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. New MFRI Personnel Over the past weeks several new employees have began their career with the Institute. These do not represent new positions, but the filling of existing vacancies. The new personnel are: John Alexander Karen Close Lester Hawthorne, III Jenilee Jay Amber Reamy Aaron Weitzman - Faculty / ALS Program - Administrative Assistant II / NCRO - Faculty / IDS - Administrative Assistant II / IDS - Faculty / IDS - Faculty / ALS Program Please join me in welcoming these individuals to the Maryland emergency services and continue to work with them as they learn their new responsibilities. MFRI Awarded OSHA Training Grant On Friday, September 28, 2007, the University of Maryland Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute was notified that a Susan Harwood Training Grant award (SH-16582-07-60-F-24) was approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This grant provides federal financial assistance for a program for Targeted Topic training addressing Construction Industry Excavation and Trenching Hazards. The award of $169,147 represents the approval of the federal amount for twelve months effective September 30, 2007. The award provides for the delivery of 30 one-day classes in Excavation and Trench Hazard Awareness for the Competent Person at Construction Sites (20 in English and 10 in Spanish) distributed throughout Federal Region III (MD, VA, PA, DE, and WVA). 1
The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) will design a one-day course to specifically address the OSHA requirements for the Competent Person at excavation sites. The course will provide classroom lecture and hands-on activities with simulated physical excavations using working models built to scale. MFRI will provide each student with a digital copy (DVD) of the program, to share with co-workers and subordinates. New MICRB Standards for Emergency Services Instructors There is no question that MFRI Field Instructors are the individuals who make MFRI programs successful and have the most contact with our students. We all know that the instructor has a huge responsibility toward the success of students and for the safety needed in fire/rescue training programs. All MFRI instructors are certified for professional competence at the state level by the Maryland Instructor Certification Review Board (MICRB). Recently the MICRB standards have changed and new standards were approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) effective October 22, 2007. In the paragraphs below I will identify the sections of the MICRB standards that have been updated. It is very important for all State Emergency Services Instructors to be aware of the new regulations. Changes to current MICRB Regulations: Incorporation by reference NFPA 1041, 2007 Edition. Change from Level II Emergency Services Instructor to State Emergency Services Instructor. State Emergency Services Instructor means an individual who is certified to be an emergency services instructor by the MICRB. Change from Instructor I to Local Emergency Service Instructor. Local Emergency Services Instructor means an individual who is designated to instruct by the local jurisdiction. Training Supervisor Means an individual who is an MICRB certified State Emergency Services Instructor and who directly supervises certified State Emergency Services Instructors on a full-time basis. Instructor Training - The instructor candidate may fulfill the instructor training requirement by completing a nationally recognized instructor training course approved by the MICRB. 2
PDI The instructor or training supervisor shall successfully complete 12 hours of professional development or continuing education in instructional methodology or training safety. A maximum of 6 hours of approved professional development can be in the area of training safety within the 3-year period. Instructor Trainer Certification If the instructor trainer candidate is currently certified as a State Emergency Services Instructor at the time of the candidate s initial certification as an instructor trainer, the instructor trainer certification will run concurrently with the State Emergency Services Instructor certification. Instructor Trainer Certification Currency requirement To retain approval, an instructor trainer shall teach at least 60 hours in a 3-year certification cycle, 30 of which shall be in instructor training, have at least one successful evaluation in the 3-year certification period by an approved instructor trainer, and complete one of the following requirements: (1) Successfully complete a 3 credit-hour course in teacher education, or the equivalent of 3 credit hours on in-service professional development, or (2) Successfully complete 12 hours of continuing education in an approved professional development seminar for instructors. Evaluators All evaluator candidates submitted by their sponsoring agency shall have successfully completed a MICRB-approved evaluator workshop prior to their recommendation and approval as an instructor evaluator. Conducting Safe Live Fire Training Evolutions MFRI has recently completed a course on Conducting Safe Live Fire Training Evolutions. This course is designed to take a MICRB certified instructor and provide him or her with the skills and behaviors necessary to conduct a live training fire in a safe and effective manner. Much of the focus of the course involves the requirements of NFPA 1403. The course is six hours in duration and will qualify for the PDI requirements necessary for the MICRB recertification process. MFRI has developed an Instructor Guide, a Student Manual and a Note Taking Guide to supplement the course. This course has been delivered on several occasions to date with very positive student evaluations. As of March 1, 2008 this course will be a mandatory requirement for any MFRI instructor who engages in live fire training activities. This should provide everyone with ample opportunity to take this course as it is being offered multiple times in each MFRI Region. 3
Renovation of North East Regional Training Center This project is being undertaken to address outstanding deficiencies at the MFRI North East Regional Training Center located on the US Army, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, Maryland bringing this center to parity with the other centers in the State. The scope of the project consists of two major components intended to accommodate the training needs of the emergency services as provided by the University of Maryland, Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute at NERTC. The first is construction of a new administration/classroom building of approximately 10,000 GSF to replace a very inadequate existing structure. Second is renovation and upgrading of existing practical training area. The primary aspect of this construction is a simulated flammable liquids training prop utilizing propane with adequate safeguards and environmental protection built-in. The overall project includes evaluation of existing facilities, site conditions, utilities infrastructure and continued site access and security issues. The North East Regional Training Center has served Baltimore County, Harford County, Cecil County and Baltimore City since its opening, as a resource for instruction and training for the local emergency services community. All the counties and the city in this region rely on either career and volunteer or a combination of staffing to provide emergency response. There has been steady population growth in all of the counties with significant growth in Harford County. The anticipated impact of BARC on this area has been identified in many other official documents. The increasing need for a state-of-the art, flexible training program combined with the level of use of the existing facility, dictate that the Center be upgraded and developed to allow for improved safety, technology, user population, and adequate support facilities. Upgrades included the elimination of existing health and safety hazards, improvement of access and security issues, correction of building code issues, and environmental compliance issues. Development includes replacing outmoded props in the live-fire training area, replacement of inefficient administrative areas, and provision of adequate, modern classroom space. Projected use of the facility is based on the area served and the Institute growth over the last ten years. Statistics indicate that the number of classes presented by the Institute has increased more than 60% and the number of students has more than doubled since 1985. Student enrollment has increased more than 40% since this facility opened. 4
Utilizing the statistical database for student enrollment the projection for student enrollment indicates the following: 2003 2,251 (Actual) 2,653 (Actual) 4,431 (Actual) 6,800 (Projected) 2015 11,500 (Projected) 2020 14,700 (Projected) The existing administration/classroom building contains many inadequacies that must be corrected for reasons of health, safety, and to support an improved learning environment for the emergency service providers of the region. The lack of space, technology, and general condition of the facility contribute to the proposal to rebuild the facility. Important and necessary upgrades to the center include minimizing or eliminating health and safety issues, meeting code compliance regulations, improving the educational environment including state-of-the-art technology, as well as supporting the growth in number and scope of the training programs offered. The existing administration/classroom building has several deficiencies that include problematic issues and substandard areas: 1. Safety Issues 2. Hazardous Materials 3. Structural Issues 4. Building Systems Issues 5. Space constraints 6. Technology SUMMARY The training and education of the fire, rescue, and EMS personnel of the North East Region is critical to their success and safety with respect to protecting the public. In order to do this effectively, they have to have adequate and modern training facilities that support and encourage emergency services training in a safe and environmentally sound manner. In addition, until emergency services personnel are properly trained they cannot participate in emergency response, so the time frame to accomplish the training needs to be as short as possible. Especially regarding volunteers, who contribute their services at no cost to the community they serve. 5
It is the intent of the local Emergency Services of the North East Region of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute to seek funding to begin the process of Renovation of the NERTC in the next State Budget Cycle requesting funding as follows: FY 2009 $ 650,000 Engineering & Design FY 2010 $ 6,700,000 - $ 7,000,000 Construction FY 2011 $ 350,000 Furniture & Equipment We must begin now to move this important project forward as it is a multi-year effort. 6
Upcoming MFRI Seminars December 2007 January 2008 December 2007 12/01 01/31 Hazardous Materials Operations On-Line 01 Professional Development for Instructors MFRI HQ 03 Hazardous Materials Skills: Recognizing the Hazards of Carbon Monoxide 10 Hazardous Materials Skills: Alternative Vehicle Fueling Systems 11 Hazardous Materials Skills: Recognizing the Hazards of Carbon Monoxide 13 Operations Security Considerations for Emergency Responders MFRI LESRTC MFRI LESRTC Bel Air VFC Eastern Garrett County VF&RD 12/15 02/14 Emergency Vehicle Operator On-Line January 2008 05 Utilizing PowerPoint to Enhance Training Presentations MFRI SMRTC 01/07-03/07 Hazardous Materials Operations On-Line 12 Pediatric Medical Case Reviews MFRI SMRTC 21 Emergency Response to Clandestine Drug Labs MFRI WMRTC 7
Advanced Life Support Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) December 1, 2007 On-Line Advanced Cardiac Life Support Skills Evaluation (ACLSS) December 14, 2007 MFRI Headquarters January 8, 2008 Baltimore City Frank J. Trenner Fire Academy January 28, 2008 MFRI Headquarters Advanced Life Support Refresher Course (ALS) January 21, 2008 0830-1630 Prince Georges County Fire/EMS Training Academy Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) December 1, 2007 To Be Determined December 4, 2007 Baltimore City Frank J. Trenner Fire Academy December 6, 2007 MFRI Headquarters December 8, 2007 Washington County Training Center 8
Advanced Life Support Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) (continued) December 10, 2007 Baltimore City Frank J. Trenner Fire Academy December 18, 2007 Baltimore City Frank J. Trenner Fire Academy January 12, 2008 MFRI Headquarters Paramedic Update and Refresher Course II (EMTPRII) January 4, 2008 1830-2230 To Be Determined January 11, 2008 1830-2230 To Be Determined Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) December 15, 2007 MFRI Southern Maryland Regional Training Center January 19, 2008 MFRI Headquarters 9
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