On the Line Our Core Values: Pride, Respect, Duty, Unity, Integrity and Compassion

The Monthly Newsletter for the Urbandale Fire Department... July 2017 On the Line Our Core Values: Pride, Respect, Duty, Unity, Integrity and Compassion. In This Issue… Upcoming Events

Where The Rubber Meets the Road—A/C September 11th Lyon…...... 2 9/11 Presentation—Station 42 Around the Department…….…….……...…..... 3

Prevention/Training Efforts…………………… 3 October 8th Safety Incidents………………..………………… 4 “Bells Across America” ceremony—Station 42

You’ve Been Caught Letters…………………... 4 Be sure to check the pub-Ed calendars for Safety Tips……………...…….…….……...…..... 5 upcoming events! Member Profile: Logan Derry……..….……….. 5

Trivia………………………………………………. 1/6

Training Calendar……………………………. 7

UFD statistics for June Jeff Gilchrist July 26 Calls for service: 315 YTD: 1,731

Average response Time – Emergency incidents: 6 Scott Lyon August 1 minutes 31 seconds Emergency Medical Service calls: 207 Average Emergency Response Time EMS: 5 minutes 58 seconds Fire Service Trivia….June 2017 Fire related calls: 108 Q: So last month we talked about EMS and Fire movies. This month, we’ll focus on fire-rescue or paramedic TV shows. Average Response Time Fire: 7 minutes 20 seconds Can you match each Fire, EMS, or Rescue television character with their series? For double bonus, can you name the rank for each character (hint: none of the five Turnout time: 83.28% of calls out the door in 120 sec- held the same rank or job position) onds

A. Doc 1. Chicago Fire We received mutual aid 10 times – 6 times for EMS B. Hermann 2. Code Red calls and 4 times for fire calls. C. Lou 3. Emergency! D. Rorchek 4. Rescue Me We provided mutual aid 18 times – 9 times for fire E. Stoker 5. Third Watch calls and 9 times for EMS calls.

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ON THE LINE Where The Rubber Meet The Road- Fire Department Accreditation – Chief Scott Lyon Throughout my tenure at the Urbandale Fire Department A few weeks ago the Urbandale Fire Department became a it has been made clear that we are a data driven and cus- Registered Agency with CPSE. Taking this action repre- tomer service based organization. Rarely does a week go sents a significant step that begins the evaluation and by that our customers don’t reach out in some way to say eventual accreditation of our fire department. As the Ac- “thanks”. I also routinely witness all of your efforts in creditation Manager for the Fire Department, I will aid in treating people right. There is no question that our organ- the coordination of our department’s self-assessment, risk ization believes in going the extra mile and much of the assessment, planning, and review our Standards of Cover community appreciates what we do. document.

So if the community “buys in” Here are the take some key to how we treat them, what points about accreditation; about the data and why does it matter? As an organization it 1. This is a very positive step is easy to claim that we are for the fire department. In one of the best fire depart- this process we will demon- ments around (we are!) but strate our current practices, does us making this claim improve on those that are not have any value? Simply where they should be, and be watching television will an- evaluated by an independent swer this question- Ford says source. they have the best pickup truck, so does Chevy, and even 2. A lot of work will need to be done, but it is meaningful Dodge! The message here is very basic; simply saying that and worth the effort. you are the best means nothing. To avoid this type of bias 3. Participating in the CPSE Accreditation process is a professional organizations seek validation from third par- key indicator of an organization’s growth and maturity ties. Public safety agencies have a responsibility to sup- as we are willing to share our successes, short- port the data they keep by ensuring that meaningful ac- comings, and improvement plans with others. tions take place that relate to the data. 4. This process helps chart the path of the future of the organization. Police departments have the Commission on Accreditation 5. We will be evaluated at the end of the initial accredita- for Law Enforcement (CALEA), which in 2016 was granted tion. This is where the rubber meets the road. During to the Urbandale Police Department. The Urbandale Pub- this step the CPSE will determine if we are doing what lic Library is accredited by State Library of Iowa, and the we said we were going to do, if we are not they will Urbandale Chamber of Commerce is one of only five ac- seek answers to how we will achieve our stated goals. credited chambers in the state of Iowa (2016). Agency accreditation has obviously become a priority within our community and now it is the fire departments opportunity to achieve accreditation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Only a hand full of fire departments are accredited in Iowa.

The fire service is not short on consensus standards like those found in NFPA or in a fire department grading method such as ISO. While each of these organizations provide quality guidance (most of the time) they both lack key components that accreditation can provide. In fact ISO has made clear that their purpose is to be an insur- ance rating tool, which is important. ISO also examines organizations in the past tense- what have you done and what do you currently have. CPSE Accreditation views the organization in much broader terms and benchmarks are set by the organization through an examination of the organization’s strengths, weakness, and needs. The ultimate goal of CPSE Accreditation is continuous improvement that evaluates the performance of the organization. This process ensures that we take a critical look at how we are performing as an entire organization and take action steps to improve upon areas in which we fall short.

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ON THE LINE Other programs/training/projects completed by UFD in June:

Training Report: 502 hours of training were completed in June Fire Training: 327 hours EMS Training: 165 hours Prevention & Inspection Activities:

 Completed 16 inspections

 Completed 16 re-inspections

 Completed 5 preplans

 Conducted 28 plan reviews

 Conducted public education/PR for 1,147 people (709 children & 438 adults)

 Replaced 15 smoke detectors and detector batteries

 Conducted 7 Car Seat checks

What’s Happening Around the Department…

 As we begin our new budget on July 1, it is already time to begin the process of preparing for the FY 18-19 budget. Now is the time to be gathering information about items you think are needed. With that, we need complete cost and justification and your work should be thorough. All cost should be included with consideration of on-going cost, associated cost, future cost and the cost to purchase should be nailed down so that nothing is missed. Justification should include how it would improve operational efficiency, safety, customer service, etc. and must be detailed to show the need. Suggested budget items will need to be discussed with your supervisor to gain approval before putting in the efforts to gather all of the needed data. All budget items should be completed and forwarded to the Fire Chief by August 15, 2017. The goal is to complete the FD budget process by September 15, 2017.

 As noted in Chief Lyon’s article, the department has become a registered agency. This formally marks our efforts to move toward becoming an accredited agency. The rewards are great and the work to make it happen is hard and rewarding. Eve- ryone will play a role in the process of preparing our department for the accreditation process. We are looking for those who are interested in helping out. There will be OT available as well as a great deal of professional development. If you think you are up to the challenge, reach out to Chief Lyon and let him know that you have an interest in serving.

 The FEH report is due back in early July on the proposed Station 43 design and cost. Once that is presented to the City Council, we will have information that we will begin to use in our efforts to educate the public. Stay tuned…

 There are several new initiatives included in the new budget. One item is the installation of new electronic Knox Box Key holders. These will be purchased and installed as soon as Knox releases the new boxes for purchase. Originally planned for a July release, Knox has informed us that the boxes will not be available until January 2018. This initiative was brought for- ward by Bryce Landers as part of last year’s budget process. Another aspect of this project is the addition of Clive FD’s Knox Box keys to our new system. The new system will have access for two Knox Box keys.

Congratulations!

 Jeremy Rosenau – for success- fully completing paramedic certi- fication.

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ON THE LINE

“You’ve Been Caught Doing An Outstanding Job”

We continue to recognize your efforts. Whenever we receive a thank you letter, card or a phone call, we pass that along to the people involved in the form of a “You’ve Been Caught Doing An Outstanding Job” letter. As of July 1st, we have sent 101 notices to our personnel. The following people received “You’ve Been Caught” notices since our last newsletter: We received two pizzas and two boxes of cookies from Michelle Kritenbrink-Foley at 7318 Monroe Ct. She wanted to thank us for our service, especially for working Father’s Day. Ross Budden, Nick Heuer, John Mitchell, D/E John Ouverson, Craig Pope and Lt. Wilson: We received a plate of cookies for attending a Block party June 4th? The thank you note reads “Thank you for dedicating your lives to helping others. We are so grateful for your protection! Although we’ve never personally needed your services, we are so glad you’re just down the street in of an emergency. Thanks for coming to our block party, too. Our kids loved exploring your ambulance & fire truck and talking with some real life heroes. Thank you! The Ferchan Family” Lt. Routson, Cody Nicely-Green and D/E Stiles: Station 42 received a plate of Rice Krispie treats from the resident of 14202 Oakwood…this was a thanks for help with smoke detector batteries that we did on 06/12/17. Becci Schroeder Ross Budden, Tony Clemen, D/E Eric Ennen, Nick Heuer, Lt. Wilson (3/24 – Inc. #17-0000812) and David Burns, D/E Jamie Erie, David Langley, Lt. Routson, Tad Watson and Cory Young (5/22 – Inc. # 17-0001371): We received a thank you letter for the care we provided on two calls for the same person. The letter reads “I would like to thank the Urbandale EMT’s for their help, not once but twice in getting me to the hospital in the last three months. You are very professional and were able to alleviate my fears. I am forever grateful. Some how thanks isn’t enough but it’s all I have! “

ThanksThanks toto allall ofof youyou forfor providingproviding outstandingoutstanding service!!service!!

The patch colors:

The color Red - symbolizes the life and continued growth of our FD. Gold trim - symbolizes that Firefighters, like gold, will withstand trial by fire and still remain. Black background - symbolizes the foundation built by our past members and we will never forget all they have given in the line of duty.

 9/20/16: A mirror was damaged while Last Safety Incidents: throwing a football in the apparatus bay.

As of July 1st  3/5/17: Employee injured finger during PT. 1 day without a safety incident  6/30/17: A427 was damaged when puling 423 days without a lost time injury out of the station and striking a bollard at Station 42. Last incidents:  7/25/16: Rung on L425 damaged during raise.

 8/19/16: Small burn on arm through turnout coat at a dumpster fire.

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ON THE LINE Member Profile... Member Profile: Logan Derry PT FF/EMT Time with Urbandale Fire: 3 months at the beginning of July Why I was interested in the Urbandale Fire Dept: I was told the UFD was hiring PT staff by a classmate who also works for the UFD. Previous Fire/EMS experience: I am currently working for Colfax Fire/EMS and New- ton Fire/EMS Family Life: Single. I have a dog named Leia Professional work: I am a Firefighter/EMT looking for a full time job in this field of work. Activities or hobbies I enjoy: I enjoy hunting, fishing, trail running, and camping Most memorable moment with UFD: Sitting around the dinner table listening to Lt. Birkett tell funny stories. Most memorable moment outside UFD: Air bag piping to “It’s a Long Way to the Top” by ACDC during medic school? Favorite TV programs: The Office and Cheers Favorite movies: Open Range and Anchorman Last book that I read: Paramedic Practice Today Personal goals: To become a paramedic and a full time member of the UFD. What I enjoy about the Urbandale Fire Dept: Everyone is very welcoming and we train all the time. Favorite saying: “I’m kind of a big deal; people know me.” – Ron Burgundy

Safety Tip: Charged 5-inch Pins Firefighter Dur- The fold in the hose was so tight that he could not free ing Drill his hands and it took another firefighter pulling with all From www.firefighterclosecalls.com his strength to jerk his hands, one at a time, out of his gloves free from the kinked hose. Once his hands were During a two-engine training drill, the second engine in free, he was able to be slid out from under the hose to was responsible for water supply. The water supply en- safety. gine laid 400 feet of large-diameter hose, leaving two firefighters to hook it to the hy- More 5-inch continued to be charge drant. in the hose bed until it kinked itself off about two sections in. Thankful- While firefighters were pulling addi- ly, his fingers and hands were not tional LDH off the hose bed to make seriously injured and the hose never the connection to the engine, a fire- pressed him against the concrete. fighter at the hydrant charged the His gloves remained clamped in the supply line without orders to do so. LDH until the lay was broken down. The supply line was still attached on the hose bed. The hydrant FF was later ques- tioned and stated that he was never As the line filled, the hose kinked given an order to charge the line over in a fold where a firefighter, and could not explain why he decid- unaware that it had been charged, ed to open the hydrant. was pulling it off the bed. The kink clamped his hands and pushed him to the concrete, trapping him between Lessons Learned: Stay alert and communication! hundreds of pounds of charged LDH, the tailboard of the engine and the pavement.

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ON THE LINE Trivia-With Chief Cardwell

Correct Answer, A – 5; B – 1; C – 4; D – 2; E – 3

Ranks: Doc (Paramedic); Hermann (Firefighter); Lou (Lieutenant); Rorchek (Battalion Chief); Stoker (Driver/Engineer)

Fire-Rescue & EMS Television:

Like the movies, there has not been a large number of television series based on or set in the fire-rescue or emergency medical setting. In the past sixty years there have been ten series which featured firefighters and paramedics getting it done, savings lives every week. For purposes of this discussion we are only considering fictional television, not reality- based. Most have not been long-lived, with only four making it into a fourth season (the typical benchmark for a success- ful TV show). Still this is considerably above-average for a genre, with on-average less than one-in-ten television series making it that far. Episodes from almost all of the shows are currently available on You-Tube. Check them out. The first fire-rescue specific show to make it on the air was Rescue 8, which aired between 1958 and 1960. Modeled on the original Dragnet TV show (which premiered in 1951, the show featured technical rescues made by LA County rescue squads. The Dragnet connection between police and fire picked up again when Jack Webb (who relaunched the series in the late 60’s wanted another show but this time based on firefighters. By then the LA County Rescue teams had mor- phed into Squads and the field of pre-hospital paramedic care was taking off.

Emergency, which ran for eight years from 1972 through 1980, is credited with introducing the county to advanced life support capabilities. Johnny and Roy were paired as newly trained EMS providers who delivered technical rescue and emergency care. The reality of the show and the possibility of saving lives have been cited as a primary reason for the surge in ALS Services and paramedic training programs across the country. Interestingly one of the crew at Station 51 was actually a La County FF. Driver/Engineer Mike Stoker was added to the show because they needed someone to drive the engine on-camera. To this day Emergency remains the longest-running EMS or fire-based television show and has had solid following in syndication.

After Emergency it would be almost twenty years before another solid fire- or EMS-based television show would crack through. The 1980’s and 1990’s saw five different shows, none of which were able to capture the audience. Code Red (1981) featured the Rorcheks, a family of LA County responders. H.E.L.P. (1990) was short-lived show based on paramedics responding to calls in remote section of New York City. LA Firefighters (1996) took a similar approach to Code Red, with the same results. Rescue 77 (1999) tried to focus on the action and drama, but the outcry about the lack of reality from the fire service was so loud the show was cancelled after only a few weeks. Only one show attempted to look at the fire/EMS world from a comedy point of view: Sirens (2014-2015). This show followed paramedics but focused mainly on the antics of the lead characters. It was quickly dropped.

It took the hard-edged approach popular with police dramas in the 1980’s and 90’s to bring the fire station back to television success. Third Watch was a combination drama, featuring fire, paramedic and police responders working together on the night watch in New York City. For the first time, viewers saw first responders not only as heroes but as humans, often having to deal with the stresses of their jobs both on and off-duty. Impacted by 9-1-1 this show featured “Doc” a senior paramedic dealing with PTSB after losses in the tower collapse and on the job. Third Watch ran for six seasons.

The most controversial fire-based television show is clearly Rescue Me (2004-2011). The cable-based drama featured a cast of firefighters from FDNY who were all flawed in some way or another. The show featured a number of behaviors and characters who exist in departments across the country and concentrated them in one firehouse. While the characters were all flawed their on-the-job dedication shone in well-shot fire and rescue sequences. In the end it takes the death of the show’s most likeable and least-flawed character, Lieutenant “Lou” Shea, to set things right for the crew at 62 Truck.

Currently going strong is the series Chicago Fire. Like other recent fire/EMS dramas the series mixes emergency scene dramas with the inter-personal relationships of the CFD members assigned to Station 51 (a nice tip of the cap to Emer- gency). Unlike its immediate predecessors the main characters in Chicago Fire are almost all likeable. Senior Firefight- er Hermann is all-in for his crew yet is a strong family-type. The show continues to draw strong ratings and is scheduled to return again next fall.

I’ll leave it up to you to decide which show is the best. It is interesting to note the effect that playing a fire or EMS character has had on many of the actors. Routinely they show up at fire trade shows or give speeches at conferences. Several have lent their names to fundraising efforts for firefighters across the country, while others have made large personal donations to fire service organizations. Often the actors established close ties to the departments they represented on the shows.

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ON THE LINE

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