WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect

WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect...... Acting to Save January 2017 Volume 5, Issue 1

Inside this issue: Fire & EMS Run Review 1 Modern Firefighting Turnout Gear EMS Bureau Report 2 It is well known that firefighters ex- Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4 pose themselves to many hazards, Operations Bureau 6 including toxic fumes, unstable struc- tures and, of course, fire and extreme Training Bureau 7 heat. They do this not for the glory, In Their Own Words 8 but for their desire to protect property and the people in their communi- YEARS of SERVICE ~ JANUARY ties from fire. MPO K. Asselin………...01/19/96 To minimize risks to health and safe- heat and cold, plus it is mildly resistant to FF J. Goeldner……….....01/04/98 ty, firefighters carry protective water and flames. They also wore rubber FF T. Eichmann……...... 01/05/00 equipment and wear specialized, pro- slickers over their wool uniforms. As technolo- tective clothing. LT D. Peil…………...... 01/05/00 gy improved, so did the materials used for these layers. FF R. Abel ………...…...01/07/08 The protective clothing worn by firefighters is called turnout gear. Fire- FF S. Coyne………...…..01/12/11 fighters originally wore uniforms con- Todays gear consists of 3 layers of safety: POC FF R. Weber……...01/12/11 sisting of thick wool pants and red shirts.  Outer shell - The main purpose of the FF J. Weinert……..…....01/06/13 outer shell is to protect the firefighter FF J. Lodl…….……...01/11/2016 Wool was chosen because it was able from direct flame, abrasion and sharp to shield the firemen against both Continued on Page 6 …..Acting to Save

Emergency Activities

January January Year to Date Year to Date

Types of Calls 2017 2016 (2017) (2016) Fires Calls 19 30 19 30 Emergency Medical Calls 268 249 268 249 Paramedic Intercepts 16 11 16 11 Interfacility Transports 41 40 41 40 Totals 344 330 344 330 Town of Barton Calls 11 6 11 6 Town of West Bend Calls 11 13 11 13 Page 2 Emergency Medical Services Bureau Page 2 BC Todd Van Langen and Captain Tom Thrash

Helping to Educate Others by BC Van Langen

MPO/Paramedic Kenny dents had prior medical classroom. The University through Friday, 8:00 a.m. Asselin, a 21 year veteran training or were already of Belize did not have to 5:00 p.m. Asselin of our department had working at medical facili- overhead projectors, pro- taught the first half of the the opportunity to teach ties throughout Belize. jector screens, or white EMT class from January a portion of an Emergen- Others had no medical boards in any classrooms. 9th through the 27th and cy Medical Technician background whatsoever. That equipment had to be the second half of the (EMT) class in Belize. Due to a lack of science

The class was sponsored content in some of the brought to in from the class is now being taught by the Belize Emergency students primary and sec- BERT offices. Even with by another Wisconsin Response Team (BERT). ondary education there these challenges Asselin paramedic. The students

Classes were held at the was a need to expand on found all of the students will take their final writ- University of Belize, Be- topics related to anatomy, to be attentive and en- ten and practical exami- lize City campus. biology, and pathophysi- gaged. nations at the end of Feb- Belize is a Central Ameri- ology. Asselin also noted a ruary. technology deficit in the The class was an acceler- can country on the west- ated format, Monday “This was a life changing ern edge of the Caribbean experience for me”, said sea and is bordered by Asselin. He said that he Mexico to the north and grew to like and appreci- Guatemala to the west ate the students very and south. English is the much. He also noted that official language of Belize. the students were enthu- One of the challenges for siastic for what was being Asselin was understand- taught and in addition ing the heavy Caribbean they learned valuable dialect. (Asselin apolo- study skills they may not gized to his students when have been taught in their he had to ask them to re- earlier education. peat their questions on many occasions.) Asselin was asked by the BERT staff to return to The class started with 25 teach next year, which he students of varying back- eagerly accepted. grounds. Some of the stu- Emergency Medical Services Bureau Page 3 Battalion Chief Todd Van Langen & Captain Tom Thrash FLU SEASON The Flu Season is here. protect against the flu is the flu vaccine. Contact runny nose – body aches – As we enter the mid- to get your flu shot. This your physician to find out headaches – fatigue – vomit- stretch of winter we know can be done at any time where you should get ing and diarrhea. this time also coincides during the year but is your flu shot. Influenza If you or your child has with a rise in flu cases. routinely done in the fall, (aka the flu) is a contagious these symptoms it is im- One of the main factors right before winter. The respiratory illness caused by portant to keep them home for this is the amount of CDC (Centers for Disease the flu viruses. Different from school, to limit the time we spend cooped up Control) advise that eve- from a cold is that the flu spread of the illness. Also to usually hits quickly. Some inside. One of the biggest ryone that is 6 months of get rest and drink plenty of common symptoms include: fluids. things that can be done to age and older should get Fever – cough – sore throat – Some tips to remember from the CDC to prevent against the Flu:  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  Stay home when you are sick, to prevent spreading your illness to others.  Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.  Clean your hands using an alcohol-based hand rub.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces at home, work or school. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods. (These tips are from the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm) Fire Prevention & Public Safety BureauPage 4 Fire SafetyEducation, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tammy Lamberg January Fire Prevention & Inspection Activities 350 Periodic Inspections Reinspections/Follow-ups 300 Violations System Acceptance Tests 250 Requests/Complaints Meetings/Consults Permits 200 Home Smoke Alarm Installs Community Safety Presentations Plan Reviews 150

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Protect Your Property From Sprinkler Pipe Freeze! By Captain Tammy Lamberg

Freezing and thawing weather water doesn't flow unless there's conditions can wreak havoc on a fire. Low points in a Dry Pipe a Fire Sprinkler System. But a Sprinkler System where con- properly designed, installed, densation can collect are sus- tested and maintained system ceptible to freezing, as are the should be a functioning system smaller pipe diameters, such as in any climate. Fire Sprinkler one to two inch pipes, in a Wet Systems normally freeze faster than plumbing pipe because the Continued on Page 5 Page 5 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation

Protect Your Property From Sprinkler Pipe Freeze continued

Pipe Sprinkler System. when a cold front blows something breaks. can be extremely dan- through. As water These types of breaks gerous. There have been The most important freezes it expands the can be catastrophic. cases where compo- step in maintaining a pipe and places pressure Couplings and fittings nents have blown sprinkler system during on the pipe, fittings and can release with tre- through a nearby wall the winter months is sprinkler heads until mendous velocity. This from the pressure and also the simplest: force. KEEP THE HEAT COMMON MYTH: Protective measures for sprin- ON. National building In addition to structur- codes require that a kler system piping exposed to brief periods of freez- al damage, serious wa- sprinklered strusture be ing are the same steps recommended for all stand- ter damage occurs after maintained at 40 de- the building and the ard water pipes. —This is not true, fire sprinkler grees Fahrenheit or sprinkler system warm warmer to avoid freeze- pipes cannot be insulated or heat taped. back up. As the ice in ups. Go below that and the pipes begins to you're flirting with dis- thaw, water begins aster. Without heat, leaking where pipes any sprinkler system have cracked or broken. can freeze. If heating is In the end, not only has impractical or you have the sprinkler system a Dry System, low been damaged but so point drains MUST be has everything else in drained AT LEAST the water’s path, such MONTHLY, if not as office furniture, com- more frequently, to puters, carpeting, etc... avoid freezing disasters. It's not unusual for an Failure to properly owner and/or insurance maintain low point company to spend tens drains will allow con- of thousands of dollars densation to fill in the in damages from a piping, which will be sprinkler system freeze. the easiest place for Moreover, as long as a damage to occur. sprinkler system is damaged, its ability to Without a properly fight fire is greatly com- maintained system, wa- promised, so the build- ter in the sprinkler piping itself is left open to ing network will freeze catastrophe. Operations & Maintenance Bureau Page 6 Battalion Chief Jeff Gustafson & Battalion Chief John Spartz Modern Firefighting Turnout Gear (Continued from page 1)

objects as well as some thermal protection. It usually  Thermal barrier—The last layer of defense. Made with consists of a Kevlar and or a Nomex material. spun lace or needle punched batting for thermal protection quilted to a soft face cloth that resides next to the  Moisture barrier—The moisture barrier is the second lay- skin. Provides comfort and smoothness with ease of er of the turnout gear system, consisting primarily of a movement while keeping the heat away from the skin. barrier laminated to a fabric substrate. Moisture barriers allow perspiration vapor to escape and provide liquid Todays Turnout gear on average is about $2,000 per set and penetration resistance against blood, body fluids, com- can be used up to 10 years before the need to replace. The West Bend Fire department typically purchases 5 sets per year as the gear reaches its 10 year replacement age. Every year the gear goes through a specific testing and inspection process to insure gear integrity and firefighter safety.

mon chemicals, and water, helping the firefighter to stay dry and protected. Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Page 7 Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash Forcible Entry Training

Forcible Entry Training: This prop provides the January is a dif- entry methods and tools. training once and only ability to force left or ficult month for fire de- Hydra-Rams & Rabbit one fire fighter would get right-handed doors, open- partments to plan train- Tools can also be used. the experience. This door ing in or opening out ing due to the unknown This is a skill that is very can be used over and over doors, metal or wood weather situations. The difficult to simulate be- again. jambs. There are many cause of the destructive Germantown Fire Depart- All of our personnel were options with this training nature of the drill. Typi- ment was generous able to train with this door including an angle enough to loan us a porta- cally we would have to iron which can be used to great prop. Thanks again ble forcible entry prop wait for a vacated struc- simulate high security to Germantown Fire De- called “The Multi-Force ture to be given to us or apartment doors. hope to have some old partment for sharing this Forcible Entry Door Sys- very valuable training tem” made by Firehouse The prop allows firefight- doors donated. A real device. Innovations Corporation. ers to use any forcible door can only be used for

Winner, winner, Pizza Dinner In January 106 Silverbrook Intermediate School kids en- joyed pizza, cookies, and great conversation with fire department personnel. After lunch they had a tour of the station guided by members of the Red Shift. These students got to visit WBFD as a reward for raising $100 or more for the annual reading fundraiser that is held at their school. This year’s fundraiser made a total of $24,450. Congratulations to all the kids who participated and great job on their efforts. In Their Own Words…... The back page of our newsletter features a note or card that we have received from our customers….the people we serve. Whether it is during an ambu- lance call, fire call, or a public education assign- ment, the members of the West Bend Fire De- partment are al- ways dedicat- ed to making their contact with area resi- dents a posi- tive experience.

Personnel Spotlight: Battalion Chief Todd structor, hazardous merous EMS related VanLangen joined the materials technician, committees to provide fire department on and State certified defibrillators and June 18, 1992 after EMT-Intermediate. standardized operating serving with the Ke- Todd was promoted to protocols. In 2005 he waskum Fire Depart- Battalion Chief in was selected as the ment for several years. 2000. BC VanLangen American Legion EMT He was promoted to has been instrumental of the Year. In addi- MPO, Lieutenant and in advancing the de- tion Todd has received spent several years as partment’s and Wash- several awards for his Captain of the WBFD ington County’s emer- work with the Ameri- Training Bureau. He gency medical services. can heart Association. is a certified CPR in- He has served on nu-

WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT

Planning to Protect… 325 N 8th Ave. West Bend, WI 53095 ...Acting to Save 262.335.5054 www.ci.west-bend.wi.us