December 2021 FFS Magazine by ffca

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FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION

December 2021 • VOLUME 29 NUMBER 12

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Florida Fire Florida Fire Fire Chiefs’ Florida Fire

Service is the monthly publication of the Chiefs’ Association, provided to Florida Association (FFCA) members, by the Chiefs’ Association.

Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association 221 Pinewood Drive Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: (850) 900-5180 Email: info@ffca.org • www.ffca.org FFCA Staff Wm. Ray Colburn - Executive Director & CEO Denise Holley - Office Manager Scott Leisen - Marketing Director Ngoc Huynh - Conference & Events Director Liz Aperauch - Administrative Assistant FFCA Board of Directors Douglas Riley - President Reginald Duren - 1st Vice President Harold Theus - 2nd Vice President Ty Silcox - Immediate Past President Julie Downey - Secretary/Treasurer Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director Carlos Aviles - Northeast Region Director Chuck Bogle - East Central Region Director Percy Sayles - Southeast Region Director Ian Kemp - West Central Region Director Gregory DeWitt - Southwest Region Director Wm. Ray Colburn - Executive Director & CEO James White - Foundation Chair Leland Greek - Senior Member

FROM THE SECTIONS Message from the FFCA President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Message from the Foundation Chair . . . . . . . . . . . .10

10 FEATURES

For Unto Us a Child is Born. . . . . . . 8 The Approval Trap: Time for a Mayday?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A Positive Attitude is the Best Tool in Your Leadership Arsenal . . . . . . 16

Culture vs. Behavior: Focus Your Efforts on Meaningful Firefighter Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Advantages of Telemedicine in Emergency Care. . . . . . . . . . 20

Watts the Big Deal?. . . . . . . . . . . 26

FURTHERMORE Preparing for the Worst . . . . . . . . . 14

Editorial Submissions magazine@ffca.org (850) 900-5180

FFCA New Members. . . . . . . . . . . 21 Operation Restore. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Advertising Scott Leisen, Editor in Chief scott@ffca.org (386) 717-0055

Featured Vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Florida Fire Service December 2021, Volume 29, Number 12 USPS # 016-759

Periodical postage paid in Daytona Beach, Florida, and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Florida Fire Service, 221 Pinewood Drive Tallahassee, FL 32303. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers or the members of FFCA. Copyright 2021 by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission.

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

A Christmas Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Subscription rate for members is $36, which is included in member dues. Archived electronic monthly editions of Florida Fire Service magazine are available at www.ffca.org. Log in as a member and click on the Publications tab.

December 2021

Man Reunites with Crew, Bystanders who Saved his Life . . . 30 AARF Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Titusville Fire Department Donation . 32 Walton County Earns EMS Accreditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 n brief . . . news from around the state. . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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Douglas Riley, Fire Chief FFCA President

hank you to everyone that was able to attend the 2021 Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Safety and Health conference. It was great to be able to hold an in-person event and catch up with some familiar colleagues as well as meet a few new ones. The conference was a great success and featured some very dynamic and passionate speakers. Our great state is clearly ahead of the game with a major focus on the health, safety, and welfare of our firefighters. Our legislative team is busy advocating for all of us at the capital and we appreciate the hard work and diligence in making sure that decisions that are being made that will affect the fire service are being represented with our safety and best interest in mind. Fire-Rescue EAST is only a few short weeks away and we hope to see all of you there. FFCA Staff has been very busy planning and coordinating a great conference that will certainly be beneficial to all. On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors of the FFCA I want to wish you all safe and enjoyable holidays. Please enjoy your time with family and friends and travel safely.

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December 2021

For Unto Us a Child is Born By Rick Spence, FFCA Chaplain

arlier this month, I attended the FFCA Safety and Health Conference in Lake Buena Vista. This was the first time this conference had met since December of 2019. I ran into a friend of mine, Jason, who I had not seen in over two years. Jason is an extremely competent fire officer. He was previously a company officer on his department’s SQUAD truck and had trained most of his department in Special Ops. Currently, he is a company officer on a ladder truck and is on a list to move up to Battalion Chief. I don’t think anyone ever questioned Jason’sability to manage a scene or mitigate any type of incident. He was always respectful to everyone, but his responses were often very curt and short. He seemed to lack some level of social skills that allowed conversations to be extended or go into greater detail. That may have been his goal, since I always thought of him as an introvert. When I saw Jason a couple of weeks ago, I pretty much expected the same type of interaction with him. WOW!! Was I surprised when Jason came up to me and gave me a big bear hug and told me how good it was to see me again. Rarely do people that I do not owe money ever react like that toward me. He was smiling and seemed genuinely happy when he was talking to me. We talked for about five or six minutes and then he told me what had

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December 2021

recently changed in his life. Shortly after I saw him in December of 2019, his wife became pregnant with their first child. She had given birth to a baby girl in July of 2020. Jason was in his late thirties and had been married almost 15 years before his wife got pregnant. I don’t know if that was by choice or for other reasons, but one thing I know for sure is, this baby has changed Jason’s life and made him a different person. Other people that I talked to that knew Jason, confirmed the fact that he had become almost an entirely different person since the birth of his daughter. I was witness to how this baby had changed Jason’s heart and made him a different person. Jason’s world was completely different than it was before. Over 2000 years ago there was a baby that was born that came to change people’s hearts and lives. This baby, much like Jason’s baby, changed people’s hearts one at a time. This baby that was born over 2000 years ago did not lead armies or political parties because He did not want people to come to Him by force. This baby did not have access to a radio or TV talk shows to promote himself, because humility is a cornerstone of His foundation. This baby did not have access to social media because He did not want His message to be distorted or taken out of context. This baby did not take to the streets in protest of His mistreatment

because that was His sacrifice to make. What this baby did have access to was our hearts. Jesus Christ knew that in order to change the world, He had to do it one heart at a time. He knew people could not be coerced, cajoled, or intimidated into changing their hearts, they had to do it willingly through the peace that only Christ can offer. Jesus knew, what Jason’s baby girl will come to know; people’s hearts will only change once a relationship exists. Jason and his wife were building a relationship with their daughter and she was changing their hearts toward her and other people. When we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, our hearts change towards each other, other people and, eventually the world. “For unto us a child is born, a son is given,…. and his name shall be Called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6. My prayer for everyone who reads these words is they will find a p Rick S ence peace that surpasses all understanding, that is found through a relationship with Jesus Christ, a baby born on Christmas • • FF Day. in CA a l p a Ch Meryy Christmas!

James White, CFO Foundation Chair

elcome to a new year. It’s hard to imagine that we are seeing the end of 2021 and looking forward on to 2022. As our communities and firefighters continue to emerge from the all-consuming issues of COVID-19, we are also being met with new challenges in our ability to train and educate our newest firefighters. 2022 will bring a new crop of young people to our fire academies who will have a totally different perspective of our industry than we did those many years ago. In the past, students, for the most part, did what was asked of them without question. They want to know how many, how high, or how I can get better? They wanted to be taught and to impress their instructors. I think we can all agree that today’s student firefighter is much different. While they want to know the how, more importantly, they want to know the why … and

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that’s a good thing. If the past several years are any indication of the type of students, we will see entering our fire schools seeking state certification, and eventual employment, we can look forward to a more diverse and challenging cohort. Today, we have some outstanding young people seeking firefighting as a career. They are bringing new talents and skills that we never knew would be needed to be successful in public safety. Diversity in language, lifeexperience, culture, and community. This new generation is also being challenged to find ways of paying for their education and training. While more funding is out there for college and technical schools, our student firefighters are muddling through processes that are not always easy to negotiate. I am proud to say that your Florida Fire Chiefs’ Foundation Board of Trustees and staff

have worked hard to bring a very simple process that allows applicants to use technology to apply for student scholarships specifically for the courses needed to obtain both Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards and Emergency Medical Technician certification. As a member of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, we need your help in directing students to our scholarship application process which is conveniently located on-line at www.ffca.org/scholarship. Applications are routinely reviewed by our Board, with decisions returned to the applicant in time for them to enter their academies. We are asking that you do your part and seek out opportunities to speak to young people about careers in the Florida fire service, and that when they decide, our financial support is there from the FFCA.

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The Approval Trap: Time for a Mayday? By Sam DiGiovanna

uring a working incident, radio traffic can be overwhelming from everyone working the incident to the incident commander (IC). There is a lot of noise on the fireground that can sometimes drown out radio messages. Getting your message across and being blocked or cut off by other radio transmissions can be frustrating, to say the least. When calling for a mayday, this is even more frustrating. A mayday is declared for three main reasons. Firefighters are: • lost or trapped • injured • missing/unaccounted for Communication Competition Growing up I had four siblings. Like a working incident, we gathered around the kitchen table—five of us all, different ages, constantly vying for the attention of our parents and each other. In other words: nonstop chatter! We wanted to be heard, accounted for and approved of. Like fireground communications, getting your message out over four siblings on the same frequency was at times frustrating. Often the transmission for approval was not heard. When a child insists on being the focus of attention, they call a mayday message of sorts to ensure their position is heard and accepted. The child will sometimes employ manipulative or disruptive behavior—threat of a disappointment, picking a fight, whining or an emotional explosion—to get attention. Back to the firehouse. Step into a firehouse kitchen, whether with four or 14 firefighters, and the need for approval is

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not unlike my family’s kitchen table. Our approval-seeking messages are often more muted as adults. But, just like children, when communication or need is not received, it can get ugly fast. You would think we would promote out of it. However, it is my experience that as adults very few of us are immune from caring about what other people think. When we become preoccupied with a need to be liked—or try too hard to be everyone’s hero—we risk abandoning ourselves. In short, we begin to play the role we think others wish for us to perform. Trapped in the Need for Approval The desire for approval is potentially problematic. Approval-seeking behaviors are stressful. You constantly wonder: “Do they like me?” The need for approval also means that you miss out of a lot in life. You are in essence declaring someone else’s needs and standards above your own. While everyone appreciates praise and a sense of acceptance, they shouldn’t come at the expense of your own sense of self. The approval trap can also quickly spiral into other issues, including: The Comparison Trap: Comparing ourselves constantly to others, we never measure up and end up losing our sense of who we really are. This is exhausting! Comparison harms personal and professional relationships. Like a wildfire it quickly spreads into anger, jealousy, resentment and hatred. The Assumption Trap: In the absence of overt approval, some folks will feel insecure and unsure of themselves within the social context. What is my role? Am I doing a good job? The

human mind abhors a vacuum, so it’s natural to make assumptions in the absence of data. I can’t begin to count the number of times I assumed something in a given situation, only to discover it was my own bias filling in the gaps. A prejudice, belief system, childhood experience or bad information can easily lead us astray. Breaking the Need Learning that “it’s okay to not be okay” is a good start. As first responders, most of us are Type A personalities and high achievers. We’re competitive, too. The drive for selfimprovement and learning is healthy. But it can be taken too far. I’ve found that with work and over time, we can build up our resilience and sense of selfworth to the point that the opinions of others become just that: someone else’s opinion. It might be right or wrong or somewhere in between, and we can now objectively take it for what it is. “Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, being nothing,” Aristotle allegedly said. Since doing nothing isn’t an option, we must be prepared to deal with the criticism. If you’re trapped in the need for approval, it might be time to call a mayday. Sam DiGiovanna is a 33-year fire service veteran. He started with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, served as fire chief at the Monrovia Fire Department and currently serves as chief at the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale, CA.

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Preparing for the Worst:

Fire Department Upgrades Fleet when Amazon Arrives By Zach Allen, Vice President, RAMFAN

Challenges Community fire departments design their fleet capabilities to prepare for the normal response profile. In small suburban

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December 2021

communities across the United States this is typically large amounts of residential mixed with small to medium commercial structures of less than 20,000 sq. ft.. When a mega warehouse, like those of ecommerce giant Amazon, moves into the community the fire department is faced with the major challenge of how to respond to a structure fire at an 800,000 sq. ft. commercial building— more than 300 times the size of the average residential home, and often with ceiling heights up to 40 ft. Primary method of suppression will be fixed systems, but mobile capabilities must be prepared to deliver the volumes of water and air that may become necessary at such a large structure. Large Structure Ventilation Solution • RAMFAN provided a single-axle trailermounted VX700 LSV, powered by a 23 hp Honda GX630 V-Twin engine and equipped with PowerStreamTM air straighteners, to create sufficient high-velocity airflow on a lightweight mobile platform that is moveable by one person. • The VX700 LSV is flexible enough to use at small and medium sized commercial structures in the community, while maintaining the high-performance airflow shape that can reach the highest corners of the Amazon building with ease.

• Budget friendly package that any community can afford. Apopka Fire Department and Amazon’s southeastern US facilities team determined that a large structure ventilator (LSV) was needed for mobile airflow control in the event that smoke, or gases, should need to be removed from the structure. Due to this facility being an extremely atypical structure in Apopka, the RAMFAN VX700 LSV was selected for its smaller size. Smaller, more agile and easy-to-position LSVs make them useful across a wider range of structure types compared to huge truckmounted fans which are limited in mobility and could only ever be used at a single mega structure which, in all likelihood, means it would be sitting at the station—unused—for all or most of its entire useful life. Some of the key benefits they determined during the selection research included: • Distributed Deployment Strategy: multiple smaller mobile fans can be deployed in different areas, more often, and at lower cost than a single truck-mounted fan. • Quick and easy to deploy by any size tow vehicle. • Rapid response and high air flow volume for rescue operations and reoccupation prep. • Effective cooling at the fire ground for firefighter rehabilitation operations.

A Positive Attitude is the Best Tool in Your Leadership Arsenal By Robert E. Collins “The last of human freedoms- the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstance.” Viktor Frankl I value this quote because I believe it sums up how a leader should deal with crisis and conflict; with a positive attitude. Your attitude as a leader in your organization is one of your most effective tools you have to lead your

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personnel. Crisis in the fire service comes in many different forms; it may be a member’s death, a pandemic, staffing shortages or all of the above in a short period of time. As a leader in the organization you must lead by example, find a way to keep your personnel focused on task and serving the members of the community with the best care possible.

The past year has been very difficult for the Fire Service as an industry; there are no departments in Florida that have not been affected by the ever-changing policies and guidelines of COVID-19, extended work hours, higher call volumes, and reduced budgets. These are the times when we as leaders must closely monitor the mood, behavior, and overall attitude of our personnel. The additional stress can lead to low morale, and in some cases depression. There are several mental health studies that validate the benefits from having a positive attitude during difficult times. I have outlined some tips that can be used to assist our members with maintaining a positive attitude when things may seem bleak. Remember why we became firefighters It is always important to remember why we became servants of our community; we took the oath to become firefighters knowing that the job was dangerous and there would be some good days and some bad days. The good days when we have a positive effect on a citizen by saving their property, rendering medical assistance or just allowing them to peak into our life through a station visit or demo will far outweigh the bad days when despite our best efforts we cannot save that life. Keep the good days at the forefront of your memory. Be Grateful for what you have When you are surrounded by gloom and doom, give thanks for the blessings you have in your life. Your family, your career, your friends with whom you share that special bond. Being grateful for what we have will reduce the outside negative influence. Always consider the source when others are telling you how bad you have it or how terrible the job is; Ask yourself after reflection, if this is true and what is that person’s motivation for disparaging your job or organization. Speak the truth As a leader in your organization you have an obligation to speak the truth. No crisis lasts forever and whatever the crisis is now, it too shall pass. The most important action

during a crisis is to not let it consume you, put it into perspective, and move forward. If it is something you can change to make the situation better, then do so. If there is nothing you can do, stay positive until the situation resolves. Don’t subscribe to the practice of assigning blame… to your fire administration, your elected officials or any other group that can be a convenient villain at the time. We lead by positive examples and pointing the finger only makes the situation worse, remember when the crisis passes, we must still have working relationships with those we may villainize today. Positive people seek other Positive people The adage of “misery loves company” is also true of positive people. No one wants to work with the angry, grumpy company or chief officer. Become that positive leader that other positive people would choose to work with and for. Finding other like-minded persons with a positive attitude can be instrumental in how you deal with stress during a crisis. Positive people can make a bad situation better, find humor in crisis and most importantly keep you from focusing on the bad. Firefighters want leadership, they deserve positive leadership. Keep them

informed and reassure them that life gets better. Some of the more senior leaders can often do this through story telling of past events that were considered a crisis at the time. If you are a junior member in a leadership role you may not have the experience, but you can be positive about what the future has to offer for your organization. Positive voices must be louder than negative ones. Self-Care Prioritize your well-being. If you are not healthy, you can’t do much for anyone else including your family. You have to disconnect from the stressors, all forms of media; social, mainstream, non-mainstream…any media that gets you upset to the point it manifests into physical ailments is not healthy, and does allow you to maintain a positive outlook. Exercise more for stress relief, avoid alcohol and comfort foods. Plan fun events with your family, and friends, and leave out the shop talk. Get plenty of rest, hard to do at work sometimes but you can skip some of those overtime shifts. The extra money is great but not at the expense of your well-being. If you are a spiritual person, rely on your faith, and talk to your pastor, there is always a positive, and uplifting message from houses of worship.

These are some simple tips to maintain a positive attitude, I’m sure you may have others to add, and share with your crews. As we come to the end of another challenging year in the fire service, I am optimistic about the future. When I see new recruits, excited to be starting their career, retirees that are looking forward to their golden years, and spending more time with family or travelling or those bright eyed kids, and cheers from the citizens as one of our fire engines lead a parade down main street. I smile and say to myself…. life is pretty good. I want to wish the entire Fire Service Family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Robert E. Collins has been with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for 25 years, and currently is the Chief of Special Operations. He has a Master’s Degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. He is a Designated CFO, and Fire Officer IV with the state of Florida. Collins serves on the IAFC Hazmat Committee and IAFC Diversity Executive Development Committee, and is Program Manager for Florida Task Force 3 Urban Search and Rescue Team.

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By Scott Eskwitt

ulture. It’s a big, big word. It’s a loaded word. After all, when you talk culture, you’re talking about a whole society of ideas, identity, thoughts, common language and beliefs. You’re wading into assumptions about how a group looks at itself and how other groups view it. You’re looking at the good, bad and ugly, then putting it into a collective statement about a group. So, does any fire chief really want to take on fire service culture? If you’ve got a messiah complex, then by all means have at it. For everyone else, let’s focus on behavior and let the culture take care of itself. Differentiating Culture and Behavior Change Several years ago, Battalion Chief (ret.) John Salka made a solid argument in defense of the fire service culture. He pointed out that the culture has good and bad points, and to group all those together was wrong. He gave examples of the positives of fire service culture that many of us would argue are in our DNA and dedicate to daily practice. These positives are how we like to see ourselves and how we would like to think our communities see us: • Respect toward fallen firefighters • Commitment to training and tactics • Pride in operations • Exhibiting discipline in operations But there’s also a darker side of our fire service culture – or at least how it’s perceived: • The machismo of dirty gear that interferes with health initiatives • Misogyny and racism against members and the community • Wolf pack mentality and a wall of silence hide negative behaviors from captains or company officers, resulting in issues never going up the chain of command to

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administrative chiefs • Members allowed to retire or take paid leave to cover suspensions for criminal activity, such as substance abuse, theft of controlled substances, domestic violence, and illegal use of firearms on duty So, start talking about a culture, and you’ve got to group all aspects of that culture into blanket statements that don’t necessarily reflect individual behaviors. This conflict exists in every culture, and it makes any attempt at changing fire service culture dangerous for any leader. Further, referring to cultural traits tends toward more generalized statements that leave a wide berth for interpretation. After all, ask fire service leaders to define organizational discipline or effective leadership, and you’ll get back a range of answers. So, again, forget trying to change a culture. Focus instead on changing the fire service behaviors that create mental and physical risk for firefighters, their families and the community. Behavior is so much more manageable. Behavior is simply how one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others. That sounds like something a chief can handle! Behavior Change in Action Let’s consider the machismo of dirty gear that interferes with health initiatives as an example. The vision firefighters traditionally had of themselves, and how they wanted the public to see them, was with well-worn turnout gear. Bent, burned, dirty helmets, sooty and scuffed coats and bunker pants completed the look. Clean gear meant you were a rookie or not aggressive enough. Paired with the perception that personal health concerns were a show of weakness, the combination created a dangerous – if not fatal – element of fire service culture.

The growing book of research didn’t really make an impact. Updated national standards alone weren’t going to effect change either. Rather, it was the departments that didn’t worry so much about firefighters’ perceptions and instead concentrated on PPE policies, along with the resources to clean gear, that had the greatest success. Policies dictating on-scene PPE decontamination, cleaning of crew cabs, thorough post-scene cleaning at the station, and regular gear washing as a part of their policies and procedures effected changes in behavior. The connection between personal health and clean gear followed and made the change quicker, with less resistance. With these departments, the culture issue took care of itself. Behavior Changes: Operations and Personnel Changing behavior starts with solid policies that are the subject of consistent training, referred to daily, and objectively applied. The results can include: • Increased trust among crews and between crews and officers • Reduced risk of serious injury and death • Increased mental wellness • Reduced exposure to claims related to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation • Reduced exposure to theft of controlled substances, department property and department funds Look at that. All these benefits, and you didn’t have to concern yourself with changing the culture at all. Start with operations-based policies, such as structure fire response, high-rise response and management, rapid intervention, hazmat response, and staging. After all, it’s what we do. It’s why we are here. Working from a single set of policies

standardizes response and expectations. Nothing personal. It’s just business. When a member asks a question, get in the habit of asking right back, “What does the policy say?” Having members refer to the relevant policy builds a “go-to policy” muscle memory and signals that every member works to the same set of expectations. Personnel-based policies are a little trickier. With these policies, the potential exists for requiring a member to alter how they behave toward other members generally and their behavior toward members included in a recognized class. Before giving a few examples, please notice that I’m not interested at first with changing their view of the world, their perceptions of others, their biases, or possibly sexist or racist attitudes. I’m just interested in their behavior and adherence to policy. These policies may include: • Discriminatory harassment, including definitions, prohibitions, reporting, response, and employee protections • Conduct and behavior, including prohibitions on workplace violence, hazing and bullying • Personnel complaints, including specific avenues for reporting and prohibitions on retaliation

• Member speech, expression and use of social media Your goals with personnel policies are the same as with operations policies: • Get all members working from a single set of policies to standardize behavior and expectations • Increase trust • Increase operational efficiency • Reduce risk Just like operational policies, these require consistent training and objective application. However, policies prescribing how one member treats other members and the public require something more. Only through constant reinforcement will members understand departmental expectations. Employees subject to mistreatment have realistic and reasonable avenues for reporting and protection from retaliatory behavior. Employees engaging in behaviors that violate policy can expect significant consequences, and all members know that senior officers and administrators take the issue seriously. For example, when it comes to policies related to conduct, discrimination, antiretaliation and reporting, aside from fully dedicated training sessions, I try to work in at least 10 minutes during operations training to address a personnel policy.

Look Within “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Tolstoy Swap out “world” for “fire service,” and there you go. Don’t worry about changing the culture. It’s a thankless and likely doomed effort that will do little for your legacy. Instead, build a reputation as a leader by using good policy and objective-based standards, applied equally to all members, that focus on member behavior. That’s how you can effect meaningful change. Scott Eskwitt is Director of Fire Policy and Training Content for Lexipol. He is an active member of the Fair Haven (NJ) Fire Department, serving as Chief from 2012 to 2015. He is also a member of the Fair Haven First Aid Squad and the Red Bank (NJ) Fire Department. Scott is also an attorney and has spent his legal career advising municipalities and fire departments on risk management, human resources and labor relations issues. His undergraduate degree in Industrial & Labor Relations was received from Cornell University and his law degree from SUNY Law at Buffalo.

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The Benefits of Telemedicine in Emergency Care By Xavier Jones, Division Chief, Coral Gables Fire Rescue, and Angel Brotons, Associate Director of Operations & Instructor Development, Michael S. Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education

The Rise of Telemedicine Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been hearing and reading about “telehealth” or “telemedicine” a lot more than before. Following the definition by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), we understand telemedicine as “the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance.”1 “When COVID-19 started to spread across the country, people were reluctant to go to the doctor or even the hospital for fear of getting infected,” said Angel “Al” Brotons, who oversees the telemedicine programs at the Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education at the University of Miami. “That opened the door for telemedicine in areas where it was much less common before the pandemic. People who may have never 20

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heard of telemedicine or experienced it before, are now familiar with it because they themselves benefitted from it during the pandemic.” But the truth is, telemedicine has been around for a long time now and it is starting to take hold in areas outside of the primary and specialist care environments. One such area is emergency medicine. Telemedicine in Emergency Stroke Care “In emergency situations, time is always of the essence, but especially when we encounter a patient with stroke symptoms,” said Xavier Jones, Division Chief at the Coral Gables Fire Department in South Florida. “Using telemedicine, we first responders can now go through the NIH Stroke Scale questionnaire in the field, together with a stroke specialist at a nearby hospital via a mobile tablet.” The use of telemedicine by first responders not only saves time, but also makes admission at the hospital easier and more streamlined once the ambulance with the patient arrives. If the

NIH Stroke Scale is not filled out by the time a patient arrives at the hospital, they end up in the ER, where a physician would go through the questions. Only then will the patient be brought to imaging for a CT scan or to any other care location in the hospital deemed appropriate. But if the scale is already complete by the time the patient arrives, because of telemedicine, they will go right to the CT scanner. Every minute saved in the process benefits the patient. The Gordon Center’s Al Brotons introduced the idea of using telemedicine on the Coral Gables Fire Department’s fire rescue trucks for use with stroke patients around two years ago. As a former firefighter-paramedic in the Florida Keys himself, Brotons had experience using telemedicine and was convinced that patients in more urban areas like Miami-Dade County could benefit from the technology as well. “As a firefighter in Monroe County, I saw the incredible benefits of telemedicine myself,” said Brotons. “Using telemedicine, a neurologist will

have already seen the potential stroke patient and conducted the NIH stroke test by the time the patient arrives at the hospital. The medical staff there can use the transportation time to get ready for further tests, imaging, or any immediate procedures. I am not exaggerating when I say that telemedicine can be a lifesaver for stroke patients.” Currently, the Coral Gables Fire Department is working with Jackson Memorial Hospital and Baptist Health in South Florida as part of a telemedicine program for stroke patients. These two hospitals were selected because most patients with stroke symptoms are usually brought there. Neurologists at these two health systems have been provided with tablets and software platforms that enable them to see patients in the emergency rescue vehicles. Coral Gables Fire Department vehicles are rolling WiFi hotspots and do not rely on cell phone coverage for the telemedicine technology. This ensures that the systems and devices work well, even in rural areas. Collaborating to Advance Telemedicine The use of telemedicine on Coral Gables emergency vehicles has been a collaboration between the Fire Rescue service and the Gordon Center from day one. Technology, such as telemedicine, is only beneficial when users know to how apply it properly. Processes that are not clear or communication that is poor can even lead to obstacles that add time in a situation when the patient needs to get treatment quickly. That’s why the Gordon Center regularly trains Coral Gables Fire Rescue first responders in the use of the telemedicine platform. “We work closely with our partners at the Gordon Center to ensure all of our first responders know exactly how to use the technology that’s on our vehicles to the advantage of the patient,” said Jones. “But this is a team effort, so the training also includes the physicians at the hospitals we work with regularly. Patients benefit only if we all work together and are well trained on the technology. This training is the glue that holds telemedicine together in emergency situations.” Studies have shown that the use of prehospital telemedicine in stroke patients has a positive impact on outcomes.2 It reduces the “Door to Needle” time, which means that patients have to wait shorter periods of time for effective treatment to begin. It also frees up staff in the hospitals because some of the logistics are already done while the patient is being transported. Lastly, doing the NIH Stroke Scale survey with a virtual doctor through telemedicine allows for faster, more certain

diagnosis upon arrival at the ER. All of this not only simplifies communications with care providers, it also leads to more efficient processes. Committed to Telemedicine Research Both Coral Gables Fire Rescue and the Gordon Center are committed to conducting research to evaluate the impact of telemedicine in emergency medicine. The Gordon Center has several research programs in place to study how telemedicine may help improve patient outcomes. The Coral Gables Fire Rescue Department is working with other local partners in South Florida to conduct similar studies. The Future Role of Telemedicine in Emergency Medicine For now, the Coral Gables Fire Department is using telemedicine only for stroke patients, but there are plans in place to expand the use of this technology. Having a specialist see the patient before they arrive at the hospital can benefit people with all kinds of medical conditions. This “concierge service” will allow patients to consult one-on-one with a physician and provide treatment options on the scene if the physician feels the patient does not need to go to the emergency room. Instead, the patient may be referred to an urgent care center or told to follow up with their primary care doctor. Telemedicine could also be used for burn victims, those suffering from a heart attack, and – the area in which Coral Gables Fire Rescue will likely use it next – trauma patients. Patients involved in accidents or other traumatic incidents are often highly complex to treat. So the more the medical team knows about the patient before hospital arrival, the better. That will streamline the triage process and simplify

John Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South Walton Fire District Suzanne Boisvert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pinellas Park Fire Department Greg Campanella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Escambia County Fire Rescue Lauren Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QuadMed, Inc Jason Catrambone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Excambia County Fire Rescue Josh Dancey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fire-Dex (Gear Wash) Lisa DeLaRionda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Beach County BOCC Emily Devaney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GearGrid Corporation RobertEdson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Intterra StanElkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tavares Fire Department KevinFryer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Okeechobee County Fire Rescue ShannonGagliardi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Okeechobee County Fire Rescue JamieGwilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Okeechobee County Fire Rescue JonathanHollingsworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Escambia County Fire Rescue JeffJacobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .EPR Systems Lou Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South Walton Fire District Montgomery Klein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MyMedHistory

logistics once the patient arrives in the ER. At the Gordon Center, training programs for telemedicine are already available for a large range of prehospital situations. “Our main goal is to save lives through simulation technology,” said Brotons. “Our programs for telemedicine are great examples of that. Cutting down time from first encounter with a patient to dropping them off with the right people at the hospital as quickly as possible is doing exactly that. Telemedicine leads to shorter wait times and better processes and that has the potential to save lives.” For additional information about Coral Gables Fire Rescue, please visit https://www.coralgables.com/departments/Fir e. To learn more about the Gordon Center, please visit https://gordoncenter.miami.edu. Xavier Jones can be reached at xjones@coralgables.com and Al Brotons at abrotons@med.miami.edu. 1 https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/kits/telemedicineand-telehealth.html 2 https://www.ems1.com/stroke-care/articles/study-inambulance-telehealth-consultation-leads-to-faster-stroke-treatment5i91Wav7pxydgT5u/, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone. 0036796, https://www.karger.com/Article/Fulltext/444175

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We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” — St Francis of Assisi

he Reverend Rick Malivuk, M. Div., shares his personal story about the formation of “Operation Restore”, a retreat program in Tampa that is changing the lives of first responders. In 2012, Sister Anne Dougherty, OSF, and I had served as chaplains for the Tampa Bay Regional Critical Incident Team for more than ten years, providing support during debriefings, defusings, etc. This support was provided to “first responders,” (police and fire fighters) after “tough calls,” (critical incidents) utilizing CISM protocols developed by the International Critical Incident Foundation. Sr. Anne also served as a chaplain for the Tampa Police Department and the FBI

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while I (a Vietnam combat veteran) served as a Volunteer Chaplain at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Since we had known each other for several years and had worked together on other projects, we began comparing notes on our experiences. Both of us were critical of what passed as chaplaincy in the various agencies. We explored the idea of providing criteria and/or a training program to enhance the professionalism of chaplains for these agencies. It was during these exploratory conversations that the murders at Sandy Hook took place as well as several line of duty deaths in Tampa. We knew we had to do something. As the new Executive Director of the Franciscan Center in Tampa, Sr. Anne began to research programs with a post trauma focus. This would become a ministry offered by the Center to benefit the first responder community. She attended the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR) in California. After gathering interested administrators from both police and fire agencies, representatives from WCPR presented an overview of their program. Great interest was expressed by all in developing a similar program in the Tampa area. The first Operation Restore three-and-a-half day retreat was offered late summer 2013. To date, 375 first responders have made the retreat, receiving 40 CEUs each for this training from the Police Institute at St. Petersburg College. The retreat involves the use of multiple treatment modalities that include: (1) Eye

Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, (2) Daily Group Process, (3) Stress Reduction Techniques, (4) Alcohol and Drug Education Prevention, (5) Post-Trauma Brain Function, (5) Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, (6) Suicide Education and Prevention, (7) Spiritual Responses to Post-Trauma Stress, and (8) Education about Post Trauma Medication. First responders are nominated by their supervisors as potential participants in Operation Restore. Prior to acceptance into the program, each participant is individually interviewed and assessed by the program director to ensure that they are emotionally “ready” to focus on their critical incident. All retreat facilitators are licensed clinicians and clergy with extensive experience in working with first responders and individuals who have been exposed to traumatic events. Metrics on the program’s efficacy are gathered by participants evaluations and by pre, post and 90-day post, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory surveys. For more information on the Franciscan Center’s Operation Restore, contact them at info@franciscancentertampa.org or call 813229-2695.

A Christmas Story By J osep h A. La C og nat a, C h apl ain , Fi re Resc u e Su pp ort

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walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2 Hope was the message of the angels: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 Hope was the message of the shepherds: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, h A. La C ogna which were just as they had been se p ta Jo told.” Luke 2:20 Christmas. Sure, it’s a wonderful time of celebrating. But even more than this, it is a wonderful time of celebrating hope; hope Fir t eR or escue Supp found in the birth of God’s Son. You can find out more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support by visiting www.firerescuesupport.com. •

here are many Christmas stories that are told and retold year after year. “‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house; not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” These stories capture the joy and magic of the season. “Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul; with a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal.” However, we know there is more to the holidays than glitz and glitter. As we think about this, we need to stop and reconsider the place of Christmas in our lives. While Christmas is full of wonderful times, good food, and watching children open presents, we need to refocus our thoughts and put into perspective the modern celebration of Christmas. Although there is nothing wrong with exchanging gifts, eating food, and going to Grandma’s house, we must look past these activities to see what Christmas is all about. And what Christmas is all about can be summed up in one word – hope. Hope was the message of the prophets: “The people

•

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Watts the Big Deal? By Stacey Sherman Bailey, Fire Chief, Parrish Fire District

ave you heard of the World’s Largest Solar-Powered Battery? Well, it’s located in the Parrish Fire District in Manatee County, on the west coast of Florida. A project that is so modern and innovative that, the Parrish Fire District reached out to the State Fire Marshal (Director Julius Halas) and his team of inspectors for assistance. The scope of work included testing the alarm panels that are

contained in each of the module container buildings and sharing site information. “We know this is the future, so sharing information is vital to any fire jurisdiction that may experience this type of project. And from what I am hearing, there are many more of these types of projects coming to Florida” (Bailey). At the Parrish battery site, FPL Crews have installed and connected over 100 battery

Pictured L-R: Wayne Ownbey, Assistant Chief, Parrish Fire District, Agustin (Augie) Valdes, District Chief, Division of State Fire Marshal, Charles (Rusty) Burnett, Fire Protection Specialist, Division of State Fire Marshal, Michael Maxim, Fire Protection Specialist, Division of State Fire Marshal, Fernando Roman, Fire Protection Specialist, Division of State Fire Marshal, Julius Halas, Director, Division of State Fire Marshal, Leticia Teague, Deputy Fire Marshal, Parrish Fire District, Stacey S. Bailey, Fire Chief, Parrish Fire District

Aerial of Battery site under construction 26

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modules. All of the modules combined make up about 409 MW of output and 900 MWh of capacity, the energy storage system will be able to power the equivalent of 329,000 homes for more than two hours and enable customers to enjoy the benefits of solar even when the sun is not shining, such as at night or during inclement weather. Each unit weighs approximately 38 tons, is roughly 36 feet long by 11 feet in height and width and will hold roughly 400 battery modules, with each battery module being equivalent to about 2,000 iPhone batteries. These modules also include specific fire protection systems that are new and revolutionary. We worked extensively with FPL to ensure that NFPA 855 Energy Storage Systems (ESS), was utilized as the basis for safety for firefighters, company employees and the surrounding communities. We would like to thank Director Halas and his staff for their assistance with the innovative project. We would also like to extend any information we can to Fire Jurisdictions that may need it.

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o encourage career development for those interested in pursuing professions which help in times of crisis and disasters, Saint Leo University offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in emergency management. For those looking to gain leadership knowledge and advance their careers, Saint Leo offers the Master of Science degree in emergency and disaster management and a specialization in fire science administration. All courses are delivered online, making them ideal for adult learners and those working and raising families.

Faculty at Saint Leo created the bachelor’s program because of the demand across the country for people trained in managing coordinated response to disasters, fires, and other emergencies caused by conditions ranging from coastal flooding and powerful storms to industrial accidents and criminal actions. “Our emergency management students come from diverse backgrounds,” said Dr. Ernest Vendrell, professor of public safety administration and associate director of the university’s Department of Public Safety Administration. “Some are seasoned professionals working in the public safety arena who are seeking career advancement opportunities. Others are new to emergency management and are looking for an academic program that will provide a strong foundation for future success in the field.” Students are exposed to the theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are necessary for managing a wide-range of critical incidents. The bachelor’s program prepares students to hone their problemsolving skills and adapt to changing scenarios.

Graduates from Saint Leo University’s master’s emergency and disaster management degree programs, gain a strong foundation in general emergency and disaster management topics such as: legal and regulatory aspects of emergency and disaster management, the impact of terrorism on homeland security, risk identification and assessment, and psychological aspects of catastrophic events. “Using a variety of case studies and practical exercises, both our graduate and undergraduate programs are geared to providing students with the ability to identify best practices, as well as critically analyze complex problems, applicable to emergency management,” Vendrell said. Emergencies and disasters appear to be increasing in number as well as level of severity, creating challenges for government at all levels. “Viewed from this perspective, more than ever, we need to have knowledgeable and innovative professionals in the field of emergency management,” Vendrell said. “Saint Leo University recognizes the importance of playing a role in the development of future leaders. To this end, our undergraduate and graduate emergency management programs were designed to make important contributions for those aspiring to make a difference in this growing field. “ For information about Saint Leo University’s degrees in emergency management, email Nikki Heister, special programs manager for the Department of Public Safety Administration, nikki.heister@saintleo.edu or call (352) 5888487.

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Man Reunites with Orange County Crew, Bystanders who Saved His Life By Ashley Gipson, Assistant PIO, Orange County Fire Rescue

n November 11, 2021, 63-year-old Cliff Trosset was dropping off flyers at the Bay Hill Country Club when he suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, the country club employees quickly sprang into action. Although not CPRcertified, Director Roy Saunders immediately began chest compressions, based off what he’d seen on television, and instructed staff to locate an AED. Orange County Fire Rescue crews from Station 31 arrived on scene minutes later and took over CPR. Cliff Trosset’s heart stopped beating for more than 10 minutes, but paramedics were able to obtain return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and transported him to the hospital. On December 8, 2021, nearly a month after the incident, Cliff reunited with the first responders and Bay Hill Country Club employees who saved his life. Rarely do first responders find out the outcome of patients they treat and transport, making a reunification a special event. This incredible story also serves as a reminder of how important CPR is. According

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to the American Heart Association, if performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-ofhospital cardiac arrest. “I’m forever grateful to all you,” Cliff stated at the reunion, addressing the Bay Hill

employees and first responders surrounding him. “I appreciate everything you did for me that day so I can be here today to continue on and enjoy my family and my grandchildren.” The crews, dispatcher and bystanders all received Lifesaving Awards, signed by Fire Chief James M. Fitzgerald, for their heroic actions that day.

ARFF Training

By By Lisa Lisa Smith, Smith, Office Office of of EMS, EMS, Brevard Brevard County County Fire Fire Rescue Rescue

n November, Brevard County Fire Rescue Lieutenant Jack Meglio attended the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training at Florida State College of Jacksonville Fire Academy of the South. The training was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide both the initial Part 139 training and the annual recertification burn. The five-day, 40-hour training focused on a variety of scenarios

including; skill sets of extinguishers, aircraft rescue techniques and operation of handlines in controlling an aircraft-related fire, rescue, airport familiarization and fire-fighting techniques, 727 fuselage for search and rescue, 737 mockups with 11 different fire scenarios and an E-One Titan crash truck. Additional attendees included members from Melbourne FD, US Air Force and Florida Air National Guard along with other

Fire Departments throughout the United States. Upon successful completion of the written and training class, attendees received the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) certification.

Titusville Fire Department Donates to Jess Parrish Medical Foundation By Gregory G. Sutton, Battalion Chief of Training, PIO, Titusville Fire Department

ecently, Titusville Fire Department presented the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation with a check for $3,300 to assist with the cancer care program at Parrish Medical Center. We are beyond thankful and blown away by the support our community provides for this great cause. The money was raised through the sales of our annual TFD Breast Cancer Awareness tee shirts provided by Printboy, and an new

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edition this year, a TFD Breast Cancer Awareness Tumbler provided by River Edge Designs. We are proud to have helped raise over $15,000 since 2015 for the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation and the cancer care program. Thanks to all those who purchased these items and made this donation possible! This year nominations were sought from the public for those who had been through,

or were currently going through treatment for breast cancer. We had a great response and five people were chosen to receive a shirt and tumbler, delivered by our personnel. This was a very rewarding and emotional experience that truly brought home the importance of breast cancer treatment and awareness. The moments with the survivors left a lasting impression with all of us.

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Walton County is first Fire Rescue Organization to earn EMS Accreditation in the Florida Panhandle By Corey Dobridnia, Public Information Officer, Walton County Sheriff’s Office

alton County Fire Rescue is now the first fire rescue organization to earn EMS accreditation in the Florida Panhandle. On June 29, 2021, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue Division was awarded a three-year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Accreditation is awarded to an emergency services agency upon demonstration of commitment to excellence by living up to a body of standards deemed essential to the safety and health of the public as well as having exemplified best professional practices. Accreditation has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism across public safety agencies. For Walton County Fire Rescue it’s been nearly two years in the making. The five-step CAAS process begins with self-assessment followed by application submission which was done in October 2020. Next, members of CAAS conduct a remote site review of the application, which was done

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virtually on June 17th and 18th. During this step, reviewers interview staff members and gather the information needed to verify service needs are being met by the agency. During this process, Walton County Fire Rescue was evaluated based on 113 grading points. These points include how EMS tracks and secures supplies, how patient care is monitored, how patient care review drives the training program, response times, mutual aid agreements, disaster coordination, and community education. The actual determination of accreditation was determined by a panel of commissioners representing health care, law, and business who recognized Walton County Fire Rescue EMS met, and in some cases, exceeded nationally accepted high standards for patient care in the ambulance industry. “This accreditation is a tribute to the hardworking men and women of Walton County Fire Rescue and their passion for service to the community,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We are thrilled to be the first Fire Rescue run EMS service in Northwest Florida to receive accreditation and one of nine in the entire state of Florida. In addition we are the only rural EMS service to achieve this recognition.” “Earning our accreditation is a

demonstration of our commitment to excellence and the exceptional talent of staff to provide world-class out of hospital patient care to the sick and injured,” said Walton County Fire Rescue Chief Tracey Vause. “The Walton County Fire Rescue family is the best at what they do and this is the highest recognition to honor that.”

Clearwater Firefighters Brighten Home for Holidays By Rob Shaw, Public Information Officer

Clearwater Fire & Rescue crew members recently banded together to make a difference in the lives of one Clearwater family. On Nov. 20, more than two dozen firefighters and their family members painted a house as part of “Paint Your Heart Out, Clearwater.” That’s an annual event where people who can’t afford to or aren’t able to can have their house painted for free by different organizations. Less than two weeks later, firefighters returned to the house to string up some Christmas lights they bought for the family. “We talk about always wanting to be a shining example of proudly serving our community,” said Fire Chief Scott Ehlers, who was among those who helped paint the house. “That service isn’t just when we are on duty. That mantra extends to when we are off duty as well. We should always be about serving our community.” Clearwater firefighters also installed a new smoke detector inside the house, and did the same at a dozen other houses within the city of Clearwater. Homeowner Todd Engles, who is blind and lives in the house along with his wife, Ruth, was touched by the gesture of the fire department. “What they did for us was a godsend,” Engles said. “I can’t explain what it means to us.”

Lest We Forget Award

By Patrick J. Juliano, Lieutenant Paramedic, Fire PIO

The Knights of Columbus Corpus Christi Assembly 2810 and Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church recognized Palm Coast Fire Chief Jerry Forte with the Tony Gasparino “Lest We Forget Award.” Attending with Forte was his wife, Lisa, and his mother, Theresa. Forte has served as Fire Chief of the Palm Coast Fire Department since 2018; for the past several months, he has been serving as the Interim Assistant City Manager. Forte started as a Palm Coast volunteer firefighter in 1990, becoming a career member as a firefighter/EMT in September 1992. He rose through the ranks and served as Deputy Fire Chief from 2009 until his appointment to Fire Chief in 2018. “Chief Forte is an asset to this organization and to this community as a whole,” Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said. “It would be difficult for me to think of someone who so openly and graciously cares for the people of Palm Coast and Flagler County more than Jerry. He is more than deserving of this award and we are appreciative to the Knights of Columbus for recognizing him. Thank you Chief Forte for your exceptional service.”

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training By Humberto J. Quintela, Safety-Chief Fire Officer

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue recently hosted a two day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) class for sworn and civilian MDFR personnel as well as personnel training to be call takers for the Crisis Hotline. This class provides suicide intervention skills training with the intended purpose of increasing awareness and resiliency of participants. ASIST is a highly interactive and practice oriented program utilizing small group work and skills application.

Pinellas Park Hires Fire Prevention Specialist By Suzanne Boisvert, Emergency Management Coordinator, FPEM

Pinellas Park Fire Department is pleased to welcome our new Fire Prevention Specialists – Molly Gould, Katelyn May and Sara Pierce. Molly was hired in June as a Fire Prevention Specialist after three years with the City of Pinellas Park’s Community Development Department. She earned a BA in Criminology & Psychology from FSU, a Masters in Criminal Justice from FIU and is a certified State of Florida Fire Safety Inspector 1. In 2019, Molly was a nominee for the City’s Professional Services Employee of the Year. Katelyn is a graduate of Dixie M. Hollins High School and was the Command Sergeant Major for the JROTC program. She was a member of the Pinellas Park Fire Explorer Post for six years and worked her way up to Captain. Katelyn was hired in August as a Fire Prevention Specialist and is currently pursuing a degree from Saint Petersburg College. Sara joined the Fire Prevention Division in November after three years in the City of Pinellas Park’s Human Resources Department as a Risk Management Specialist. She holds a BA in Business Management from USF and is a member of the City’s Employee Benefit Committee. Pictured L-R: Molly Gould, Katelyn May, Sara Pierce

Seminole County Participates in National Teach-In Day By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer

The Seminole County Fire Department visited numerous schools during annual Teach-In Day. Various crews and apparatuses visited schools to showcase important fire safety messages and show kids how the fleet works and what all the “tools on the truck” are. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Highlands County Promotes Kevin Cornine By Karen Clogston, Public Information Assistant

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the promotion of Kevin Cornine to the rank of captain for Highlands County Fire Rescue,” Public Safety Director Chief Laney Stearns said. “Please join me in congratulating Kevin for a job well done and welcome him into his new position.” Captain Cornine began his career with Highlands County as a Firefighter EMT in December 2009, then as a Paramedic in June 2010. He left the County in 2014 and retuned in 2016 as an EMT, becoming a Paramedic again later that year. In 2019, Cornine became a Firefighter/Medic, then was promoted to lieutenant in March 2020. Captain Cornine is a member of the Highlands County Fire Rescue Hazmat team. He is also a fire officer and a fire instructor with the organization.

2021 Firefighter of the Year - Lt. Ashley White! By Elizabeth Graham, Fire & Life Safety Educator, PIO, Fire Inspector II

The Firefighter of the Year is awarded to those who have performed outstanding acts, above and beyond that directly benefits the public and the department. This person shows successful acts of heroism on or off duty and is chosen by their fellow firefighters and the Chief of the Department as someone who characterizes the best attributes of being a Palm Harbor Firefighter. Lt. White also received the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is awarded to members that are critically injured in the line of duty. Congratulations Lt. White. At 3:19 am on the morning of September 22, 2021, Pumper 67 and Squad 65 responded to a vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of US19 and Innisbrook Dr. Shortly after arriving on scene, where there were no injuries and only minor damage to the two vehicles involved, Lt. Ashley White was struck by a pickup truck traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. The crews immediately began working a trauma alert on Lt. White. The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Lt. White was transported to a local hospital where she underwent two surgeries, one for extensive trauma to her left leg and the following day she had surgery to repair her left arm. After seven days Lt. White was released from the hospital. Since then she has had a second surgery to her left leg and is recovering at home with her husband and young daughter. She continues to improve each day and works hard on her physical therapy, determined to walk again and get back to the job. The proper placement of the apparatus when it arrived on scene of the initial crash and the lifesaving skills of our members saved Lt. White’s life and Palm Harbor Fire Rescue could not be more proud of all involved. 36

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

December 2021

Orange County Swears in New Recruits By Lisa McDonald, Public Information Office

The recruits of Class 94 were a diverse group of men and women who spent countless hours during their ten weeks of training for their new careers in firefighting. They were sworn in as Orange County Fire Rescue’s newest firefighters Friday evening before their loved ones. Family members who have served in public safety or the military had the opportunity to pin the badge on their new firefighter. Two recruits from Class 94 served in the armed forces prior to joining the fire service and received a military pin for their service. “I’m so proud of the men and women who graduated with this class. I believe our success in providing emergency services to the citizens of Orange County has to do with the fact we operate so well as a team and that we place the needs of those we serve above our own,” said Fire Chief James Fitzgerald. “I always reiterate that to our graduating classes so they may move forward in their careers with that in mind.” The men and women of Recruit Class 94 went through a highly-selective hiring process and devoted themselves to a grueling training regimen, earning the title of ‘Orange County Firefighter’. The ceremony was a celebration of their accomplishments.

26-year Fire Rescue Volunteer Recognized By Patrick J. Juliano, Lieutenant Paramedic, Fire PIO

Mayor David Alfin and the Palm Coast City Council recognized Mr. Charles Esposito for his 26 years of volunteer service to the Palm Coast Fire Department. Mr. Esposito was born on Independence Day 1928 in Tuxedo, New York. While living in New York, he served his community as a Volunteer Firefighter. He spent his career working for the ITT Corporation, before relocating to Palm Coast, Florida. Mr. Esposito was instrumental in establishing the Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue Inc. Charlie served as founding member, President, Vice President, and Fire Police Captain and now an Associate member to the Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue. In his 26 years of service, he helped establish the Length of Service Awards and created a Helicopter Landing Zones Manual that’s still in use by Flagler County’s Fire Flight helicopter crews.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue Welcomes New Recruits By Rob Shaw, Public Information Officer

The recruits started with the city in early November and graduation will be the second week of January. Colin Coyle, Brian Kemry, Austin Ryan, and Panagiotis Skopis are the four new fire medics hired by the agency.

Seminole County Achieves ISO Class 1 Rating By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer

The Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) recently announced that after a comprehensive evaluation by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), the County has earned an improved rating to Class 1, which is the highest rating given to a fire department regarding its ability to effectively respond to and prevent fires. The ISO rating system grades communities on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the most capable to respond to and manage fires. The ISO is an independent organization that evaluates a community’s fire protection service in order to aid insurance companies in the establishment of rates for insurance premiums paid by residents and businesses. The Seminole County Fire Department was awarded the ISO Class 1 rating for its protection of the unincorporated areas of Seminole County, along with the cities of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Winter Springs that the County also serves under contracts. The ISO Class 1 rating applies to properties within five road miles of a fire station. This means 99% of all the properties within the Seminole County Fire District receive this enhanced rating.

Pinellas Park Firefighter Joel Priebe Retires By Suzanne Boisvert, Emergency Management Coordinator, FPEM

Please join us wishing a happy retirement to Firefighter/EMT Joel Priebe. Joel began his career with Pinellas Park in 1994 and is a certified Truck Operator, Squad Operator and Engine Operator. He was a member of the Pinellas County Technical Rescue Team from 1995 to 2007, and became a member of the Pinellas County Hazardous Materials Response Team in 2008. Prior to joining Pinellas Park, Joel was a volunteer firefighter with the City of Seminole Fire Department and worked part time in Seminole's public education division. In 1992 Joel was named the City of Seminole's Volunteer Firefighter of the Year and in 1993 was chosen as the Volunteer Firefighter of the Year for the State of Florida. Joel became an advisor for the Pinellas Park Fire Explorers Post in 2004; helped coordinate the annual City of Pinellas Park Holiday Festival hayride visit to Fire Station 34, and participated in the fire department’s annual holiday toy drives. In 2009, Joel was named the Pinellas Park Fire Department’s Employee of the Year and in 2010, he and fellow firefighters Chris Connolly and Rob Day received the 2010 All Star Team award from St. Petersburg General Hospital. Congratulations on a great 27-year career with PPFD and we wish you all the best in retirement!

Central Florida Resuscitation Academy By Lisa Smith, Office of EMS

Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) is one of several Resuscitation Academy’s (RA) in the state of Florida centrally located, that offer HighPerformance CPR classes. The purpose of the RA class is to practice skills, enhance muscle memory and to review what has changed in cardiac arrest outcomes for patients with witnessed V-Fib and pulseless V-Tac. Cape Canaveral Volunteer Fire Department was one of the most recent departments in Brevard County to participate in RA Training. In the workshop, participants were provided with an enhanced knowledge on performing effective High-Performance/Quality CPR, 10 Steps to improve cardiac arrest survival, emphasis placed on CPR metrics, assessing performance and providing feedback. The High-Performance CPR class also offered a better understanding of the “Big Picture”, the science of CPR, and how to achieve a goal to increase the survival rate from cardiac arrest.

Palm Coast Firefighter Receives Medal By Patrick J. Juliano, Lieutenant Paramedic, Fire PIO

Palm Coast Fire Driver Engineer Jeffrey Nunziato been awarded the 2021 Fire Service Medal & Certificate by the Flagler Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution for his coordination and leadership of the Driver Engineer Field Training program for the Palm Coast Fire Department. SAR President Charles Hayes and Awards Chairmen David Kelsey and Randall Morris presented the award to Nunziato, a career Palm Coast Firefighter since 2006. Kelsey said the Sons of the American Revolution were pleased that this year’s award recipient is a leader for training. “We realize that fire safety and service as a firefighter has become a very skilled profession – it’s very technical, and it requires a lot of training,” Kelsey said. “You need to have a plan.” Nunziato expressed his appreciation for this recognition. “I am deeply honored to be considered for this recognition,” Nunziato said. “It’s truly an honor every day to educate our future Driver Engineers and be a part of a great organization”. Fire Chief Forte said the City of Palm Coast is fortunate to have Nunziato with his experience. He describes Nunziato as a role model to many in the department. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

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Antique Fire Apparatus Show and Flea Market

FUN, FRIENDS, FAMILY & FIRE TRUCKS

10 am- 3 pm • February 26th Wyndham -Celebration 3011 Maingate Lane Kissimmee, FL

• Fire prevention displays • Water pumping contests for antiques • Hand pumping by guests using a restored hand pumper • Numerous antique vehicles

Free Admission

Sponsored by the Florida Antique Bucket Brigade in conjunction with the Society for the Preservation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America.

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

December 2021

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NAFECO.com/FireApparatus info@nafeco.com

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