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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK items that they identify as being top of the list. I don't know that gear washers were actually at the top of the list in the last couple of years. He continued, Our exhaust extractors in several stations, that we installed, came from an AFT grant two (2) years ago, I believe. We already had exhaust removal systems in all of our stations. Chief Taylor installed those back in the mid-nineties (90's). As with any mechanical device, some of them were aging out. They needed to be replaced, and we wanted to standardize them at every station. We've now done that as well, but we did get a grant for that project. Councilmember Tim Scott asked, Part of your study with your professor at Notre Dame, are they also looking at the makeup of the equipment, like the plastics, the TPO's?What I understand, and I believe I heard him on NPR mention that fire retardants are making up the treatment on the fabrics and that. All those play into the plastics industry. You heat up plastic and you get gas out from those. So, the whole entire equipment, is that part of the study? Chief Cox answered, That will be part. We're going to propose two (2) separate studies, and one (1) of them will focus on Dr. Peaslee's side of the house. That is exposure and how do we identify that exposure within our firefighters. Then, Dr. Mopett's end of it is going to be an early detection piece that we're looking to do research on to detect cancers earlier in a way that's cost effective and more effective than current. For us to be able to identify someone with a brain tumor right now you have to put them through an MRI or CAT scan,which comes with risk. What we want to be able to do is utilize any early detection devices that are good and have a good efficacy but don't cost alot of money. Some of the screening devices out there, such as bladder cancer,those are like ten-dollars ($10) a test. Those are easier and we already do those for our department with his company. We feel as though we can do more, and especially we really want to push the marketplace out there to be developing those types of tests for firefighters and to make it more economical. This way, we can detect earlier those cancers because we already know that the prognosis for earlier detection is much better than late detection. Councilmember Scott stated, from all of us, our heart goes out to everybody for the loss. We did a moment of silence here at Council. Chief Cox replied, Thank you very much. Councilmember Scott stated, Literally,that was my number two(2)priority with this,is the cancer prevention because I've been reading and hearing a lot about it. Chief Cox stated, One (1) of the other special initiatives that we have started is a drone program with our department.We have ten(10)individuals within our department that are all FAA licensed, and one-hundred and seven (107) individuals that can operate drones at scenes. The Fire Department in conjunction with the Office of Innovation has received a couple of different waivers for when and where we can fly drones specific to public safety incidents. Our department has been utilizing drones in a way right now to be able to provide command over watch, to provide search and rescue, a multitude of different uses. I think, personally, that we're just at the cusp of this. Every single time we fly a drone it seems as though somebody else has another idea for how we can use it. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building',227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 vwwv.southbendin.gov 10