Thursday, October 10, 2019

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

KEYNOTE: It's Worth the Risk

Curt Isakson, Battalion Chief, Escambia County, FL, Fire Rescue

This very passionate and in-your-face presentation is about recapturing the primary mission of the fire service based on the very foundation of what has defined the fire service for decades, building an undeniable trust from the public. It’s Worth the Risk is not just about aggressive interior firefighting, it is also about standing strong against all odds to create better and more effective firefighters by putting yourself out there. Aggressive does not mean unsafe and with solid training the risk is truly reduced to a manageable level. Bringing back realistic and practical live fire training is needed because experience matters, and sometimes no matter how right we do this job, things can still go wrong. It’s always been said that you can never train too much for a job that can kill you.
 

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Effective Exterior Streams

Ed Hartin, Fire Chief, Central Whidbey Island, WA, Fire & Rescue

Exterior streams are an essential tool and may be used effectively as part of an offensive or defensive strategy. There is little debate that exterior streams are essential to defensive fire control. However, recent years have seen considerable discussion about the use of exterior streams as a component of an offensive strategy. This workshop examines how exterior streams can be used effectively in both offensive and defensive strategies. Topics include implications of current fire dynamics research on fire streams, direct and indirect attack, factors impacting exterior stream effectiveness, fire streams and air entrainment, and developing a doctrine for use of exterior streams.

 

Down & Dirty Urban Forcible Entry

Robert James, Firefighter, Capitol Fire Training LLC & Cameron Peek, Firefighter FDNY Rescue 2

This interactive forcible-entry program is designed to teach the firefighter basic and advanced principles of street-smart forcible entry. The presenter will discuss techniques for making entry through and around locks, for both residential and commercial structures. Attendees will also learn quick access into urban steel roll gates and how to defeat the locks and locking mechanisms for them. Overcoming street hatches, additional security features like drop bars, slide bolts, burglar bars and modified locks will be covered as well. In this interactive class, students will be faced with forcible-entry scenarios and explain how they would overcome the challenges as well.

 

Pranks, Hazing and Bullying

Curt Varone, Deputy Chief, Exeter FD

Where is the line between a harmless prank and illegal hazing or bullying? All too often the question is not considered until it is too late. By then lawsuits, disciplinary actions and even criminal charges may be unavoidable. As if that was not bad enough, pranks, hazing and bullying have resulted in firefighter deaths and suicides. This session will look at recent cases of pranks, hazing, and bullying in the fire service to draw the lessons learned.

 

Searching Beyond The Fire

Thomas Anderson, Captain, Charlotte, NC, FD

Fires are reaching flashover in a fraction of the time today as compared to years past, and the problems are only getting worse. Thermal imaging cameras cut our search time in half and give residents the best chance for survival. In this class, the instructors will examine how to incorporate Tactical Thermal Imaging concepts into search tactics and use that information to make critical tactical decisions, beginning with the area of highest threat first, protecting the search and potential victims through hoseline placement and flow path control, and monitoring your crew and the conditions of the fire and structure.

 

Normalization of Deviance – How to Overcome Complacency

John Dixon, Captain, Teaneck, NJ, FD

This course is designed to help define and identify true leadership. The goal is to recognize characteristics and traits that everyone can utilize in their professional and personal lives. Through group discussions and real-life situations, the attendees will evaluate their own set of core values and sharpen leadership qualities that they already possess to become effective leaders. Learning to lead ourselves, so that we may lead others. Topics will include leadership traits and qualities, leadership principles, barriers to effective leadership, and how to improve your personal leadership style.

 

Prehospital Errors: Are You at Risk?

Dr. Eric Clauss, Director EMS Center of Excellence, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Caring for the critical patient can create challenges and increase risk of significant errors even for the most experienced emergency providers. Unfortunately, every year patients die and or have adverse outcomes as a result of negligence by emergency providers. In this session, the Dr. Clauss will highlight real cases and discuss strategies on how to avoid prehospital errors.

 

Crew Resource Management: Are YOU Listening?

Allen Richards, First Officer, Envoy/American Eagle

This class is a comprehensive look at improving listening and communication skills with members of the fire crew at all levels. How to effectively maintain a sterile environment going to emergency calls using parallel aviation incidents to illustrate importance.

 

Staying Aggressively Positive

Ryan Pennington, Lieutenant, Charleston, WV, FD

How can anyone hate going to the firehouse? It might be because of the people found inside. Sometimes we let our opinions and thoughts get in the way of our chosen profession. One way to fix that is to stay aggressively positive. In this highly interactive session, the presenter will dive into the why, how, and where firefighters can focus their attention to stay positive around the firehouse. How can you deal with the downers while building your circle of influence? This session will engage all the attendees to participate in a fluid, non-scripted discussion.

 

Keeping your Technical Rescue Program Moving into the Future

Bob Duemmel, Deputy Coordinator for Special Operations, Monroe County, NY, Fire Bureau

During the early post 9/11 years, money was raining down on the emergency response community. Now this flood of funding has evaporated to more of a trickle and, in some areas, it has completely dried up. If your organization has a technical rescue unit, you must be much more educated and savvy shoppers when managing your program. This class will look at methods and examples of how to make the most of the funds you have. In addition, the presenter will provide examples of how other organizations have maximized (and at times lost out on) opportunities to keep their ship moving forward.

 

Death by PowerPoint: An Instructor's Guide to Educating Modern-Day Firefighters

Jay Dixon, Lieutenant, Torrington, CT

This program will delve into modern-day education techniques to better understand the most effective medium and instructional methods used to communicate and pass on the knowledge and traditions of the fire service. Observations show that fire service instructional styles have not advanced at the same pace as mainstream education.

 

3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

Structure Fire: Primary Search

John Salka, Battalion Chief (ret.), FDNY

This new program is a straightforward look at the basic, yet vital, fireground tactic of primary search. Most firefighters don’t know it but almost 3,000 civilians die in structural fires every year in the United States. The only way to save a civilian trapped inside a burning building is to go in there and get them. The presenter examines how you can conduct a rapid and effective primary search at your next structural fire. Topics covered include: How many firefighters are required for a search team? Where should the search begin? Should the search team be hoseline equipped or not? How is VES best performed?

 

The New Officer’s Guide to the Engine Company

Jonathan Hall, Captain, St. Paul, MN, FD

As a newly promoted company officer assigned to an engine company there are numerous areas that require your attention both in the firehouse and on the fireground. Without a thorough plan, and the proper mindset, it can often feel as though you are being “thrown to the wolves.” This class will examine several critical areas that must be addressed to establish a proficient engine company: personal expectations, company training evolutions, engine-specific size-ups, and effective fireground tactics.

 

Common Occupancies, Uncommon Response

Frank Leeb, Deputy Chief, FDNY

This class will better prepare firefighters for uncommon responses in common type occupancies. These are situations that pose unique operational challenges that are not traditionally addressed in departments SOP’s or training. A variety of responses will be covered in this fast-paced discussion. All the topics chosen have come from real-life experiences of the presenter and provide the attendee with actionable knowledge in a variety of uncommon situations in common occupancies. Topics that will be discussed include fires in places of worship, automated car-wash facilities, escalator fires and emergencies, construction accidents, and CO and CO2 emergencies.

 

Initial Alarm Assignment to Confined Space Rescue – Lessons Learned

Michael Daley, Lieutenant/Training Officer, Monroe Twp. FD

The call went out to rescue a man who was stuck in a 20-inch diameter pipe at a water treatment facility. Initial emergency responders were faced with a task that was multi-faceted, resulting in a response from multiple agencies and jurisdictions. The unorthodox challenges all the responders faced that day led to various stumbling blocks that required critical thinking for solutions for the rescue. This course will focus on the response to the incident, initial company considerations, the rescue plan, resource identification, medical considerations, safety and security concerns, and considerations for acceptable solutions for rescue incidents.

 

Fire and EMS – Similarities & Cross Training to Improve Real World Functionality

Joseph Edwards, Supervisor, Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy & Drew Hooker, Director, Motlow State University EMS Education

In an ever-changing emergency environment, fire and EMS personnel continually respond to the same incidents but lack the joint training to understand each other’s roles in the incidents. This lecture focuses on the way to implement cross-training into your training calendar. It will also address the ability to work on incidents including extrication, hazmat, routine medical and fire calls, and complex scenarios. The focus is detailing the importance of quality communication and respect across agency lines. The ability to address the safety of an incident from both an EMS and fire perspective and how to set up training to address both.

 

Seeing the Elephant: A Fire Chief's Guide to Performing Under Stress

Thomas Dunne, Deputy Chief (ret.) FDNY

Emergency responders are assaulted each day by numerous forms of stress, ranging from the routine challenges of life to the unexpected trauma of fires and other disasters. This class is designed to help firefighters and medical personnel perform safely and effectively in a stressful environment. It is based on lessons learned from many years of managing fire and emergency operations with the FDNY. Personal fire experiences and videos are used to illustrate techniques that help you manage stress and perform more effectively in any kind of emergency operation. The presentation examines stress psychology but is geared to provide very practical, hands-on recommendations.  

 

Modern RIT: Saving Our Own from The Inside Out

Jake Hoffman, Private, Toledo, OH, Fire/Rescue Department

Though the rapid intervention team (RIT) has traditionally been thought of as the “firefighter rescue team,” it is typically other units already operating in the interior that initiate first contact with and/or rescue the downed firefighter. While this fact does not diminish the importance of the RIT, the mindset of RIT must evolve. This interactive 90-minute discussion will introduce the “Big 5” tools that every RIT should have and why it is important to limit the tools in your initial RIT cache. Attendees will also review how departments large and small are adapting their RIT operations and empowering interior crews to quickly respond to maydays.

 

Say Yes to VES

Kevin Lewis, Battalion Chief, Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services

Vent-Enter-Search (VES) can be a challenge but if not you, then who? Limited staffing, building construction, coupled with recent scientific data are all forcing us to reevaluate methods we have used for decades. VES is no different. To be the best fire service professionals we can, we must fully understand fire dynamics as they relate to VES. This will allow us to operate as safely as possible while providing the maximum level of proficiency upholding our primary mission—life safety. The course will cover VES history, VES size up, evaluating risk/need for VES, and specific step-by-step how-to techniques.

 

The Night the Rules Changed

Tami Kayea, Deputy Chief, Dallas Fire Rescue

Active shooter events are occurring much more frequently and happening in all size communities. It is the responsibility of agencies to try to prepare for violent acts. Based on personal experience from being in command of active shooter event (ASE), discussions with other systems after an ASE, and study of other events, this lecture will cover keys for lessons learned, preparing for an event, response and command, and recovery from the event. The presenter was in command of operations on July 7, 2016, the night Dallas police officers were ambushed by a gunman who killed 5 officers and injured several others.

 

Tactical Thermal Imaging: Enhancing Fireground Strategies & Tactics

Andrew Starnes, Battalion Chief, Charlotte FD

This class will enhance fireground commanders and the fire officer's perspective on how to be more efficient, prevent rapid fire growth, direct their streams, and improve search and rescue efforts. The thermal imaging camera in the hands of a properly trained and fundamentally sound firefighter equates to seeing the fireground and the changing environment in a new perspective. In this course, firefighters will learn to properly understand thermal severity, the key attributes of thermal imaging and its limitations, and then how to apply this knowledge on the fireground.

 

Firefighting Operations in High-Risk Fire Environments

Paul Mastronardi, Lieutenant, FDNY

This class will explore three high-risk fire environments: Fires in cellars/sub-cellars; Fire operations in commercial structures; Firefighting operations on the floor(s) above a fire. The presenter will discuss strategies and tactics that will aid a firefighter in accomplishing his/her mission and get out alive.

 

Friday, October 11, 2019

 

8:00 AM – 9:30 

The Initial Attack Line

Anthony Rowett Jr., Captain, Mobile Fire Rescue Department

The initial attack line has a greater impact on the outcome of a fire than any other fireground operation, so it is imperative to get it right. This course looks at initial attack line tactical decision-making for single-family and multi-family dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings, and standpipe-equipped buildings. Other topics to be discussed include, target flow rate, hoseline and nozzle selection, estimating the hose stretch, and stretching, advancing, and operating the initial attack line.

 

The Search Reformation

Dustin Martinez, Lieutenant, Cobb County, GA, Fire & Emergency Services

Our mission is clear, our purpose is defined, and our goal as a service revolves around a singular purpose: providing for life safety. This requires a commitment at all levels. The institution must declare its stance on the standard of search. The training division must be instrumental in implementing and maintaining performance, and the field has one task—execute. This class will examine the three key components to invoke a successful search outcome in your department—the leadership, the training division, and the personnel. Students will also examine proven skills, debunk myths, and review case studies including thermal imaging video of real-life victim rescues.

 

Turning School Tragedy into Community Empowerment

Daniel Byrne, Community Support Officer, Burton Fire District & Angela Byrne, Early Childhood Education/Beaufort County School District

Today’s communities are facing dynamically changing risks, and it is important that fire departments not only be at the table of solutions but also lead the way. Today, one such risk is school violence. Learn how a fire department joined with and rallied their community to lead a grassroots effort to enhance student safety, not just in their community, but across the county, state, and nation. Learn about the #JACOBkit program, and how you and your department can do the same.

 

What You Need to Know Before Signing the Contract for your New Apparatus

Mike Wilbur, Lieutenant (ret.), FDNY & Tom Shand, Emergency Vehicle Response

Your department has been working on specifications for your new apparatus for the past six months and is planning to go out to bid shortly. How are the specifications formatted, what provisions have you made to protect the departments interests with respect to bid analysis, preconstruction conference, inspection trips and warranty terms? You don’t get what you didn’t ask for. This interactive program will review many of the issues that can be problematic if not addressed early on with your preferred manufacturer.

 

Well That's Just Smashing....

Brandon Heggie, Firefighter/Paramedic, Central Mason Fire

Crush injuries are not as prevalent as one may guess. Or are they? Crush injuries and rhabdomyolysis go hand in hand. The presenter will discuss how and why crush injuries are dangerous as well as how to treat them. Additionally, it will become apparent that in many cases, the crush and its after effects are more dangerous than the injury itself. This course is ideally best for basic to advanced field providers. The presenter will discuss the physiology of a crush injury/crush syndrome, the appropriate treatments of a patient with a crush injury, and how to identify personal safety concerns regarding incidents involving crush injuries.

 

Proactive Engine Driver: Doing More with Less

Stephen Truesdell, Lieutenant, Annapolis FD

In today’s times of financial and staffing strains, both career and volunteer firefighters are being asked to do more with less. One of the most underutilized positions within the fire service is the engine driver. The engine driver needs to be a proactive position operating with safety in mind. This course will give attendees a look at how to utilize the driver focusing on four key elements. The role of a driver is not just about water, but to assist with size-up, ensure proper positioning, crew accountability, being a safety officer, various tasks that can be accomplished to help ensure a positive outcome. 

 

How to Implement a Successful Firefighter Physical Program

Ed Klima, First Responder Center for Excellence for Reducing Occupational Illness, Injuries and Deaths, Inc.

The best way to diminish the effects of any diseases, illnesses or injuries is to detect them as early as possible. This is especially true for firefighters who, in many cases, are at greater risk than the general population. Annual physicals, based upon testing criteria for the increased health risks faced by firefighters, have proven to lead to early detection and prevention of long-term illnesses. This session will look at three separate departments (career, volunteer and combination) that have successfully implemented physical fitness programs and the lessons learned along the way.

 

Lessons Learned from Amtrak 188 Passenger Train Crash

Vincent Mulray, Deputy Chief, Philadelphia FD

This class will examine the firsthand account from the initial incident commander of the challenges that responders faced at the 2015 Amtrak Train 188 derailment and crash. The presentation will outline incident objectives, strategy, tactics, critical factors and lessons learned from this emergency.

 

Intoxicated Leadership: What Happens When You Stop Thinking Strategically and Start Reacting Emotionally

Benjamin Martin, ETR Leadership Solutions

Traditional leadership classes often trick us into thinking that we can resolve conflict in a 10-minute conversation. In reality, leaders may never be able to secure a buy-in from the employee. Intoxicated Leadership illustrates why the body responds to conflict the way it does, be it on the fireground or in the firehouse. Using this information, the presenter will discuss at length how leaders can create favorable circumstances to assist in constructing and having a difficult conversation. Participants will receive an overview of emotional intelligence, and real-world tips that can be applied immediately to assist leaders in having easier and ultimately more productive conversations.

 

Essential Firehouse Nutrition

Aaron Zamzow, Firefighter/Training Officer Madison, WI, FD

Eat This. Don't Eat That.  Eating healthy or figuring out how to eat healthy, can be a very frustrating thing.  This seminar will teach attendees the basics of healthy eating and clarify all the nutritional myths floating around most firehouses.  Attendees will also learn the five essential habits to better nutrition and how to easily adapt them to the firefighter lifestyle.  Discover easy ways to stay lean and healthy, learn how to control portions and create healthy nutritional habits that can help you throughout your career.

 

Drones: A Tale of Two Cities

Michael Leo, Captain, New York City FD

Drone programs can differ greatly from urban landscapes to suburbia. There are many challenges unique to both settings when implementing public safety operations. An examination of two case studies will give attendees an insight into the entire process, from conception to reality, yielding two very different outcomes.

 

9:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Gallons Per Second: Understanding Initial Fire Attack off the Booster Tank for Rapid Water Application

Curt Isakson, Battalion Chief, Escambia County, FL, Fire Rescue

This program explains water delivery in terms of seconds so firefighters understand the booster tank is like hundreds of water cans ready to kill a fire. With today’s fire growth, building construction, and staffing issues, we must still be great at the fast-attack mode on residential fires. This is a very fast-paced class on aggressive firefighting to save lives and property. The program uses pictures and videos of fires that the speaker commanded.

 

Courage Under Fire: The Challenging Art of Fire Service Leadership

Steve Prziborowski, Deputy Chief, Santa Clara County FD

Being a leader in today’s fire service takes a lot of courage. Attendees will share and discuss challenges and issues the fire service is facing today in a productive manner. It’s not if, but when, a leader will have to demonstrate courage, something that is easier said than done.

 

Putting Together the Puzzle Pieces of Prehospital Care for Patients in the Autism Spectrum

Tami Kayea, Deputy Chief, Dallas Fire Rescue

The range of autism runs from those who are high functioning to those who require constant care, and every range has its obstacles for assessment and treatment. This course will give attendees a better understanding of autism and its specific challenges in the emergency setting. The presenter is a firefighter/paramedic who has a 16-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism (pervasive developmental disorder) at the age of 3 and cared for an adult for several years with more severe autism. Being on both sides, she can provide invaluable help to emergency responders on dealing with this unique population.

 

Surviving the Storm of PTSD

Dr. Eric Clauss, Director EMS Center of Excellence, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Emergency providers strive to provide the highest quality of patient care while being bombarded with a variety of external factors. They are experts in dealing with high-stress events and keeping calm during seemingly uncontrolled situations, but who do healthcare workers call for help when they are the ones in need? The cumulative stress is carried by all providers and affects each of us in different ways. This class presents strategies that can help you and your colleagues identify those at high risk and show you how to provide the appropriate assistance, ultimately increasing retention and reducing burnout in our profession.

 

Implementing a Post-Fire Skin Decontamination Program

Brian Brauer, Associate Director, University of Illinois Fire Service Institute

Emerging research supports that skin decontamination after exposure to smoke and other products of combustion is an important step in reducing the risk of occupational cancers in the fire service. This program takes that idea and applies a tested framework for encouraging behavioral change that will allow departments to consider the many steps and variables in creating and implementing a successful program. From removing PPE to cleaning skin to not cross-contaminating apparatus, this program will help you map out a successful program for your department.

 

The Effects of an Aging Population on Fire Mortality Rates: How to Redefine Success and Refocus CRR

Matthew Wakefield, State of TN Fire Data Analyst, State of TN, Greg Adams, Co-presenter

Over the next 20 years, the U.S. Census estimates that the proportion of those over the age of 75 will grow by 92 percent. According to the USFA, those over the age of 75 are more than three times as likely to die in a fire. These two facts could combine to create an environment where fire fatalities could begin to grow despite the positive trends we have observed over the past century. How we target our CRR efforts may be our best hope at reducing the fatality rate of older Americans. Through animated visualizations, the presenter will demonstrate to attendees how the problem has changed over the years and where we could be headed.  

 

The Consequences of Not Knowing What You Don’t Know

John Cagno Jr., Battalion Chief Retired, North Providence FD

In this presentation, the instructor will highlight the need for knowing the job by sharing his personal story of being nearly electrocuted while operating on an aerial ladder. In a candid manner, the presenter will openly discuss the severity of his injuries and the recovery process. Emphasis will be placed on discussing the consequences of a catastrophic injury event, and its impact on the individual, families and the department.  Attendees will then participate in a Q & A relative to the event and if they’ve experienced a similar incident.

 

Crucial Moments – Critical Decisions

Jeff Banman, Former firefighter/US Army Ranger/CIA Counterterrorism Operator

Drawing from the principles delivered in the OpMindset Program, Jeff Banman dives deeper into why we make the decisions we make at all levels, from the firefighter to the chief officer. This exploration of crucial moments and critical decisions goes beyond what you’ve seen and explores the human biology that helps and hurts us in highly dynamic environments where we must rapidly assess the situation and determine our course of action. Delivered with a high level of participation, this talk advances a real-time and highly relevant conversation for all who engage.

 

Training as the Priority in the Volunteer Fire Service

Justin Bailey, Fire Chief, Oliver Springs, TN, FD

Approximately 85 percent of all fire departments in the U.S. are either all volunteer or mostly volunteer and many struggle with establishing training as a priority. This class will focus on training volunteer firefighters and how to motivate members to make training a priority within their department.

 

Hiring for Culture

Joe Florentino, Director of Public Safety, Town of Little Elm & Jeremy Wilson

Are you struggling to find quality applicants? Sick of lowering hiring standards to get more applications? It may be time to redesign your hiring process. In this session, you will find out how to attract people by defining culture, identifying essential qualities, and rethinking your hiring process.

 

Driver Operator Role in Crew Safety & Efficiency

Brian Gettemier, Firefighter, Cottleville, MO, Fire Protection District

Apparatus operators play a critical role in the efficiency and safety of the crew yet rarely does training go beyond driving or pump operations. This class will look at the role the apparatus operator plays in improving response times, not through speed, but through turn out times, area familiarization and an understanding of traffic patterns and impediments. The presenter will also discuss the responsibility and importance of truck checks on crew safety and efficiency and the role of the apparatus operator in cancer prevention. Other topics include equipment staging, mayday and RIT operations, apparatus placement, water supply and much more.

 

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Fire Suppression Operations in Private Dwellings

Robert Moran, Fire Chief, Brewster, MA, Fire Rescue & John Lewis, Lieutenant (ret.), Passaic, NJ, FD

To provide firefighters and fire officers with the operational knowledge and skills required to develop and implement an effective incident-action plan (IAP) on arrival, the presenter will discuss the many variables to be considered when executing successful fire suppression operations in private dwellings. Topics to be covered include construction and dwelling styles, size-up, typical hazards, safety, accountability, forcible entry, search techniques, ventilation, and fire attack methods. The program will also include interactive group sessions utilizing first-due video and photos where the attendees will have the opportunity to assume command, formulate IAP, and implement their chosen strategy and tactics.

 

Clean Cab

Brian Brown, Bureau Chief (ret.), South Metro, CO, Fire Rescue

Make no mistake, research has shown that firefighter cancer prevention has become a major topic. While it was a badge of honor to have dirty smoky gear, we should have known many years ago that those toxic chemicals and smoke would cause the cancers we experience today. When implemented correctly, a clean cab will help minimize the exposure with cross-contamination in the cab, the firehouse, your personal vehicle and your home. The Clean Cab concept is one step closer to defining a strategy to preventing the greatest degree of introducing carcinogenic contaminant introduction into the cab to reduce job-related illness and live longer healthier lives.

 

Rescue Me: Managing Employee Fires

Jesse Quinalty, Master Instructor, Red Helmet Training

Most fire officers and chiefs will fight more fires in the station then they will out in the streets. This program will utilize basic fireground terminology to break down and make sense of employee coaching, counseling and disciplinary procedures. From size-up to RECEO, the presenter will look at how to deal with a problem employee. The presenter will also focus on using fire prevention, education, pre-planning and fire behavior recognition training to prevent fires (problems) and keep them small. A comparison to hostile fire events, such as rapid-fire progression, flashover, backdraft and smoke explosions, will be used for more difficult personnel issues.

 

Varsity Truck Company Operations
 

David Polikoff, Montgomery County Fire Rescue
 

The truck company is the varsity team on the fireground. This presentation is designed to examine the first-string team during the initial operations. This truck company operations program covers all the aspects like building construction, size-up for officers, unit riding positions, hand tools and ladder placement, forcible entry tactics, tactical consideration and most importantly discipline. This interactive class will have you calling the other units on the fireground junior varsity.

 

Fire Department Staffing and Funding

Dr. Harry S. Carter, Chairman of the Board, Howell Twp., NJ, Fire District

Fire departments are not operating as efficiently as possible, owing to lapses in marketing knowledge and concepts by those in top positions of responsibility. This seminar will discuss the need for creative staffing and funding as the basis for effective municipal fire protection services. The basic concepts of strategic planning will be covered and then blended with the marketing concepts. The importance of marketing in the long-range health of the fire service will be emphasized. This seminar has at its core a PowerPoint program for training members of the fire service in the ways of assessing, establishing, and implementing effective staffing and funding procedures.

 

Most Recent Practice Changing Articles in EMS

Dr. Corey Slovis, Chairman of Emergency Medicine Department, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The session will look at the latest practice changing articles for EMS providers. This includes Epinephrine use in cardiac arrest patients, Anaphylaxis Therapy and intravenous versus intramuscular Narcan. The presentation will also provide updates on tourniquet applications and endotracheal intubation versus supraglottic by non-paramedics.

 

The Red Eye Syndrome

Robert Byrd, Lieutenant, York County Fire and Rescue

Sleep deprivation is an epidemic that is cascading out of control. How, as a station officer, do you handle crew members who are experiencing fatigue? What measures are in place to handle such situations where a crew is physically exhausted? These situations arise daily, however, little to no formal policy exists as to how to handle these issues. This program will explore unconventional ideologies on how to better prepare your department and staff to handle fatigue-related incidents and protect themselves and others from the harmful effects of this growing epidemic.

 

Heavy Chief'in

Trey Nelms, District Chief, Nashville FD

The challenges for a chief officer take daily twists and turns. Dealing with policy, politics, and people are a far cry from managing an incident. How do you navigate these waters while doing right by your people and the community you serve, all while maintaining some level of self-respect? Carrying this weight (and others) is not for everyone This classroom session will look at the challenges faced by today's chief officers and how decisions made can significantly influence not only individuals, but the organization we represent and the communities we serve.

 

It Takes More than Plastic Fire Hats

Daniel Byrne, Community Support Officer, Burton, SC, Fire District

This presentation is designed to get students to rethink their department’s approach to fire prevention and communicating with their public in order to best influence attitudes and change behaviors needed to reduce fires and generate much needed support. Topics covered include changing your department’s culture, elements and steps needed for a dynamic and comprehensive fire prevention program for all ages, targeting public education to maximize effectiveness, forming effective messages, and working more closely with your community and the media.

 

Saving Firefighters from Themselves: Developing Company- and Battalion-Level Training Programs

Demond Simmons, Battalion Chief, Oakland, CA FD

Proactive and relevant training is not the responsibility of the fire chief or city mayor—it is the core responsibility of the men and women who call themselves company/chief officers! This program will identify successful strategies for implementing relevant training and educational programs within a fire department. Strategies and concepts discussed in this presentation are based on adult learning principles, best practices, and core topics—themes that are essential to the needs of today's firefighters. Most importantly, many of these strategies require no financial expenditures, are fun, and serve as a source for building increased levels of competency.

 

Search & Rescue: Inside and Out

Butch Cobb, Battalion Chief (ret.) Jersey City, NJ, FD & Ryan Pennington, Lieutenant, Charleston, WV, FD

Nationwide, in 2015, a civilian died in a fire every 2 hours and 40 minutes. There are many methods to put out a fire and save property, but there’s only one way to save trapped civilian victims—using smart, practical search and rescue tactics. This program will cover the essentials of searching residential dwellings and larger commercial buildings. The presenters will lead you through the best strategy and tactics for searching smart, quickly and efficiently for trapped occupants. They will cover the inside (practical tactics for searching residential fires) and outside (the IC’s responsibilities searching dwellings and larger commercial buildings). 

 

Saturday, October 12, 2019

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Engine Company Operations: Roles and Responsibilities in a Modern Fire Environment

Jeff Shupe, Firefighter, Cleveland, OH FD

This class is designed to give attendees a better understanding of engine operations, especially involving attack procedures in today's environment. They will work with different size attack lines, nozzles and appliances and will review proper pump pressures, friction losses and flows. Attendees will learn proper nozzle mechanics, hose line management and line advancement techniques and go over stretching techniques and multiple line operations. Attendees will be organized into engine crews to practice company concept and enhanced fireground accountability, communication and attack capability during stretching and operating evolutions.

 

Apparatus Design Impacting Firefighter Safety

Mike Wilbur, Lieutenant (ret.), FDNY & Tom Shand, Emergency Vehicle Response

The Apparatus Architects will discuss the results of injecting firefighter safety into a positive apparatus design. As designers continue to ask for units that are be longer, higher, heavier, faster and more expensive, the fire apparatus industry is quickly out pacing the fire services ability to attract and train firefighters who are willing to drive and operate present-day fire apparatus. The Apparatus Architects will introduce apparatus design changes that will reduce the size of the apparatus yet increase capabilities. Cutting-edge safety components will be introduced in this presentation, including clean cabs. If your department is buying or rehabbing apparatus this program is a must for you.

 

How to Become a Better Fire Chief

Dr. Harry R. Carter, Chairman of the Board, Howell Twp., NJ, Fire District

This session will present an approach to improving chief officer performance by detailing numerous things chiefs can do to become better fire chiefs. A PowerPoint program will introduce the ways of understanding, introducing, and managing their skills and abilities as fire chiefs within the fire service. This project has been undertaken for extremely important reasons. Change has been identified as one of the primary issues facing the fire service. A review of the literature indicates that in many instances, fire chiefs are not operating as efficiently as possible, owing to lapses in judgment, leadership skills, and management operations.

 

EMS Interface on the Fireground

Robert Byrd, Liutenant, York County Fire and Rescue

This class explores the roles and responsibilities of EMS providers on the fireground both during normal operations and at a mayday event. The instructor will explain how you can take the guess work out of how you will interact with suppression personnel on scene and become an integrated piece of the ever-evolving puzzle.

 

Upfront Expectations

Travis Ford, District Chief, Nashville, TN, FD

What should employees realistically expect from their company officer, their chief officer, or their department? Wrong expectations can create tension and cause anxiety to spread, forming alliances. Soon a mutiny brews, and the firehouse begins to resemble a Survivor tribal council. Officers need to be able to provide honest feedback when things are not going as expected.

 

SLAB SAVERS Strategies and Tactics

Jesse Quinalty, Master Instructor, Red Helmet Training

This program first looks at the SLAB (Safety profile, Life profile, Air track and Building) and utilizes the information to come up with the strategy. More importantly, whether the fire is offensive or defensive, based on this situational awareness and 360 walk-around. It is aligned with the IAFC Rules of Engagement and the Everyone Goes Home Program to work through a risk vs. gain process. The program then looks at how to develop tasks and tactics for this strategy using the division of labor. This interactive course utilizes digital simulation and dashcam videos to enhance the rapid decision-making process.

 

School Bus Extrication

Paul Hasenmeier, Fire Chief, Sunset Beach, NC, FD

This presentation will provide attendees with the knowledge of how to handle school bus emergencies. Attendees will be instructed on school bus characteristics, how to gain access, and how to systematically remove injured patients. The types of buses, construction, and their weaknesses will be addressed. Stabilization of buses in an upright, side, and roof presentation will be explained. Initial access can be problematic depending on the damage to the bus. Techniques will be shown to gain access through windows, doors, sidewalls, floors and roofs. Dealing with entrapment, seat removal and patient immobilization will also be discussed.

 

Responding to Industrial Facilities: Your First Visit Needs to be Before the Incident

Brian Gettemeier, Firefighter, Cottleville Fire Protection District

Emergencies at industrial facilities present a unique challenge that can quickly test the abilities of responders and overwhelm the local resources. Industrial incidents can be large complex incidents that are unique to any other experience emergency responders have had before. These events require coordinated efforts between the facility and responders to achieve a safe, successful outcome. The key to these coordinated efforts begins long before the incident. It is imperative that responders and facilities collaborate on plans. This class will address both the need for pre-incident knowledge along with some strategy and tactical considerations when it comes to an event.

 

Creating a Positive Fitness Culture in Your Department

Aaron Zamzow, Firefighter/Training Officer Madison, WI, FD

The fire service today is not very conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Poor eating and sleeping habits and little emphasis on fitness has created an unhealthy culture. That culture can be changed. Attendees will learn how to start a fitness movement with these strategies: fitness challenges, fitness assessments, air consumption drills, yearly physical incentives and fitness resource management and how to successfully implement them into a yearly plan. This session is perfect for those who want to make a difference in the health and fitness culture of their department.

 

The Unique Fire Risks of “Going Green”

Butch Cobb, Battalion Chief (ret.) Jersey City, NJ, FD & Kevin Kuntz,

Green building embodies the worthy goal of minimizing the effect of the built environment on the planet and its occupants. With that concept comes new and different risks that, if not managed, can result in increased chance of structural collapse, faster times to flashover, and fire events that generate more toxic products of combustion. It’s imperative that all members of the fire service understand those risks, so they can manage and mitigate them to the maximum extent. This presentation will look at Green building loss experience, preplanning, the changes in strategies and tactics that are necessary, specialized training and more.

 

9:45 AM – 11:15 AM

The Dangers Lurking Below

Robert Moran, Fire Chief, Brewster, MA, Fire Rescue & John Lewis, Lieutenant (ret.), Passaic, NJ, FD

Fires in a below-grade areas are unlike any other fire to which we respond. The numerous dangers associated with advancing hoselines into these confined spaces while companies operate on the floors above have been linked to multiple firefighter fatalities, injuries, and RIC deployments over the past few years. Valuable information has been gained from recent scientific studies by UL and NIST. This program will provide an interactive review of these studies to ensure the attendees recognize and embrace the critical importance this new information has had on the preferred suppression methods at below-grade fires.

 

Live-Fire in Acquired Structures

Keith Stakes, Research Engineer, UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute

The UL FSRI recently completed a series of experiments looking at the safety, fidelity, and exposure of live-fire evolutions in acquired structures. This series was completed in the same structure utilized for the previous research studies on horizontal, vertical, and positive pressure ventilation, which allowed for a comparison between synthetic furnishings seen on the modern fireground and wood-based training fuels allowed by NFPA 1403 in live-fire training. This presentation will discuss the findings and provide insight into how instructors can design live-fire evolutions in acquired structures that closely replicate many aspects of the modern fire environment, all while working within the confines of NFPA 1403.

 

ISO Ratings: What You Need to Know
 

Bradley Bain, Vice President, Community Hazard Mitigation of ISO

Kevin Kuntz, Vice President, Verisk/Former Fire Chief
 

This class provides an overview of ISO Fire Protection Ratings and the components of the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) including Emergency Communications, Fire Department, Water Supply including alternate water supplies and Community Risk Reduction. The presenters will review the point values of each section of the FSRS and the rating rules that apply to the assigned ratings and discuss the insurance industry's use of the rating system. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions about the FSRS and the rating system for a question and answer session.

 

Peer Support Team Response to a Line of Duty Death

Greg Pixley, Captain, Denver, CO FD

In this session, attendees will learn from the experiences of the Denver Fire Department Peer Support Team in their response to five different line-of-duty deaths suffered over a two-decade period. Peer support team notification, activation, response, and grief counseling will be topics of discussion. Lessons learned regarding successes and mistakes will also be covered in relation to providing services to our fellow firefighters and their families. Justification for the need of fire department and emergency service peer support teams, specific to the line-of-duty deaths, will also be discussed. Attendees will receive information that will help any new or existing peer support team.

 

The Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss and Dementia

Dr. Samantha O’Leary, Doctor of Audiology, Health and Wellness

This presentation aims to educate firemen on the importance of hearing healthcare and the effects that untreated hearing loss can have on our body, health and overall well-being. Hearing loss effects our safety and balance and individuals who experience even a mild loss of hearing are 3 times more like to have problems with falls or imbalance.. This presentation will discuss the anatomy of the ear, causes of hearing loss with a specific focus on noise exposure, testing protocols, effects of untreated hearing loss on overall health, tinnitus, treatment options and solutions, and the importance of early intervention and hearing loss prevention.

 

Looking for CLUES in your 360

Joseph DeVito, Captain, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Fire Control District

The first-on-scene apparatus has many responsibilities to consider. Decisions must be made, actions must occur, and someone needs to make a plan. That person might be you. The presenter we will utilize the acronym CLUES to see how a first responding unit and the staffing it has can make or break the fire by making educated decisions within its capabilities and its available resources. CLUES also includes information obtained from the thermal imaging camera to assist in our decision-making process. Come see what CLUES can do for you.

 

Modern Firefighting Hoods: Pros and Cons

Richard Kesler, Researcher, Illinois Fire Service Institute

The hood is an essential component of our PPE. With recent concerns of chemical exposure on the fireground, hoods have been developed with various technologies to reduce exposure to soot and other fireground contaminants. The presenter will examine these hoods and their possible tradeoffs related to heat stress, movement, and hearing.

 

Developing the Future of Your Department

Justin Bailey, Fire Chief, Oliver Springs, TN, FD

Making training a priority in volunteer or mostly volunteer fire departments can be a struggle. This can lead to catastrophic results such as an increase in risk for injury and/or death and failing to meet the expectations of the communities they serve. This course will help the firefighter determine the need for training for themselves and their department, and how to make it the leading priority. Topics to be discussed include organizational training needs and expectations, selecting a training officer, training program delivery, and personal responsibility in maintaining a healthy training environment.

 

Urban Water Rescue Considerations

Andrew McIntyre, Firefighter, Norristown FD

Flooding events are becoming more and more common in our communities. The 100-year flood has been happening every 3–5 years. Traditional water rescue training centers around a natural river environment but does not cover an urban environment in detail. Rescue crews need to understand the dynamic environment when our streets and towns are turned into raging rivers. This class will cover hydrology, operations, scene size up, the rescue sequence, victim contact and assessment, victim transport out of the hot zone, rescue from vehicles in water, specialized resources and night-time operations.

 

MAKE IT STOP!!! Down and Dirty Bleeding Control

Brandon Heggie, Firefighter/Paramedic, Central Mason Fire

This presentation will cover various types of bleeding and the appropriate treatments. We will use explicit photos and videos to illustrate just how serious bleeding can be, as well as the need to stop it. Tourniquets will play a large role and will be demonstrated throughout. Examples of civilian medicine using bleeding control techniques will make this class become a reality. Class objectives include differentiating between arterial, venous and capillary bleeding, identifying the source of the bleeding and how to stop it aggressively, and applying appropriate treatment after the bleeding has been controlled.

 

Hoarder Homes: Piles of Hazards for Firefighters

Ryan Pennington, Lieutenant, Charleston, WV, FD

Fighting fires in hoarded homes is rapidly becoming a familiar occurrence in today’s fire service. While the mission is still the same, the tactics used when fighting these fires need to change to make for a safer environment. This presentation will put you in the first-due unit arriving at a reported structure fire inside a hoarded home. From hoarder recognition to salvage and overhaul, attendees will be exposed to the different thought process used while fighting fires in hoarded homes. This session will return you to quarters with the knowledge and tools to come home safe!

 

2:15 PM – 3:45 PM

First Due Engine Company Operations

Daniel Nelms, Nashville FD

This no-nonsense approach to engine company operations examines the first-due strategy and tactics of the engine company. The presenters will discuss the framework to maximize the effective and efficient methods of first-due fire attack and the three most common used tools—1¾-inch hoseline, 2½-inch hoseline, and the deck gun. This class will cover fire attack in both residential and commercial buildings, as well as fires in high-rises and look at alternative methods to overcome stretching short, and more importantly the steps to take to keep that from happening. This is a comprehensive, yet simple, approach to engine company operations.

 

Hell on Wheels

James Kirsch, Captain (ret.) Bergernfield, NJ, FD

On any given day, a variety of specialized vehicles, utility trucks, and customized contractor's equipment travel through a department's response district. Lunch trucks, aerial bucket trucks, mobile electrical substations, small cranes, construction equipment, landscaping trailers, exterminator's vans, and similar vehicles can present unique challenges to firefighters when incidents involving these vehicles occur. Additionally, incidents involving more common vehicles such as vans and automobiles may expose first-responders to unforeseen hazards. This class will present scenarios and discuss case histories in order to provide information to attendees to assist them in their emergency scene decision-making, when encountering the more common and out-of-the-ordinary vehicles and equipment.

 

Managing the Rural Fireground

Justin Bailey, Fire Chief, Oliver Springs, TN, FD

The rural fireground provides responders with many challenges, including lack of manpower, long response times, and limited water supply. This class will address these challenges and detail how to manage these obstacles to provide for more successful outcomes.

 

Medical Patient Size Up

Joseph DeVito, Captain, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Fire Control District

In a world of technology, many newer prehospital medical providers may have never learned how to properly assess a patient. Some of the seasoned veterans have succumbed to the convenience of technology, losing some of the diagnostic skills they once perfected before they had all the new toys. We size up our other emergency scenes, why not do the same with our medical calls. In this class, the presenter will review the lost art of patient assessment. Attendees will learn how to simplify their assessment, utilizing rule outs and learning how to “size up” their patient pre-arrival.

 

Upfront Expectations

Travis Ford, District Chief, Nashville FD

What should employees realistically expect from their company officer, their chief officer, or their department? Wrong expectations can create tension and cause anxiety to spread, forming alliances. Soon a mutiny brews, and the firehouse begins to resemble a Survivor tribal council. Officers need to be able to provide honest feedback when things are not going as expected.