WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT

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WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save February 2016 Volume 4, Issue 2 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS 1 EMS Bureau Report 2 Fire Prev.

02/18/02 FF J. Kolberg.02/17/14 Texting while driving is a growing problem, and a national epidemic, quickly becoming one of the country s top killers.

1 WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save February 2016 Volume 4, Issue 2 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS 1 EMS Bureau Report 2 Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4 Operations Bureau 6 Training Bureau 7 In Their Own Words 8 YEARS of SERVICE ~ FEBRUARY Chief G. Kudek...02/01/85 FF D. Keon....02/05/01 FF J. McCoy.. 02/18/02 FF F. Samuel.02/18/02 FF J. Kolberg.02/17/14 Texting while driving is a growing problem, and a national epidemic, quickly becoming one of the country s top killers. Our paramedics have been seeing the results of this in West Bend and in our surrounding communities. Drivers assume they can handle texting while driving and remain safe, but the accident scenes that we respond to say another thing. National statistics support this as well. Just check out these interesting and shocking facts: According to the National Safety Council and The National Highway Safety Administration; Texting While Driving Causes: 1,600,000 accidents per year, 330,000 injuries per year, 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY and nearly 25% of ALL car accidents. Texting while driving is about 6 times more likely to cause an accident than driving after drinking four alcoholic beverages. It is also the number one driving distraction among teenage drivers. Additional reports have shown that texting makes you 23 times more likely to crash. It can be compared to driving while blindfolded for five seconds. This equates to a 400% increase in the amount of time that drivers have their eyes off the road. It also slows your brake reaction speed by 23%. Knowing the severity of this problem the WBFD asks that everyone pledge to put their phones in driving mode or out of reach when they are b e h i n d t h e w h e e l...acting to Save Emergency Activities Types of Calls February 2016 January 2016 Year to Date (2016) Year to Date Fires Calls (2015) Emergency Medical Calls Paramedic Intercepts Interfacility Transports Totals Town of Barton Calls Town of West Bend Calls

Emergency Medical Services Bureau Page 2 BC Van Langen and Captain Thrash The importance of Trained Bystanders by BC Van Langen Three of the pictures below are of well known places in the city of

If the right actions are immediately taken clinical death is reversible. Recog- death.

The ryone would take the time to learn CPR and how to use an AED there could be more success stories like these. AED s are located at many locations incident occur at their facility.

Due to the fact that there were people on site at each of these facilities who were trained in CPR all 3 of those indi- nizing that the person is unresponsive and calling 911 is the first step

2 Emergency Medical Services Bureau Page 2 BC Van Langen and Captain Thrash The importance of Trained Bystanders by BC Van Langen Three of the pictures below are of well known places in the city of West Bend. Within the past several weeks all 3 of these places had the same type and biological. When you are clinically dead there is no heartbeat or breathing. If the right actions are immediately taken clinical death is reversible. Recog- death. Generally speaking people who go into cardiac arrest and do not receive immediate, effective CPR do not have a good chance of survival. The ryone would take the time to learn CPR and how to use an AED there could be more success stories like these. AED s are located at many locations incident occur at their facility. A person suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Due to the fact that there were people on site at each of these facilities who were trained in CPR all 3 of those indi- nizing that the person is unresponsive and calling 911 is the first step followed by immediate effective chest compressions, and access to defibrillation. When these things are in place we can restore people who were involved in the resuscitation efforts of the 3 individuals provided the most important component of basic life support-keeping the victim alive until paramedics arrive. throughout the city. Most public buildings, schools, churches and recreational facilities have them. Many West Bend businesses have also purchased AEDs. viduals survived. Their survival was possible for several reasons. Lets start by defining the 2 types of death, clinical circulation and breathing. If one of those actions is missing or delayed survival rates decrease. Biological death on the other hand is permanent brain Prior to the incident these individuals took the time to learn how to perform effective CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). If eve- The West Bend Fire department would like to thank the individuals who stepped up and used their skills to save three lives.

Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Todd Van Langen & Captain Tom Thrash EMS TRAINING Page 3 Members of the Red Shift are shown practicing with the EZ-IO and also the child and infant

3 Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Todd Van Langen & Captain Tom Thrash EMS TRAINING Page 3 Members of the Red Shift are shown practicing with the EZ-IO and also the child and infant intubation mannequins The West Bend Fire Department has been involved with refreshing our emergency medical skills and knowledge. During January and February we have been working to complete our mandatory EMS continuing education requirements. Every 2 years the State of Wisconsin requires Paramedics to have 48 hours of continuing education. The State allows departments to either complete a formal 6-day refresher course that is taught by a Technical College or log individual in-house training hours that occur throughout the year. For the last 2 recertification cycles we have met our requirements with our own inhouse training and classes taught by our medical director, Dr. Therese Gesteland. This year, due to our ever increasing call volume and a need to have deeper interaction with the curriculum we chose to have a formal 6-day class for each shift. The classes are being taught by John Gloede, who is a Paramedic Instructor with Moraine Park Technical College. John has past experience as a Paramedic working with Gold Cross Ambulance in the Fox- Valley. The class covers all of the topics that were in the original paramedic class and offers our paramedics a chance to practice hands on skills. Hands on skills such as performing an interosseous bone infusion, practicing our endotracheal intubations and reviewing the procedures for child birth. We also worked with the SIM MAN which is a mannequin that can be programmed to emulate medical problems and respond to interventions. SIM MAN can respond verbally, display signs and symptoms and track the amount of medications that are administered. This type of training is highly beneficial for our paramedics.

Page 4 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg 350 300 250 200 150 February Prevention & Inspection Activities Periodic Inspections

4 Page 4 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg February Prevention & Inspection Activities Periodic Inspections Reinspections/Follow-ups Violations System Acceptance Tests Requests/Complaints Meetings/Consults Permits Home Smoke Alarm Installs Community Safety Presentations Plan Reviews Vehicle Fire facts By Captain Tammy Lamberg Car fires are the cause of over 2 million dollars in property loss in the States each year, in addition they are responsible for numerous injuries and fatalities. Now that Winter is coming to a close people in Wisconsin are starting to plan their spring vacations. Whether it will be an Easter weekend trip to see relatives or a spring break trek to a sunny beach there is nothing better than a road trip! During this traveling season we would like to caution you on the hazards of vehicle fires. All vehicle owners should be aware of the potential of vehicle fires and how to prevent one from happening. Continued on next page

Page 5 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg Vehicle Fire facts Continued How do Car Fires Start?

5 Page 5 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg Vehicle Fire facts Continued How do Car Fires Start? Three things are needed for a car fire: Oxygen, fuel and an ignition source. The most common cause of vehicle fires is related to gasoline. Problems with cracked or broken O-rings can lead to leaking or spraying fuel. When the fuel comes in contact with ignition sources such as a spark plug, ignition coil or exhaust manifold it can quickly ignite with disastrous results. The second most common cause is electrical. Examples of electrical problems would be issues with batteries, improper installation of aftermarket equipment such as remote starters and stereo systems; and high voltage connections that have come loose. Additional causes can be related to oil leaks, diminished fluid levels and problems with exhaust systems (Where a significant amount of heat is produced). Knowing how to prevent these problems is the key to being safe on the road. Follow these basic guidelines to protect your vehicle from problems: Perform all scheduled maintenance as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Be aware that O-rings and other seals will begin to dry out and crack after 4-5 years. This will happen faster in hot, dry climates. Keep all fluid levels topped off. Make sure The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that vehicle fires account for twenty percent of all reported fires so it s worth knowing how to reduce the risk in your own car or truck. that they are checked at every oil change. Monitor vehicle temperature and don t ignore your vehicle dashboard alerts. If a care fire should occur while driving take these steps: If you see smoke or flames or smell burning rubber or plastic, respond immediately. Pull over as quickly as possible. Make your way to a safe location off the road such as a breakdown lane or a rest stop. Once you have stopped the vehicle TURN OFF the engine. Get everyone out of the car. Never return to a burning car for any reason. Move everyone at least 100 feet upwind from the car and well out of the flow of traffic. Call 911 immediately!! Everyone at WBFD wishes you safe travels on the road!!

Fire Department Operations Bureau Battalion Chief John Spartz New Command Vehicle is Placed Into Service Page 6 Incidents where multiple units respond require a command

The battalion chief is assigned to the command vehicle and often is the first to arrive at a fire or EMS incident.

The RIT is required to meet OSHA 2-in, 2 out standards should an interior crew encounter a problem while inside a hazardous atmosphere.

A full slide out unit was added to allow access to the Rapid Intervention Team s tools.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, a saw, and other equipment are more accessible.

It was also determined that the RIT equipment shouldn t be stored in the passenger cab for health reasons due to the off-gassing of carcinogens collected by the

6 Fire Department Operations Bureau Battalion Chief John Spartz New Command Vehicle is Placed Into Service Page 6 Incidents where multiple units respond require a command officer to coordinate efforts. The West Bend Fire Department assigns this task to the On-Duty Battalion Chief. The battalion chief is assigned to the command vehicle and often is the first to arrive at a fire or EMS incident. The battalion chief s vehicle also carries the fire department Rapid Intervention Team s (RIT) equipment which is used at structure fires. The RIT is required to meet OSHA 2-in, 2 out standards should an interior crew encounter a problem while inside a hazardous atmosphere. The West Bend Fire Department s new Command Vehicle is a 2009 GMC Sierra. An improved command desk was added at the back of the truck. A full slide out unit was added to allow access to the Rapid Intervention Team s tools. The Rapid Intervention Team radios, lanterns, and thermal imaging camera are secured inside The command desk has a whiteboard for tracking fire ground operations. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, a saw, and other equipment are more accessible. A 2000 Ford Excursion had served as the department s command vehicle but was starting to show excessive wear and increased maintenance needs. It was also determined that the RIT equipment shouldn t be stored in the passenger cab for health reasons due to the off-gassing of carcinogens collected by the equipment during a fire. Department staff addressed these concerns by converting a 2009 GMC pick-up, which had previously served as the Brush Rig, into a new command vehicle. All of the equipment from the old vehicle was arranged for ease of access and improved functionality by adding a cap and pull-out feature to the bed. A desk was placed at the back end of the truck for the incident commander to run the scene. An improved radio set-up was added to track the multiple frequencies encountered at an incident. The vehicle has already seen action at two fires since it was placed into service.

Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash Page 7 Ice Safety Information: Once we enter the month of March and the weather starts getting warm ice

The DNR says, If you head out to one of Wisconsin s many lakes or rivers to ice fish, snowmobile, ATV, Crosscountry ski, or just enjoy a winter day, we want you to have fun and be safe.

7 Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash Page 7 Ice Safety Information: Once we enter the month of March and the weather starts getting warm ice conditions can change for the worse quickly. The DNR says, If you head out to one of Wisconsin s many lakes or rivers to ice fish, snowmobile, ATV, Crosscountry ski, or just enjoy a winter day, we want you to have fun and be safe. A bit of advance planning and practicing basic ice precautions can help you return home safely. There really is no sure answer to when the ice is safe. There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice. You cannot judge the strength of the ice by one factor like its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether the ice is covered with snow. Ice strength is based on many different factors. Ice strength can vary in different areas on the same body of water. Local bait shops, fishing clubs and resorts serve winter anglers every day and often have the most up-to-date information how thick the ice is on local lakes. Tips: Don t go alone. Take a cell phone if available. Make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return. Don t go in areas that you are not familiar with. Avoid inlets, outlets or narrow that may have current. Look for clear ice. Carry some basic gear: ice claws or picks, ice jacket, and a length of rope. If you fall through the ice remain calm and act quickly. 1)Do not remove winter clothing. Heavy clothing can trap air, which can keep you afloat. 2) Go back to the direction you came. That is probably where you will find the strongest ice. 3) Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface. This is where anything sharp would help you pull yourself up onto the ice. 4) Kick your feet and work your way back up on the solid ice. 5) Once on the ice don t stand up. Lie flat until you are completely out of the water, then roll away from the hole to keep your weight spread out. 6) Get warm, dry sheltered area and warm yourself up immediately. In February The Washington County Dive Team started training on the ice. This was to prepare for our late winter warm up. This is the time of year when the good ice can become drastically bad in a very short time. The Washington County Dive Team again sponsored a successful Bowl-a-Thon on March 5, 2016 at King Pin Bowling Alley in West Bend. At this year s event approximately $16, was raised. There were many door prizes, 50/50 raffles, and many more activities. Thanks to all the donors and participants this couldn t be a success without you! We would like to thank everyone who came out to support our fundraiser for their attendance and generous donations.

Whether it is during an ambulance call, fire call, or a public education assignment, the members of the West Bend Fire

Personnel Spotlight: FF Travis Eichmann Firefighter Travis Eichmann has been with the West Bend Fire Department for 16 years.

He started as a fulltime Firefighter/ Paramedic with West Bend Fire on January 5, 2000.

(Good Luck Travis!) He serves on several committees including purchasing and EMS.

8 In Their Own Words... The back page of our newsletter features a note or card that we have received from our customers.the people we serve. Whether it is during an ambulance call, fire call, or a public education assignment, the members of the West Bend Fire Department are always dedicat- ed to making their contact with area residents a pos- itive experience. Personnel Spotlight: FF Travis Eichmann Firefighter Travis Eichmann has been with the West Bend Fire Department for 16 years. Travis started his career with a volunteer fire and ambulance service in FF Eichmann has been a Paramedic since He started as a fulltime Firefighter/ Paramedic with West Bend Fire on January 5, He currently holds positions as Acting Lieutenant and MPO. He is next on our promotional list for a Lieutenant position. (Good Luck Travis!) He serves on several committees including purchasing and EMS. Travis has been married for 12 years and has two beautiful daughters. Travis enjoys spending quality time with the family. He also greatly enjoys spending time in the woods hunting or on the lakes fishing. WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect...Acting to Save 325 N 8th Ave. West Bend, WI

Effective First Aid. Keeps a victim calm and helps them recover faster.

Effective First Aid. Keeps a victim calm and helps them recover faster. 1 First Aid Overview Marcy Thobaben, LPN EMT-B Bluegrass Health & Safety, Inc. Disclaimer: This presentation is for information and background only and is not intended to certify or train anyone in First