Commonwealth Chief January 2016
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The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, Inc. - January 2016 TRAVEL TO NEPAL WITH VIRGINIA’S USAR TEAM DURING THE 2016 VIRGINIA FIRE RESCUE CONFERENCE LOOKING AHEAD The 2016 Virginia Fire Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach page 5 VFCA & Its Professional Interest Sections David Layman, President (757) 727-6580 Pat Dent, 1st Vice President (757) 220-6220 The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, Inc. - January 2016 Jay Cullinan, 2nd Vice President (540) 507-7186 H. David Hoback, Past President Inside This Issue (540) 853-2327 James H. Johnson, Treasurer President’s Message (434) 292-3935 Page 3 Anthony McDowell, Division 1 Coming Attractions (804) 501-4901 Ian Bennett, Division 2 Page 5 (540) 432-7703 Company Officer Summit R. Scott Garber, Division 3 (540) 332-3884 Page 6 Billy Chandler, Division 4 VFCA Foundation Williamsburg Golf Tournament (276) 523-0550 David Hutcheson, Division 5 Page 7 (757) 651-7641 Meet The Chief John Prillaman, Division 6 (540) 375-3080 Page 10 Jason Jenkins, Division 7 From The Right Front Seat (571) 722-3411 Stanley Langford, At-Large #1 Page 13 (804) 445-5341 Drugged Driving Jeff Terwillinger, At-Large #2 Page 14 (757) 365-6308 Jeff Payne , At-Large #3 Ready Virginia (757) 890-3618 Jethro Piland, At Large #4 Page 17 (804) 517-2622 Wise County Regional Fire School Held Nichole Furey, Adm. Professionals Page 19 (757) 220-6220 Charles Kempton, Company Officers Numbers Matter (757) 342-9428 Page 24 Ronald L. Martin, Federal / Military Fight Cancer at Your Fire Department (703) 806-6931 R. Christian (Chris) Eudailey, Executive Director Page 26 (540) 809-9397 Chief Officer 101 Tiffany Bradbuy, Administrative Assistant (540) 293-1251 Page 28 Bill Smith, Editor EMS Continuing Education Changes Coming July 1, 2016 (757) 810-1690 Page 32 Commonwealth Chief is published quarterly for the members of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association (VFCA). Comments about the Cover Photo: VA Task Force 1 articles should be sent to the editor. Statements and opinions expressed by paid advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of the Page 17 Commonwealth Chief or VFCA. Publication of advertisements does not imply endorsements by VFCA of the products or statements. The Association reserves the right to accept, reject or edit articles. Commonwealth Chief is published in January, April, July and October. Deadline for articles, ads, graphics and other information for publication is on the 1st day of the previous month. Submit high-resolution text and graphics to the VFCA at P.O. Box 699, DRUGGED DRIVING Blackstone, VA 23824 or email to editor@vfca. This growing threat to traffi c safety presents us. For information call (888) 818-0983. challenges for both motorists and law enforcement BY ERIC LUCAS ■ ILLUSTRATIONS BY HERNANDO MARÍN Commonwealth Chief • Visit Your Association on the Web at www.vfca.us 1 he young man who killed Lura Cupples’ son doesn’t Drug-impaired driving is on the rise across all age groups, recall anything about the car crash or the night it but the issue is of particular importance regarding teens and happened, nor about the two weeks immediately seniors. Approximately 23 percent of fatally injured drivers Tafterward. In that March 27, 2010, crash, he lost who test positive for drugs are younger than 25. Two-thirds control of his speeding, high-performance sports car, left the of senior drivers age 65 and older take fi ve or more daily road, and smashed into a tree, killing his passenger—and medications that may affect their driving ability. friend—24-year-old Ryan Cupples. “Whether it’s legal, illegal, or over-the-counter, people just The driver, who was high on marijuana while behind the don’t appreciate how dangerous these substances can be when wheel, survived critical injuries and was convicted of felony it comes to their driving,” says former National Transportation manslaughter. “Most people don’t know the person who kills Safety Board (NTSB) member Mark Rosekind. The NTSB, AAA, their loved one,” says Cupples, a school librarian in California. and other safety advocates are stepping up efforts to address “We have pictures of the boys surfi ng together.” this growing traffi c-safety threat. The tragedy that befell the Cupples family represents a dan- gerous trend on U.S. highways: drugged driving. A prominent SETTING STANDARDS 2014 National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration (NHTSA) One of the biggest challenges surrounding drugged driving survey of alcohol and drug use by weekend nighttime drivers is that the average American isn’t aware that common drugs at 300 roadside checkpoints across the nation revealed some such as Ambien, Xanax, and even cough medicine can impair disturbing results. While alcohol use by drivers dropped by driving ability. Also, many people don’t acknowledge that one-third between 2007 and 2014, the proportion of drivers marijuana has any negative effect on their driving ability. with a drug (illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter) in their But the fact is, all of these substances can diminish a driver’s systems grew from 16.3 percent to 20 percent in the same time concentration, judgment, focus, and reaction time, and driving period, a signifi cant increase. The drug showing the greatest under the infl uence can result in a crash. spike was marijuana (which contains tetrahydrocannabinol, An additional diffi culty is the lack of defi nitive research that or THC), with an increase of 48 percent. quantifi es the level of any particular substance in a driver’s Drugged driving encompasses the use of hundreds of sub- blood as illegal impairment. For drunk driving, there’s the uni- stances ranging from illegal (e.g., PCP, cocaine, meth, heroin) versal .08 percent blood alcohol content standard for drivers to legal (e.g. tranquilizers, certain antidepressants, cough age 21 and older; but there’s no similar standard—known as medicines, and decongestants). In fact, the two most a “per se” law—for drugged driving, and there’s no standard- common prescription drugs found in fatally and ized roadside chemical test, such as the Breathalyzer test for seriously injured drivers are benzodiazepines excess alcohol consumption. (for anxiety or sleep disorders) and opiates On top of that, it may be diffi cult or impossible to come (for pain relief). The federal government up with a uniform standard for drugged driving. Factors classifi es THC as an illegal drug, al- such as a drug’s varying effects, the duration of those though states have legalized its use effects, the body’s metabolism of the drug, and multiple in several ways. drugs’ additive effects all conspire to make establishing 1115_TWT_30-31DruggedDriving.indd 30 10/5/15 11:20 AM Virginia Fire Chiefs Foundation P.O. Box 699, Blackstone, VA 23824 Phone: (888) 818-0983 Web Site: www.vfca.us Virginia Fire Chiefs Foundation Announces Annual Fund Raising Campaign The purpose of the Foundation is to provide educational opportunities, including scholarships, to Fire and Emergency Services providers – both Volunteer and Career; develop Public Relations programs to promote and raise public awareness of Virginia’s Fire and Emergency Services; to assist other related organizations in the development and implementation of Public Education Programs; and provide grants to other Fire and Emergency Service Organizations. Fund development is through donations, corporate giving, and fund raising events, such as golf tournaments. Virginia Fire Chiefs Foundation is pleased to announce its upcoming campaign to raise funds to sustain our Mission. There are levels of sponsorship available to meet every budget. As we spread the word and maximize each support level the Foundation can realize approximately $.8 million in annual support! Please consider the most appropriate level of sponsorship that you can commit to over the next five years, or perhaps a one-time donation best suits your situation. Please indicate on the Form if you will be making a single donation or pledging a 5 year investment in the Foundation. Level of Support Number of Opportunities $100 - Firefighter 1000 $250 - Company Officer 50 $500 - Battalion Chief 500 $750 - Deputy Chief 250 $1000 - Fire Chief 100 Once you decide the level of sponsorship you are willing to support please complete the form below to reflect that information. You can submit your first year donation along with your completed form to VFCF, P. O. Box 699, Blackstone, VA 23824. If you are making a single donation for the entire 5 year period that should be indicated below. Because of dedicated and committed individuals such as yourself, the VFCF will remain fiscally sound in order to provide services and benefits to our Public Safety Responders and their immediate family members as well as to support the development of the future leaders of the Fire Service in the Commonwealth! As a side note, since 2003 the VFCF has awarded 188 Educational Scholarships and has trained 480 students who have graduated from the Virginia Fire Officers Academy (VFOA) since the Academy’s inception in 2007. The VFCF is a 501 © 3 recognized organization and as such your donation is tax deductible. Thank you for your pledge of support! Your donation will make a difference!! Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number ____________________ __________ ________ Email address __________________________________________________ Level of Sponsorship ____________________ __________ __________ __________ __________ Payment enclosed _____________________ Term of Support __________ Single Donation __________ Five Year Pledge __________Other 2 Commonwealth Chief • January 2016 President’s Message I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New very productive meeting, with the Board approving Year! The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association’s (VFCA) Board modifications to the Aid to Locality Policy, Regional Fire of Directors and members continue to strive to promote Service Training Grant Program Policy, and Burn Building our core values: leadership, advocacy, and education Policy.