™

Team Wendy Remains Choice U.S. Military Helmet Pad Provider

August 27 - The United States Army, Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO) issued a statement Aug. 19 reaffirming Team Wendy and AbilityOne (National Industries for the Blind) as the only authorized supply source of advanced combat helmet pads. According to the statement, the only authorized supply sources for ballistic protection items, body armor and Army-issued safety items are the Department of Defense supply system and approved product list items sold at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) military clothing sales stores.

“Ordering through the Army supply system or purchasing items through Army Military Clothing Sales Store (AMCSS) is the only way to ensure the purchase of soldier protection and safety items that meet Army testing requirements and standards,” according to the statement. “Failure to procure soldier ballistic protection items through authorized sources puts our soldiers at risk.”

The statement calls for military personnel with unauthorized equipment to notify their unit supply activity and obtain replacement items through approved sources.

“At Team Wendy, our position has always been that protection is paramount,” said Scott Burk, vice president of sales. “In conjunction with the recently released GAO report, this message provides great clarity on the helmet pad issue and will ultimately help ensure the well-being of our troops. We are significantly encouraged by the leadership demonstrated by PEO Soldier.”

Team Wendy currently manufactures the standard issue pad system for the Army Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) and Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet (LWH). These pads are procured through the mandatory source, National Industries for the Blind (NIB), as part of the AbilityOne program. Team Wendy’s products are made with the company’s patented Zorbium® Foam, which was specifically engineered for headgear safety.

Team Wendy has been a provider of protective headgear to the military since 2005 and was chosen as the helmet pad manufacturer of choice for the US Army in 2006. Team Wendy is a certified SBA HubZone Company headquartered in Cleveland. Team Wendy – Overprotective, and Proud of It!®

For more information, visit www.teamwendy.com, call 877.700.5544, or e-mail info@teamwendy.com.

Contact:

Emily Mullins
Marketing Specialist
Phone: 216.738.2518
E-mail: emullins@teamwendy.com

Team Wendy Launches Revolutionary Helmet Liner, EPIC
CLEVELAND – Team Wendy, an industry leader in protective material development and the sole authorized provider of ground combat helmet pad systems for the US Army and the Marine Corps, has introduced EPIC™ as an addition to its pad system product line. EPIC (Enhanced Protection, Individual Comfort) represents a new standard for pad system protection, comfort and fit.

"EPIC™ is a dramatic change in pad system design, yet carries forward the best characteristics of our current Team Wendy product," said Scott Burk, vice president of sales for Team Wendy. "Our goal was to improve stability, comfort and user adjustability, while also taking a significant step forward in both blast and blunt impact protection. Based on what we have seen in current testing and user evaluations, we have far outstripped our initial goals on every front. This development may also have a direct positive impact on the effectiveness of athletic headgear, therefore limiting sports- related head injuries." EPIC

™ utilizes Team Wendy’s patented Zorbium® foam in a one-piece impact liner for fixed protection and 22 soft comfort pads (in two thicknesses and four shapes) the user can arrange for personalized comfort. The 22 pads include four Ultra Grip™ pads for stability and two "wringable" sweatbands for moisture absorption.

Blunt impact testing shows that EPIC™ provides a significant improvement at extreme high-speed (14 and 17 feet/second) impacts across all temperature conditions. "In some cases, we are seeing performance increases in excess of 40 percent without sacrificing performance at low-speed impacts," said Amy Carpenter, product development manager for Team Wendy. "These improvements are a result of the system’s design, as well as the material capabilities of Zorbium®. Because ‘tuning’ our material is a relatively easy process, we are able to address impact and location challenges that other solutions cannot. This remains an evolutionary process – we are viewing the current version of EPIC™ as a ‘Generation I’ product. We already have plans on the board taking the product even further." Although not yet approved for military sale, Team Wendy is working very closely with its industry partners and all services to get EPIC introduced and formally approved. "Because many of the processes to manufacture EPIC

™ are similar to those of our current product, shifting to high-rate production for EPIC™ would be very easy," Burk said.

EPIC™ fits all ballistic, ground combat and tactical helmets and is currently available for law enforcement sales. For more information on EPIC™, go to www.teamwendy.com/EPIC.

Team Wendy is the sole authorized provider of the standard issue helmet-pad system for the US Army Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) and Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet (LWH). This system is procured through the mandatory source, National Industries for the Blind (NIB), as part of the AbilityOneTM program. Team Wendy’s products are made with the company’s patented Zorbium® Foam, which was specifically engineered for headgear safety. Team Wendy is a certified U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) HubZone Company headquartered in Cleveland.

Team Wendy – Overprotective, and Proud of It!®

WHEN IT COUNTS MOST, TRUST ONLY THE BEST!

See link for the GAO Report released July 2009 - - the latest government report reiterating that Team Wendy ZAP™ (Zorbium™ Action Pads) are the ONLY AUTHORIZED PADS for use in the ground combat helmets of the US Army and USMC.  What’s Inside Your Helmet?®

Trust Only the Best

View full downloadable article here

What’s Inside Your Helmet Does Matter
A soldier with the 10^th Mountain Division may owe his life to Zorbium™ Action Pads by Team Wendy. According to Army sources, the soldier was on patrol in Iraq this January when he was hit by a sniper bullet. The bullet penetrated his Advanced Combat Helmet but he was able to walk away with only minor abrasions. He was able to walk away because the bullet lodged in the Zorbium™ Action Pads installed inside his helmet (click link below to see photos). Zorbium™ Action Pads can make a big difference. What’s inside your helmet?™
Click here for more...

Team Wendy Achieves ISO Certification!

Team Wendy’s Quality Management System is applicable to:

The development and production of protective helmets,
helmet liners and other safety or storage devices such as
shields, knee and elbow pads and viscoelastic foams for
energy, noise and vibration attenuation.

Contact us to discuss your specific needs or problems and
allow our technical staff to help you develop the right solution!

Click to View Certificate

Team Wendy Upcoming Events
Please visit Team Wendy at the upcoming events listed below:

Special Operations Medical Association Show (SOMA)
December 12-15, 2009
Tampa, Fla.

SHOT Show
January 19-22, 2010
Las Vegas, Nev.

Kentucky National Guard Show
February 12-14, 2010
Lexington, Ky.

AUSA Winter Show
February 24-26, 2010
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Government Security Expo & Conference
March 23-24, 2010
Washington D.C.

SpecOps East
April 12-15, 2010
Fayetteville, N.C.

Modern Day Marine South
April 21-22, 2010
Camp Lejeune, S.C.

Pennsylvania National Guard Show
April 22-25, 2010
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Ohio National Guard Show
April 23-24, 2010
Columbus, Ohio

Please check back for more additions!