University of Maryland Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Report To. Maryland State Firemen s Association Executive Committee

Transcription

1 University of Maryland Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Report To Maryland State Firemen s Association Executive Committee The following report is a synopsis of significant events that have occurred within the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute since our last meeting. MFRI Program/Student Statistics for FY-2011 Emergency Services Programs: 1,630 FPS 1,068 SPS 274 CDs 195 Seminars 93 Students by Programs: 34,061 FPS 23,399 SPS 5,897 CDs 2,510 Seminars 2,255 Student Hours by Program: 866,673 FPS 760,438 SPS 75,922 CDs 9,978 Seminars 20,335 Students by Discipline: 34,061 FIRE 6,447 EMS 6,193 ALS 2,273 RES 2,451 MGMT 4,409 HM 2,784 SPECIALTY 4,739 CDs 2,510 SEMINARS 2,255

2 Thanks to all of the MFRI faculty, staff and field instructors who work each day to achieve these results. In addition our state agency partners and local training academies all play a significant role in the training and education of fire, rescue, and EMS students statewide. It truly takes the entire system working together to obtain results such as this. Medical Clearance for MFRI Classes For the past 15 years approximately 11% of the firefighter fatalities have occurred during training. It is the only category for firefighter that has increased in the last 15 years, even with all of the renewed focus on firefighter safety. Firefighter training has been the subject of numerous recent research studies and the dangers, especially with cardiovascular fatalities have been significant. The issue with fire service training is that in many cases it is during training that the firefighter is first exposed to the stress of firefighting and rescue activities. In light of the firefighter life safety initiatives from the NFFF and all of the major fire service organizations in line with good risk management concepts MFRI is now requiring medical clearance before a firefighter can engage in stressful activities such as Firefighter I and II, Haz-Mat Technician, Confined Space Rescue, Swift-Water Rescue, Firefighter Safety / Survival and perhaps a few other courses. The medical clearance will consist of an approval by a medical facility or physician of a minimum level of medical health/fitness. The medical clearance will consist of an approval by a medical facility or physician of a minimum level of medical health/fitness, much like anyone has to do to engage in sport activities. This is seen as a low cost option that does allow for a minimum level of medical clearance. The new MFRI Policy on Medical Clearance has been sent to all fire departments in Maryland. MFRI will also in the case of demonstrated financial need, reimburse students for the cost of the medical clearance. This program has been discussed in detail with numerous fire service statewide organizations and has received support due to its flexible approach and interest in firefighter safety and risk management. The new MFRI Medical Clearance program began on July 1, 2011 and to date has worked very well with regard to the communication and requirements being met to participate in MFRI classes. It is important to note that the only student not allowed to participate in a MFRI training class will be a student whose own doctor has declared as not medically approved to participate in the training class. When the medical issue is resolved the student will be admitted. This procedure will improve firefighter safety and be of great benefit to our most important resource the firefighters themselves. MFRI North East Regional Training Center Grand Opening

3 The Grand Opening of the MFRI NERTC will be conducted on Saturday, September 10 th at 10:00am. We are looking forward to a very good turnout from the fire service of the region as well as University of Maryland President Dr. Loh and other dignitaries. Please attend as it will be a great opportunity to see the new training center and its operation. The construction of a new MFRI North East Regional Training Center is of the utmost importance to the continued educational success of fire, rescue, and EMS students and programs in the region consisting of Cecil County, Harford County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City. The Maryland General Assembly approved Capital Budget includes $8.7 million in funding to support the NERTC project and the University of Maryland has attempted to stay on schedule with this important project. Within the capital budget we were able to purchase approximately $500,000 of equipment for the new center. So when we move in there will be new furniture, SCBA, fire hose and appliances, etc. We will not be moving very much from the existing center. Thanks to each of you for your continued support of this project. When it is fully operational I think that the fire, rescue, and EMS service of the North East Region will be very proud and pleased with the new center and the enhancements that it will achieve toward improving training programs.

4

5 New MFRI Swiftwater Rescue Training Program Prior to the spring 2011 semester, MFRI contracted with Rescue 3 International to provide swiftwater rescue training. The training consisted of two classes Swiftwater, Unit 1 and Swiftwater, Advanced each of which was 30 hours long. The combination of both courses, along with PEAF, PERT, or FF I, EMT, and Rescue Technician Vehicle and Machinery Rescue, made the successful student eligible for Rescue Technician Surface Water certification. This was the only course in the rescue tech series that was separated into two courses for certification and the only MFRI course that was routinely contracted out to an independent organization to conduct the training and testing. Beginning in the spring semester of 2011, MFRI began delivering Rescue Technician Swiftwater Rescue Technician, a 48 hour class that leads to eligibility for Surface Water Technical Rescuer I and II certification. This class was developed by MFRI personnel using existing swiftwater rescue instructors as subject matter experts to provide valuable input. With the reorganization of the NFPA 1006 standard in 2008 that created Level I and Level II within each chapter of the standard, the course needed to be reorganized to address the skills at the level where they fell in the standard. Upon completion of the new 48 hour course, along with PEAF, PERT, or FFI, EMT, and Rescue Technician Site Operations, the student is eligible for certification at the Surface Water Technical Rescuer I and II level.

6 Center for Firefighter Safety Research and Development The Center for Firefighter Safety Research and Development is coordinated by MFRI and involves numerous research entities within the University of Maryland. We recently were notified that the Center has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) under the research category for a total of $581,769. The Battery-Free Flashover Alarm for Firefighters grant will develop a passive helmet-mounted flashover alarm that audibly alerts firefighters to conditions of pending flashover. This alarm will not involve any electronics. The alarm will prevent firefighter deaths and injuries by allowing firefighters adequate time to vacate hazardous compartments. The proposed alarm will be a thermo-acoustic flashover detector that emits a loud tone when flashover approaches. It will be powered by radiant heat from the fire and will involve no electronics or batteries. A porous disk inside a pipe will induce acoustic waves in an air column when a thermal gradient is present. The system will be developed in the laboratory, and will be tested with radiant panels and small-scale fires. Full-scale tests will then be performed to optimize the system design. Upon the completion of this work, valuable new technology will be available to firefighters, improving their safety and providing them with valuable information about the state of a fire. Subsequent work is envisioned where the system is miniaturized and commercialized. The commercial version will be an inexpensive, durable and valuable tool for any firefighter who enters a burning structure. MFRI to Host 2011 National Meeting of NAFTD MFRI is pleased to represent Maryland as we host the annual meeting of the North American Fire Training Directors from September 20 th to 22 nd. This group represents the state fire training director of each state within the United States and the Canadian provinces. I have included the agenda for your information. Tuesday, September 20, :00 pm 7:00 pm Registration 7:00 pm 8:30 pm Business Meeting Reports of Officers/Committees o President o Vice-President o Secretary o Treasurer Membership Committee Website and Listserv Host

7 Reports and other initiatives o USFA/NFA Funding Appropriation Steve Edwards o RDPC Randy Novak o Fire Corps Dave Wall o Administrative Survey Dave Hedrick o Others Wednesday, September 21, :30 a.m. Annual Meeting Begins Opening ceremony and welcoming remarks Introduction of attendees Reports from Invited Guests o U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines o National Fire Academy - Superintendent Dr. Dennis Onieal o Congressional Fire Service Institute Bill Webb o National Near Miss Reporting System John Woulfe III o Pro-Board Update Fred Piechota/Steve Edwards o IFSAC Update Clayton Moorman o IFSTA Update Jason Hanson o Tour of MFRI Incident Command Simulation Center Noon Lunch NAFTD Business Meeting Continues after lunch o NFPA First Responder EVS RFP Status Ken Willette o NFFF Update Rick Mason o USFA/NFFF Research Symposium Dick Jaehne o State and Provincial Updates & Issues All Attendees o 2012 NAFTD Meeting at FDIC - Indianapolis Date: April 20, 2011 o 2012 NAFTD Conference Update Host: Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) o 2013 NAFTD Conference Update Host: Nova Scotia Firefighter s School o 2014 NAFTD Conference Update Host: Alabama Fire College 5:00 p.m. NAFTD meeting concludes for day 6:00 p.m. Hosted McCormick & Schmick s National Harbor

8 Thursday, September 22, :00 a.m. Location: MFRI North East Regional Training Center MFRI Organizational Overview and Operations o Steven Edwards, MFRI Firefighter Training Fatalities and Injuries o Steven Edwards, MFRI Report on NFPA 1403 Project o Dan Madrzykowski, NIST This is How We Do It - Maryland Fire Service Panel o Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Larry Preston, MFRI o Maryland Fire Service Education and Training Commission Michael Clemens, Chair o Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board Michael Robinson, Chair o Maryland Instructor Certification Review Board Steven Edwards, Chair o Maryland State Fireman s Association David Lewis, President o Maryland Council of Fire/Rescue Academies Eric Peterson, Chair MFRI Medical Clearance and Structural Burn Policy o Allen Williams, MFRI Tour of the MFRI North East Regional Training Center

9 MFRI Summer Course Schedule MFRI has a very ambitious schedule of accelerated summer classes for fire and EMS students over the next two months. These courses have proven to be very successful and allow students who have the time to complete training courses in a very rapid sequence. The courses scheduled include: 5 - Emergency Medical Technician courses 2 - Emergency Vehicle Operator courses 4 - Firefighter I courses 3 - Firefighter II course 7 - Haz Mat Operations courses 2 - Instructor I courses 3 - Instructor II courses 2 - Pump Operator course 3 Rescue Technician Swiftwater Rescue course Please see the attachment to this report for the location, dates and times of the courses.

10 Upcoming MFRI Seminars Field Programs September Emergency Medical Technician Continuing Online Education Hazardous Materials Awareness Online 09/01-10/31 Hazardous Materials Operations Online Emergency Medical Technician Continuing Education 09 MICRB-Certified Instructors Only! PDI - Domains of Learning: The Art and Science of Teaching Online Howard County DFRS Training Academy 28 EMT 2012 PROGRAM ROLLOUT Easton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 29 EMT 2012 PROGRAM ROLLOUT Hagerstown FD EOC/Training Room 30 EMT 2012 PROGRAM ROLLOUT MFRI HQ October Hazardous Materials Awareness Online 10/01-11/30 Hazardous Materials Operations Online Emergency Medical Technician Continuing Education - 01 Courage to Work Safety, Through Innovation and Technology Online MFRI HQ 01 EMT 2012 PROGRAM ROLLOUT MFRI North East Regional Training Center

11 Field Programs October Attention MICRB-Instructors - 3 Hours PDI credit available! Courage to be Safe 10/15-12/14 Emergency Vehicle Operator Online MFRI Western Maryland Regional Training Center 26 EDS - Street Smart Safety MFRI HQ

12 Advanced Life Support Acute Coronary Syndromes Course EMS-311-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center EMS-311-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center EMS-311-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center Advanced Cardiac Life Support EMS-314-S Online Course EMS-314-S Online Course Advanced Medical Life Support EMS-313-S End Date: (Subject to Change) MFRI Headquarters EMS-313-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy

13 Advanced Life Support (continued) EMS-313-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy EMS-313-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy EMS-313-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Carroll County Community College Paramedic Refresher Course EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Loyola Graduate Center EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Loyola Graduate Center EMS-301-S Time: 18:30 End Date: (Subject to Change) Saint Mary's Hospital

14 Advanced Life Support (continued) EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Loyola Graduate Center EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Loyola Graduate Center EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center EMS-301-S Time: 18:30 End Date: (Subject to Change) Carroll County Community College EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) BWI Airport Fire-Rescue Department EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore County Public Safety Building

15 Advanced Life Support (continued) EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Loyola Graduate Center EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center EMS-301-S Time: 18:30 End Date: (Subject to Change) Garrett College EMS-301-S Time: 18:30 End Date: (Subject to Change) Calvert County Advanced Life Support - Co. 10 EMS-301-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center EMS-301-S Time: 08:30 End Date: (Subject to Change) Prince George's County Fire/EMS Training Academy Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals Renewal Course EMS-318-S End Date: (Subject to Change) MFRI Upper Eastern Shore Regional Training Center

16 Advanced Life Support (continued) Prehospital Trauma Life Support EMS-319-S Time: 08:30 End Date: (Subject to Change) TBD, Location to be Determined EMS-319-S End Date: (Subject to Change) TBD, Location to be Determined EMS-319-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Peninsula Regional Medical Center EMS-319-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Frederick County Training Center EMS-319-S End Date: (Subject to Change) Prince George's County Fire/EMS Training Academy Prehospital Trauma Life Support Refresher EMS-322-S End Date: (Subject to Change) MFRI Upper Eastern Shore Regional Training Center