Buckle-Up - Baltimore County Volunteer Firemen's Association



Safety Reminder: Seat Belts Are Not Optional - Buckle-Up!

Before you start, be safety smart. DOT checks are critical for the safety all of those who ride the equipment, as well as the citizens we serve.

Fitness Myth: Running on a treadmill puts less stress on your knees than running on asphalt or pavement.

Running is a great workout, but it can impact the knees -- and since it's the force of your body weight on your joints that causes the stress, it's the same whether you're on a treadmill or on asphalt. If you mix running with other cardio activities, like an elliptical machine, or you ride a stationary bike, you will reduce impact on your knees so you will be able to run for many more years.

STAFF MEETING

July 14, 2009

Chief #09-12

ATTENDEES: Chief Hohman; Asst. Chiefs Weir and Hubbard; Division Chiefs Ewers, Kuruc, Spencer-Strong; Act. Division Chief Brothers; Act. Battalion Chiefs Lurz, Dembeck; Fire Directors Stith, Blackwell, Preis; Fire Lieutenant Lynn Mullahey, Comm. Dir. Armacost; Mgmt. Analysts Stewart, Anagnos; Executive Secretary Lysakoski

FIRE CHIEF HOHMAN

PROMOTION TO EMS CAPTAIN

EMS Lt. Charles R. Vaughan

FACILITY PROGRESS MEETING

The following Fire Department issues were discussed at the Facility Progress meeting held on July 10:

Texas Fire: The storage building for Texas Fire Station has been completed. Two sheds currently on the property will be removed. One will go Parkton Fire Station and the other to Randallstown Fire Station. Arrangements are being made for the move. This project will now be closed.

RETIREMENTS

FS Norman Arbaugh - 7/1/09

Fire Captain Raymond Kinsey - 7/1/09

Fire Captain Steven Sowa - 7/1/09

ASST. CHIEF WEIR

Apparatus Out of Service

M-118 Floor Warranty at DPC

M-56 Lap Top Install

M-4 Accident

90% of first line medics in service

E-17 Brakes and pump

E-4 Fuel tank and 189's

E-10 Generator and Primer Pump

E-12 Transmission

E-5 Brakes and 189's

E-7 motor

E-14 radiator and 189's

75% of first line engines in service

T-1 Electrical and paint warranty

T-15 Ladder problems and 189's

T-5 Accident

58% of first line trucks in service

ASST. CHIEF HUBBARD

The application period for the Fire Station Construction Grants, under the Economic Stimulus Package closed Friday July 10. We submitted a grant for funding to replace the Towson Fire Station, and assisted several volunteer fire companies to prepare a grant for their station needs.

BGE has informed us of a planned power outage in Middle River (a 12-5 box) area for Saturday evening, July 18. We are conducting community public education events Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15 to ensure safe practices for residents during the outage.

Working as the Fire Department representative to the County's update core group to the Master Plan for Baltimore County Development.

On July 8, a House Bill (HB) 770 Workshop was held at Towson University. The workshop entitled "Partners in Preparedness" was for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities. Under HB 770 all Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities are required to have an emergency plan that includes evacuation procedures, fire drills, sheltering in place, emergency generators, and transportation. The event was coordinated through the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and was taught by members of the Departments of Aging, Building Services, Emergency Management, Fire, and Health. There are two additional sessions planned.

Fire Lieutenant Mark Demski is this month’s featured guest on the Department of Aging cable show " Time of Your Life". Lt. Demski highlights how seniors can be better prepared for emergencies.

Emergency Management sponsored a National Weather Service program on Tropical Weather on July 9 at North Point Edgemere VFC. The program was taught by the National Weather Service, and there were approximately 50 residents in attendance.

Emergency Management participated in the Perry Hall Town Fair on July 11. Emergency Preparedness information was provided to the citizens.

 

ACT. DIVISION CHIEF BROTHERS

Our summer FF-I and EMT-B programs are still underway, and the FF-I will be completed this week. EMT-B will be completed next week. We currently have 27 students in the FF-I program and 25 in the EMT-B. We will also be offering a HazMat Operations program immediately following these programs that will credential these personnel to begin functioning.

The MD Port Administration (MPA) notified us last week that they have leased the Hydrotherm property. As a result, we have discontinued our training at that site. We are looking for a replacement property and evaluating the FRA as a possible site? We will be continuing this program in the early fall for those who have not yet attended.

The annual Firehouse Expo will be held next week in Baltimore. We will be hosting “live burn training” at the FRA on Tuesday-Wednesday 7/21-7/22. Those personnel who have volunteered to assist will be contacted this week with all of the specifics. We will also be utilizing several on duty units each day to assist. There will be units attending the conference program at the convention center on Thursday-Saturday, and they have been pre-assigned. We will also be participating in the Expo parade on Sunday, 7/26.

Information was recently sent to all stations in reference to our next EMS to suppression “Bridge” Program that will be held this fall. It is important that any EMS personnel considering this program “download” the information packet that contains specific details regarding the pre-requisites and requirements of the program. This is available on the FRA website through the Fire Department “main page”. Any questions can be directed to Fire Director Brothers.

A reminder that many of our fall programs have their pre-registration deadlines in August. Personnel considering any of these programs should consult the schedule to assure that you register before the deadline.

ACT. BATTALION CHIEF LURZ

The crews did an excellent job fighting the 2-alarm fire on Reisterstown Road last week. Thanks to the members of Randallstown Fire Station for handling the water supply issue.

Middle River, Eastview, Brooklandville Fire Stations and Middleborough Volunteer Fire Stations have been assisting with the CO2 calls and are working with county agencies to correct the problem.

FIRE DIRECTOR STITH

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using the recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. For additional information, contact Kidde toll-free at (877) 524-2086 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at

Name of Product: *Kidde Model PI2000 Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms

Hazard: *An electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire.

Description: *This recall involves Kidde dual sensor smoke alarms model PI2000. The alarms can be identified by two buttons, "HUSH" and "PUSH AND HOLD TO TEST WEEKLY," which are located on the front/center of the alarm. The model number and date code are on the back of the smoke alarm. Only date codes 2008 Aug.01 through 2009 May 04 are included in this recall.

FIRE DIRECTOR PREIS

Two new medications, Versed and Zofran, are in small 2ml vials similar to Haldol.  In an effort to increase awareness of these similarly packaged medicines, we have changed the color of our Morphine, Haldol and Versed tracking slips.  Morphine will remain blue, Versed will be yellow, and Haldol will be green.  These changes will take place when replacement medications are issued.  Kudos to Office Coordinator Donna Gillespie from the EMS Office for the idea.

 

At this time, Zofran is carried only in the District Officer vehicles.  It has been ordered for all career and volunteer medic units and will be distributed by the District Officers when it comes in. 

FIRE LT. LYNN MULLAHEY

Personnel from the Eastern Fire Marshal’s Office visited the Essex Senior Center to talk about safety for seniors in their homes.

COMM. DIR. ARMACOST

The August 2008 episode of Burning Issues has won a Bronze Telly Award in the information category. Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions and work created for the Web.

The August 2008 edition featured a segment on firefighting at Sparrows Point and a segment on emergency preparedness involving pets – both shot and assembled by our AV Unit and written by Director Armacost.

Tomorrow, July 15, Edgemere Fire Station – B shift will be conducting a “Meet and Greet the Firefighters” at the Edgemere Elementary Day Camp.

The Volunteer Association meeting will be held on Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 at Rockaway Beach Volunteer Fire Company. No dinner will be served.

 

MGMT. ANALYST STEWART

Congratulations to Office Coordinator Mary McInnes who was selected for promotion to Office Administrator. Unfortunately for the Fire Department, her new position is in the Health Department, but we thank Mary for all she has done for us, and wish her well.

RECOGNITION:

Fire Captain Thomas Brown and the members of Essex Fire Station wrote to express their appreciation to Asst. Chief Mark Weir, Director Charles Rogers, Fire Captain Cooke, and Fire Lieutenant Jessa for their efforts over the past year in obtaining a new stove for their station.

The next Staff Meeting will be held on July 28, 2009 at 10:30 in the Dulaney Room

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