PPB May 2020

F i r s t Responde r s A Primer On Challenge Coins AndTheir Uses Kevin A. Tuohy, president of veteran- and firefighter-owned and operated supplier Adrenaline Challenge Coins, offers these insights: Challenge coins are a popular item with first responders, but there is a world of opportunity beyond just selling to the city, county or state. Using a large fire department as an example (mine has 78 firehouses and over 1,200 sworn personnel and more than 1,500 total personnel), there are many subsets that buy their own coins. While our department has a "department coin," the fairly generic kind ordered by the overall organization and the kind of order we generally see from distributors, most chief officers will also make their own coin. In an organization like a fire department, there are at least 40 chief officers. Other units and divisions that we have made coins for include Air Operations, Dispatch/Communications Center, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR has multiple agencies represented and dispatched to major disasters worldwide), Incident Management Teams (normally comprised of members of several different entities that some of the biggest incidents anywhere in the nation), pipes and drums bands, sports teams and more. And then there is the ongoing influx of new recruits/rookies who usually create a coin for their own academy, which is given to family members, instructors, members of their crew, etc. Each of these groups will order between 100-500 coins specific to their group as well as to their agency. Most first responders will proudly wear or display items that are specific to their agency and will trade or gift with members of other agencies. Police are a little different. While very proud of their profession, they are less likely to wear items related to their profession because it can make them a target. But within their own circles or with trusted friends and family, and certainly within their own homes, they will proudly display memorabilia of their profession. While this could limit quantities sold to law enforcement, in most cities and counties the law enforcement agencies are roughly triple the size of the fire agencies, so sales are about equal. In addition, there are many non- emergency events that are specific to first responders. California has the Fire & Police Olympics every summer, changing locations each year, and the U.S. Police and Fire Championships are held in various locations throughout the U.S. every summer. Every two years, in even-numbered years, the World Firefighter Games take place in a different city around the world and, in odd-numbered years, the World Police & Fire Games take place every two years in various locations around the world. The latter event is the granddaddy of them all and hosts from 5,000 to 12,000 competitors, rivaling the Olympic Games in number of competitors. Campaign Collateral First responders are extremely dedicated and proud of what they do, and love merchandise that recognizes that dedication and pride. A challenge coin fills the bill in every way. Every element of this brass challenge coin can be customized including shape, size, edge, color and finish. Adrenaline Challenge Coins PPAI 739012, S1 www.adrenalinechallengecoins.com Thank first responders for their outstanding service with the Technica Onyx Medallion watch . This handsome stainless-steel timepiece can be customized with an engraving or imprint. SELCO / PPAI 113845, S6 www.shop.selcotime.com 32 | MAY 2020 | GROW