Protecting Pittsburgh's First Responders

PITTSBURGH, May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It is often our nation's first responders who put their lives on the line to keep their communities safe.  Yet the selfless nature of that profession all too often leads first responders to think of themselves last.  To help protect these brave men and women  beyond the development of advanced protective equipment, Pittsburgh-based safety equipment manufacturer, MSA (NYSE: MSA) is the lead sponsor of a Wills for Heroes event to give Pittsburgh Firefighters peace of mind that they – and their families – will be taken care of in the event of a tragedy.

Wills for Heroes is a national program that allows lawyers from various organizations to volunteer their time and services to provide wills, living wills and other estate documents to first responders and their spouses or significant others free of charge.  The local Wills for Heroes event will be held on Saturday, June 1 at the Pittsburgh Fire Training Academy on Washington Boulevard in Pittsburgh.  The event is being sponsored by MSA's law department in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

"For many first responders, thinking about a will is an uncomfortable reminder of the inherent danger of their profession," said Doug McClaine, MSA Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel.  Mr. McClaine explained that for those who are seriously injured or die in the line of duty without a will, the loved ones left behind must deal with tedious paperwork, difficult decisions and financial struggles. Having a will and living will in place allows first responders to decide how their assets and care will be handled if the unthinkable happens.

 "Our legal team is thrilled to volunteer its services to directly help Pittsburgh's first responders," Mr. McClaine said. "While all of our associates at MSA know that their jobs impact our mission - that men and women may work in safety - many do not often get the opportunity to interact with customers directly.  To say the least, we are proud to do our part to support such an important cause," he said. 

Attorneys from MSA and partner law firms will conduct 45- to 90-minute sessions with individual firefighters and, when finished, the first responders will leave with complete, notarized documents. 

"We are grateful to MSA and the Wills for Heroes program for offering this service to Local 1 and making it easy for our members to have a valid and legal will," said John Gardell, Recording Secretary for Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1.  "We sincerely thank all of the attorneys who are volunteering their time, and we are encouraging all of our members to take advantage of this great program." 

For more information on the Wills for Heroes program, visit www.willsforheroes.org or contact Angel Revelant, Program Coordinator for Allegheny County at [email protected].

About MSA

Established in 1914, MSA is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures.  Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in a broad range of industries, including the fire service, the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, construction, mining and utilities, as well as the military.  Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, handheld gas detection instruments, head protection products, fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through a joint venture with MCR Safety.  These products are marketed and sold under the Safety Works® brand.  MSA, based north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., has annual sales of approximately $1.2 billion, manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and 42 international locations.  Additional information is available on the company's Web site at www.MSAsafety.com. Information on Safety Works products can be found at www.SafetyWorks.com. 

SOURCE MSA

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