Fire Service Today

NIST and Partners Seek Input on Safer Ambulance Designs

So it isn’t all too often that EMS providers can speak their voices about issues that directly relate to the jobs EMS providers do, and have them be heard and validated, but here is an opportunity that anyone who is involved in EMS should take advantage of. NIST and some of their partners have developed a survey that revolves around ambulances, specifically the design and functionality of the back of the ambulance. I am most certain that most of us who have worked in the back of an ambulance during a cardiac arrest or some other call that requires a lot of hands on skills, by your or possibly multiple providers in the back at the same time, have asked themselves “who figured this would be a good place for this”? Such as the placement of the cardiac monitor, oxygen delivery system, medication location just to name a few.  Well here is a survey that wants input from those who work in the back of an ambulance and want to make it a more efficient and safer working environment without sacrificing the capability to do our job. 

While most of us don’t like to do surveys, this one is fairly short and gets right to the heart of many issues. Such as safety restraints and the ability do work while being in a safety restraint and the location of essential tools and equipment.  Hopefully the results of this survey will be used to improve the back of ambulances, but that can’t happen unless our concerns, needs, and demands are voiced.  This data might possibly be used to help in further editions and revisions of NFPA 1917, Standard for Automotive Ambulances as well. So please take the time to respond to this survey, and remember what they say about voting, “If you don’t vote then you can’t complain”…

Here is a link to the survey site.

Have a great and safe holiday season…

Ken Holland

Electric vehicles highlight ever-changing response environment

A few weeks ago, FireRescue1's Adam K. Thiel spoke at a conference about homeland security-related standards and best practices, and a participant asked him about the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles and their impact on the fire and emergency services.

Adam Thiel speaking at conference about homeland security-related standards and best practices. Photo by NFPA's Ken Willette. 

Adam explains how he couldn't help but think about the many changes to vehicle design and construction over the past 20 years, including air bags and gasoline/ethanol fuel blends, and how they have influenced (or not) the approach to vehicle fires and extrication.

He's sure that eventually we'll all adapt to these changes, but they certainly bear watching and, as with anything else, we must keep our training updated to safely and effectively respond to the ever-changing response environment.

Adam also points out that "The National Fire Protection Association offers an Electric Vehicle (EV) Safety Training program that is becoming a must for fire departments everywhere; check it out at www.evsafetytraining.org/" - thanks for the support Adam, we'll continue our work to train first responders on the differences in electric vehicle response!

Fire Station Design & Construction Standards

NFPA is often asked, “Does NFPA have a standard for fire stations?”  The short answer is… No, NFPA does not have a specific document for fire station design or construction.  However, NFPA does have multiple documents that have fire stations design, construction, and installation requirements for facility safety, and personnel safety.  The following is just a brief list of standards that have requirements for fire department facilities:

NFPA 1: Fire Code requires all “new” facilities to have automatic fire sprinklers systems installed.

NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program provides requirements for facility safety, maintenance and inspections.

NFPA 1581: Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program, has requirements to provide minimum criteria for infection control in the fire station, in the fire apparatus, during procedures at an incident scene, and at any other area where fire department members are involved in routine or emergency operations.

NFPA 1851: Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, this standard provides safety requirements for storage and cleaning of personal protective equipment.

NFPA 1989: Standard on Breathing Air Quality for Emergency Services Respiratory Protection, this standard provides requirements on the installation of SCBA filling stations.

NFPA 1221: Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems, provides requirements where communication centers are located within fire station facilities.

Larry Stewart

Firefighters adapt to quirks of electric vehicles

FireRescue1 ran an article yesterday on firefighters beginning to adapt to the safety challenges of electric vehicles. Here at NFPA, the Electric Vehicle Safety Training project began last year as a nationwide program to help firefighters and other first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The NFPA project, funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, provides first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with potential emergency situations involving electric vehicles.

The article highlights Jason Emery, a lieutenant in the Waterbury, Conn., fire department, who is on the front line of a new safety challenge: reducing the risk of fire when electric vehicles and hybrids are in accidents. As lead electric-vehicle safety instructor for the NFPA, Emery helped develop an online class that more than 10,000 firefighters have taken since April. 

Still, automakers lack one consistent fire-prevention procedure for electric vehicle batteries, Emery said and he would prefer standard procedures, which could come once the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finishes its review of post-crash electric vehicles. NHTSA announced the review last week after confirming a Volt extended-range electric had caught fire more than three weeks following a crash test.

That Volt caught fire because NHTSA did not know to drain the Volt's battery. The battery case had been punctured, spilling coolant, which caused a short that in turn triggered a fire, GM spokesman Rob Peterson said this week.

The NHTSA reiterated this week that it believes electric vehicles have no greater risk of fire than any other vehicles.

Read more about electric vehicle safety concerns and NFPA's first responder training to help alleviate these challenges. 

NFPA Visits Quincy High School

Last Friday, Tom McGowan from the Public Fire Protection Division took the opportunity to visit and discuss various fire service topics with the Legal/Protective Services Program senior class at Quincy High School. The hour and half presentation focused fire safety, training and certification, and career opportunities in public safety and the fire service.

The Legal/Protective Services program is a three-year curriculum designed to introduce students to various public safety career opportunities including telecommunications dispatcher, police officer, court officer, department of corrections, firefighter, emergency medical technician, U.S. Customs and FBI agent.

The students reviewed several fire and life safety education messages that they have learned and applied them to their potential career path. They also explored new safety tips in generator safety, heating safety, candle safety and home fire sprinklers and how they might affect their personal lives.

The students viewed a power point presentation depicting basic fire service training from knowledge-based learning in the classroom to skills development at the different props on the drill yard and in the burn building.  

McGowan explained a variety of options available in the fire service including firefighting, EMS, hazardous materials, technical rescue, fire inspection, fire and life safety education, fire investigation and fire officer. He also explained that with the various codes and standards that are available from the NFPA, a student’s career could include allied opportunities in electrical, construction, residential and commercial sprinkler installation, mechanical and electrical engineering, architect, and aviation.

McGowan cited safety features in the classroom and that those improvements were established through the NFPA codes and standards development process.

Mr. Brendan Welch, the program’s teacher, stated that the students are eligible to take a national recognized test to become a certified dispatcher through this program. McGowan linked NFPA 1061 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicator to the curriculum development for dispatching.

Through the use of interdependence, cooperative learning, and critical thinking activities, the students were able to begin to develop an understanding of career path development, teamwork and problem-solving that they may encounter when serving the public.

-Tom McGowan, NFPA Staff Liaison

New technology cuts emergency response times

First responders in emergencies have been able to cut their response times with the help of computer-assisted dispatching. NBC's Tom Costello reports.

Watch the full report here. 

Here at NFPA, several of our Codes & Standards also address emergency response times. During the NFPA 1221 (Standard for the Installation, Maintenance and Use of Emergency Systems Communications Systems) ROC meeting in Philly last month, the committee formed Task Groups to research and document the use of GPS and the Next-Gen 911 systems, and the how this would affect the next edition of the document.  

Response time is also considered in the training and certification aspects of the professional qualification documents, especially Fire Fighter I.   

What do you think of this new technology? Any additional ideas on how to cut reponse times?

NFPA seeks comments on plan to develop new document on Emergency Mass Shelters

NFPA has been asked to develop a new document on emergency mass shelters. The NFPA Standards Council is seeking comments on this project by January 27, 2012. Submit your comments using this e-mail address. Following is the project description:

Emergency Mass Shelters

At its October 17-18, 2011 meeting, the Standards Council considered the request of Dean Larson of Larson Performance Consulting, that NFPA consider the establishment of a new project on Emergency Mass Shelters. After review of all the material before it, the Council voted to publish a notice to solicit comments on the need for the project, information on resources on the subject matter, those interested in participating if established, and other organizations actively involved with the subject.  

The following justification for the new project has been submitted:

a. Explain the Scope of the new project/document: Provide a guide for using large buildings such as an arena, large sporting venues and warehouses for mass sheltering outside of the normal sheltering provided by a Non Government Organization (NGO) such as the Red Cross.

b. Provide an explanation and any evidence of the need for the new project/document: Events such as Katrina, major flooding events such as the Mississippi River that would require a jurisdiction to provide sheltering for several thousands of people for longer periods of time that your normal sheltering plan, which could be for two to three days.  These long term sheltering plans could last several weeks and up to a couple of months.

c. Identify intended users of the new project/document: Local, State and Federal agencies, NGO, Not-For-Profit, Faith Based Organizations (FBO)

d. Identify individuals, groups and organizations that should review and provide input on the need for the proposed new project/document, and provide contact information for these groups: Local, State and Federal agencies, NGO, Not-For-Profit, Faith Based Organizations (FBO) [see g. below] and FEMA.

e. Identify individuals, groups and organizations that will be or could be affected, either directly or indirectly by the proposed new project/document, and what benefit they will receive by having this new document available: Local, State and Federal agencies, emergency management coordinators and planners, NGO, Not-For-Profit and Faith Based Organizations (FBO).

f. Identify other related documents and projects on the subject both within NFPA and external to NFPA:

• NFPA 1600 Disaster/Emergency Management Business continuity Programs 2010 edition
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Supplies “Title 9 Sheltering Standards, Services and Supplies”
• Red Cross Red Crescent “Guidelines for the Domestic Facilitation and Regulation of international Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance”
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Response Framework “Emergency Support Function #6 – Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing and Human Services”
• Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters. FEMA

g. Identify the technical expertise and interest necessary to develop the project/document and if the committee membership currently contains this expertise and interest: Volunteers serving the following organizations represent the type of experience needed for this type of standard: Adventists Community Services, American Baptist Men, American Radio Relay League, American Red Cross, Brethren Disaster Ministries, Catholic Charities USA, Christian Disaster Response International, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Church World Service, churches of Scientology Disaster Response, City Team Ministries, Convoy of Hope, Episcopal Relief and Development, Feeding America (Formerly America’s Second Harvest), Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity International, Hope Coalition America, The Humane Society of the United States, International Aid, International Relief Friendship Foundation, Latter Day Charities, Lutheran Disaster Response, Mennonite Disaster Service, Mercy Medical/Angel Flight America, National Association of Jewish Chaplains, National Emergency Response Team (NERT), National Organization for Victim Assistance, Nazarene Disaster Response, Noah’s Wish-Animal Disaster Response, Operation Blessing, The Hands on Network, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, REACT International, The Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, Save the Children, Society of St Vincent de Paul, Southern Baptist Convention – North American Mission Board, Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation USA, United Church of Christ- Wider Church Ministries, United Jewish Communities, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), United Way of America, Volunteers of America and World Vision.

h.  Provide an Estimate on the amount of time needed to develop the new project/document: Two years

i. Comment on the availability of data and other information that exists or would be needed to substantiate the technical requirements and other provisions of the proposed new project/document: Extensive experience gathered from long-term mass sheltering caused by Hurricane Katrina and Rita.  There are several jurisdictions and Emergency Management coordinators that have firsthand knowledge of locating and supporting Mass Sheltering Facilities, such as the ones used during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.  The key is that this type of sheltering goes on for several weeks and jurisdictions will be faced with fire safety issues, ADA requirements and security issues such as unidentified pedophiles sleeping next to children in general population shelters. 

- Steven Sawyer

Important Updates for Emergency Responders at Fire & Life Safety Conference

NFPA's Fire & Life Safety Conference offers many sessions and updates for emergency responders and fire service professionals. In the video below, Ken Willette, NFPA's Public Fire Protection Division Manager, speaks about all of the sessions, presenters and opportunities that will benefit those in the fire service. 

As Ken puts it, "One of the best things you can do to ensure that you provide for your safety, and to provide the highest level of service to those you protect, is to stay current." 

Register now online or call 1-800-344-3555.

An Introduction to Organization and Risk Management Practices for Emergency Medical Services

Presenter: Ken Holland, Specialist - Fire Service

Wednesday, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

This session will provide AHJs information on how they can utilize NFPA 450 along with other documents to organize effective emergency medical services delivery systems and enhance responder occupational safety. The session will also include an overview of NFPA 1917, Standard for Automotive Ambulances.

These standards are part of a recent series of EMS-related efforts undertaken by NFPA. While dispelling myths that NFPA is solely a fire protection and prevention organization with little or no involvement in EMS, staff members have educated the EMS community on a number of existing codes and standards relevant to their line of work and have developed key contacts in the process.

In 2008, NFPA’s Standards Council approved NFPA 1917 for inclusion in the 2012 revision cycle. The new standard establishes the minimum requirements, performance parameters, and essential criteria for new emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles and could replace federal specification requirements currently guiding ambulance construction.

Watch: NFPA’s Larry Stewart gives an overview of NFPA 1917, Automotive Ambulances.

Jeff Hudson joins NFPA staff as regional sprinkler specialist

Jeff Hudson of Shawnee, KS, has joined the staff at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote the adoption of fire sprinkler legislation across the United States.

Jeff comes to NFPA with 36 years of experience in the fire service. Starting his career as a volunteer firefighter for the city of Shawnee, KS, he worked his way up the ranks to Fire Chief, a position he held for the past ten years.

He attended the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, and holds an associate’s degree in fire science, a bachelor’s in management and a master’s in public administration. He has served in high-ranking leadership roles for a number of reputable fire associations and committees including the Kansas Association of Fire Chiefs, the Johnson County (KS) Fire Chief’s Association, the Fire Marshal’s Association of Kansas and the Eastern Kansas Multi-County Task Force.

Recently, Jeff was featured in NFPA's "Faces of Fire" campaign, an effort designed to put a face on the life-saving impact of home sprinklers. While Fire Chief in Shawnee, KS, one of his firefighters was the first in the community to die in the line of duty.