About Us
About us
Dedicated to you.
We’re dedicated to developing innovative products and training solutions that meet the constantly evolving challenges encountered by first responders.
FAST Rescue Solutions is dedicated to developing innovative products and training solutions that meet the constantly evolving challenges encountered by first responders. Our mission is to develop products and training that surpass currently accepted industry standards and that meet the operational challenges of the real world.
Our team of Subject Matter Experts bring over a century of combined experience in firefighting, RIT, technical rescue, law enforcement (including SWAT, Mobile Field Force, and bike patrol), and training Military Units.
The FAST Rescue Board is the ultimate rescue platform designed for maximum versatility and ease of use. Originally designed for Rapid Intervention in firefighter rescue, this system also excels in the fields of Confined Space, Hazardous Materials, Active Shooter Response, and all other areas of patient packaging, extrication, and transport. With the addition of the FAST Flotation Device the FAST Board is setting a new standard for water and ice rescue. Constructed with industry standard webbing and hardware, the innovative rapid packaging features will have your patient packaged and moving in seconds.
The FAST Shield is an innovative, multi-disciplinary tool designed as a force multiplier in any incident. FAST supports the growing trend for law enforcement, Fire, and EMS to work together during an event as Fire and EMS personnel increasingly find themselves in situations that expose them to the same threats as law enforcement. With the additional of a FAST Ballistic Panel the FAST Shield enables law enforcement a higher level of protection and capability. In addition to an officer down rescue device The FAST Shield can be used as an entry shield, impact weapon, breaching device, and restraint device. The FAST Shield is rapidly increasing officer safety and response.
Our Story
From FAST Board Creator, Eric Allen:
Fast Rescue Solutions (FRS) started from a need that has been present since I started with the Fire Department in 1996. That need became even more clear in 2004 when I joined my department’s first Special Operations team.
That need was the movement and removal of downed personnel and civilians from a hazardous environment.
In the past, the mindset was to adapt rope rescue into emergence evacuation. FRS is taking the opposite approach — we are taking emergency evacuation and integrating it into rope rescue.
We originally developed the FAST (Firefighter Assistance Search Team) Board with the specific intent to be able to remove a firefighter from a basement.
Since that time, we have continued to refine the FAST Board to included uses in situations such as:
- Ice rescue
- Water rescue
- Confined space rescue
- Mass casualty
- Active shooter scenarios
Details, including a features list of the FAST Board can be seen on the FAST Board product page.
Our Founders
Eric Allen
Co-Founder / InventorEric Allen is the creator of the FAST Board and Co-founder of FAST Rescue Solutions, LLC. Eric began his career in firefighting in the United States Navy. In 1996, after an honorable discharge, he joined the Philadelphia Fire Dept. In 2004 Eric joined Philadelphia’s Special Operations and was assigned to Squad 47. Other accomplishments include being a member of PATF 1 as a Rescue Specialist, Technical Search Specialist, and Technical Search Manager.
In his many years as a firefighter, Eric repeatedly saw firsthand the urgency of downed firefighters in confined spaces, and the dangers faced when their evacuations took too long to complete. He and his fellow firefighters had been witness to the painful losses of far too many firefighters. Something needed to be done. Eric decided to find a better way. After many different approaches to the problem and the realization that the solution had to combine emergency evacuation with technical rope rescue, and after extensive research and testing Eric developed the FAST Board – a rescue board that is a complete rapid intervention system. The FAST Board has proven to be a far superior way of accomplishing confined space evacuations, and many other rescue scenarios. Eric’s concept gives rapid intervention teams a tool that makes rapid evacuations safe and manageable.
In September 2015, Eric teamed up with his long-time friend and entrepreneur, Sam Cohen, and FAST Rescue Solutions was born.
Sam Cohen
Co-Founder / CEOSam Cohen co-founded FAST Rescue Solutions, LLC with longtime friend and Special Operations Fire Fighter, Eric Allen, in September 2015. As the current Chief Executive Officer, Sam spearheads the sales effort for this innovative organization focused on saving lives. The FAST Board, the flagship product in the company’s arsenal, embodies the next evolution in rescue equipment through an integrated approach to emergency evacuation.
Sam graduated from Drexel University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Before his involvement with FAST Rescue Solutions, Sam developed a successful career with a Fortune 700 Company, whose primary focus is to provide comprehensive financial services to labor union members. During his tenure, Sam held multiple roles with increasing levels of responsibility, including General Manager and Vice President of Sales. Sam has a proven track record for exceeding sales targets, developing new talent and providing motivational leadership in a team environment.
An avid reader, Sam in his free time searches for new material to satisfy his craving for knowledge. He also enjoys the fine art of whiskey-making and of course, tasting the end-product.
