Planning to Protect...

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1 WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save MAY 2018 Volume 6, Issue 05 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS Run Review 1 Fire Department Operations 2 EMS Bureau Report 3 Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4 Maintenance Bureau 6 Training Bureau 7 In Their Own Words 8 YEARS of of SERVICE ~ ~April May FF. M. Nickels.05/01/17 FF. C. Bell...05/22/17 MAY ~ National Stroke Awareness Month May was National Stroke Awareness Month. During May we focused on how to identify strokes and also the proper procedure to follow to have someone treated for a stroke. If you see someone with signs and symptoms of a stroke dizziness, fatigue, one sided weakness, facial droop, slurred speech. You should do a quick test. Remember FAST. F Look at the face for any facial droop. A Arms, have the person close their eyes and put their arms out front, if one arm drifts down that may be a sign of a stroke. S Speech, have the person say something like Everyone loves the West Bend Fire Department if they slur the words or you can t understand them that is a sign of a stroke. The last is T Time, we want to know the last time someone saw this person and they were normal or showed no signs of astroke. Our goal is to contact the ER immediately that we may have a stroke and transport to a Stroke Ready Hospital. St Joseph s Hospital is a Stroke Ready Hospital. WBFD has been working to coordinate care with St Joseph s Hospital so that from the time the patient enters the hospital they receive an immediate CT scan and receive tpa within 30 minutes. I am excited to report that on May 9 th, 2018 we did it again. With the help of the crew from Station 3 Lt/Paramedic Rob Hasse, Acting MPO/ Paramedic Joe Weinert, and FF/Paramedic Jake Lodl we accomplished that goal. The med crew identified the stroke and called a Stroke Alert to St Joseph s. At the hospital they cleared the CT machine and were able to identify the stroke and treat with tpa (clot buster) in 25 minutes. Great job by Med 31 crew and the staff at St Joseph s hospital...acting to Save Emergency Activities Types of Calls May 2018 May 2017 Year to Date (2018) Year to Date (2017) Fires Calls Emergency Medical Calls Paramedic Intercepts Interfacility Transports Community Paramedics Totals Town of Barton Calls Town of West Bend Calls

2 Fire Department Operations Page 2 By Battalion Chief John Spartz Multiple Fires, Public Education and Volunteers April 30. WBFD crews were dispatched to a house trailer on fire at 6931 N River Rd. in the Town of Barton at 01:11 am. Units from Newburg, Jackson, Allenton, Kohlsville, Kewaskum, the Red Cross and the Washington County Sheriff s Department assisted. Crews work on extinguishing hidden fire at the house trailer fire in Barton. The trailer was a complete loss. No cause for the fire was determined after an investigation. Occupants stated they used a charcoal grill on the wooden deck the previous afternoon. May 31. Crews apply water to a camper that was reported on fire at the Timber Trail Campground, 7590 Good Luck Lane in the Town of Barton. Fire crews arrived to find the camper fully involved. There were no injuries and a cause for the fire was undetermined. April 30. Kewaskum Fire Department requested a MABAS Box alarm for a fire at Odawa Circle on April 30. West Bend Fire assisted with Engine 3 and worked to extinguish a second house that was ig- April 30. West Bend and Newburg Fire crews fight a grass fire at River Rd and Paradise Dr. This fire was at the same time Kewaskum had multiple house fires. May 3. Firefighters installed smoke detectors in several trailers after the fire at 6931 N. River Rd. May 10. Volunteers from Good Shepherd Church work to improve the garden and landscaping around Fire Station #1. They removed weeds and spread fresh mulch. May 20. Engine 1 stood by for Public Education at Fiesta Latina in Regner Park. Chorizo wanted to race but posed for a picture instead.

3 Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Tom Thrash The West Bend Fire Department operates 3 cross staffed ALS Paramedic Ambulances as well as 3 cross staffed Fire Apparatus. Responding to EMS calls is nothing new for the members of the Chief Gerald Kudek BC John Spartz Capt. Kenny Asselin Lt Alan Hefter Lt Andy Whitmore Lt Mike Heinen MPO Mark Forster MPO Kyle Demler MPO Steve Stockhausen FF James Goeldner FF Dave Keon FF Evan Gilling FF James Kammueller FF Mikhail Nickels POC Mike Guild West Bend Fire Department. Last year we responded to over 3000 medical calls. Everyday our Paramedics come to work ready for service. Every year EMS week is in May. A time for everyone EMS Week Dep. Chief Charles Beistle BC Jeff Gustafson Lt Rick Lesiecki Lt Rob Hasse Lt Rob Schafer MPO Steve Inhof MPO Jeff McCoy MPO Jeremy Dornacker FF Joe Weinert FF Rob Abel FF Jeremy Kolberg FF Alec Hakes FF Jake Lodl POC John Schweiso POC Steve Rusch in the industry to take a step back recognize what it means to be involved with EMS. This year the National Theme was EMS Strong Always in Service. Page 3 I would like to take this chance to say thank you to all members of the EMS and Fire Agencies in Washington County. And especially Thank all the members of the West Bend Fire Department. BC Tom Thrash Capt. Robert Monday Lt Don Peil Lt Travis Eichman Lt Dan McCreary MPO Larry Schwechel MPO Dan Reisdorf MPO Matt Benidt FF Marc Rinzel FF Fred Samuel FF Sean Williams FF Sean Coyne FF Chris Bell FF Luke Van Natta POC TJ Wahouske

4 Page 4 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation The 242nd anniversary of the birth of our great nation is almost upon us. The July 4th holiday brings friend and families together for brats and burgers cooked on the grill, softball games, and time on the boat. As we settle into the evening, friends and families get to watch fireworks displays in cities, towns, and villages throughout the area. Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle and Captain Kenny Asselin FIREWORKS LAWS AND SAFETY But then there are those people who light off their own fireworks! Wisconsin State Statute (1) defines fireworks as anything manufactured, processed, or packaged for exploding, emitting sparks or combustion which does not have another common use. Basically, those items that explode and/ or leaves the ground can be defined as fireworks. Those items will require a permit from local municipalities in order to use them. Examples of items that do not require a permit are sparklers not exceeding 36 inches in length, stationary cones and fountains, toy snakes, smoke bombs, Professional fireworks shows are a great source of entertainment for families on July 4th. However, professional fireworks do require a permit in the City of West Bend, and also require a $2,000,000 certificate of liability insurance or an indemnity bond. Leave fireworks shows to the professionals! caps, noisemakers, confetti poppers with less than 1/4 grain of explosive mixture, and novelty devices that spin or move on the ground. Random use of fireworks by untrained amateurs is discourage by law enforcement. According to the National Fire Protection Assocation (NFPA), in 2013, fireworks caused an estimated 15,600 fires in the U.S., including 1,400 structure fires, 200 vehicle fires, and 14,000 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in an estimated 30 civilian injuries and $21 million in direct property damage, with no reported fire deaths. More than 28% of fires started by fireworks from 2009 to 2013 were reported on Independence Day. Almost half (47%) of the reported fires on the Fourth of July were started by fireworks. The use of Fireworks should be left to the professionals. Injuries and damage from fireworks can be expensive and detrimental to families. Safe practices with fireworks will lead to better memories for years into the future.

5 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation by Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle and Captain Kenny Asselin Page 5 Swimming and boating are two extremely fun activities that Wisconsin residents get to enjoy in our short reprieve from trudging through 11 months of winter. The summer sun warms the waters and our hearts as we splash, swim, dive, and water ski. However, there are dangers that lurk in the waters, no matter where the water based activities occur. There are several tips to adhere to when in the water. The Association of Aquatic Professionals (AOAP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides water safety education, promotes the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. acronym when promoting water safety. Recognize the signs of non-swimmers, tired swimmers, distressed swimmers, and potentially unsafe situations Education learn what factors can lead to drowning Supervision direct, constant supervision is key Physical Barriers provide fencing, safety covers, alarms, and life jackets. SAFETY IN THE WATER IS KEY Expectations understand what to expect from the aquatic environment and the body s response, know your limits Communicate warn and inform, communicate the dangers that are present in, on, and around the water Training learn to swim and how to respond to an emergency. Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning remains the leading cause of injury related death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Internationally, the World Health Organization estimates drowning is one of the top five causes of death for people ages 1-14 in 48 of the 85 countries it monitors. In 2014, a survey completed by the American Red Cross found more than half of all Americans (54 percent) either can t swim or don t have all of the basic swimming skills. According to a 2016 Safe Kids Worldwide report, despite the fact that lack of supervision played a role in the majority of drowning deaths, less than half of parents (49 percent) indicate they remain with arms reach of their child in the water. Registration for the 2018 World s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) is open at WLSL.org. This year s event will take place Thursday, June 21st. Organizers are urging aquatic facilities of all types to show their love for water safety and drowning prevention by registering as an official 2018 host location. We would like to thank Julie Hefter of the AOAP for her assistance with drowning prevention education. Please visit the AOAP website, which is aquaticpros.org, for more information on drowning prevention education.

6 Maintenance Bureau Battalion Chief Jeff Gustafson May Means WBFD Conducts Required Hose Testing Page 6 Firefighting is a dangerous business and there are many different hazards faced inside a burning building. One of the hazards is inoperable or broken tools. Equipment has to be in ready for use in order for fire departments to work safely a n d e f f e c t i v e l y. Properly operating equipment keeps fire fighters and the community safe. This testing is required by the National Fire Protection Association which sets standards for fire fighting equipment. The West Bend Fire Department owns over 200 lengths of fire hose. Sizes include 1.5, 1.75, 2.5, 3, and 5 diameter hose. Each diameter hose is tested at a pressure determined by the manufacturer. Testing is conducted by laying lengths of hose on the ground and attaching them to a hose testing machine. The hose is filled with water and the machine increases the pressure to the desired level. The hose has to hold the pressure for three minutes. Firefighters check the hose for leaks and insure the couplings are secured. Any hose that leaks or appears damaged is removed from service until it is repaired and passes the test. Videos of fire fighters wrestling a lose hose line can be seen on the interne t w a t c h? v=rffhvlrqra4 As you can see broken hose line on a fire scene is dangerous and can hurt fire fighters and anyone near by. Annual hose testing is a risk management tool the department uses to help prevent Fire fighter safety doesn t just happen, it occurs by preparing for hazards before the emergency. One of the ways fire departments minimize hazards is pressure testing all of the department s fire hose on an annual basis.

7 Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Bob Monday Bloodborne Pathogen Training Page 7 This month fire department personal received their annual Bloodborne Pathogens Training. This years training was provided by Carrie Johnson, a Infection Prevention Manager with Froedtert Hospitals and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The training covers elements of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard relevant to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training requirement as stated in OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR What are Bloodborne Pathogens? Bloodborne Pathogens are microorganisms (such as viruses i.e. Hepatitis, HIV) transmitted through blood, or other potentially infectious Above are examples of protections the Firefighter/ Paramedics use. material such as certain bodily fluids or tissues. Employees review infection control practices used to prevent transmission of pathogens. These precautions include engineering and work practice controls. Engineering controls include the safe handling and disposal of IV needles. Used IV needles go into a specially marked containers. The IV catheters themselves have controls built in with self -sheathing needles. Work practice controls include handwashing with antiseptic hand cleaners along with soap and running water as soon as feasible. Personal protective equipment is provided to the paramedic/ firefighter. Exam gloves, eye protection, face shields, masks and gowns and all examples of equipment the paramedics use. Rarely does an exposure take place with these precautions in place, but it does happen. A recent exposure, the possibility of our paramedics being exposed to Meningitis. Our personal were notified by the hospital of the potential exposer during tansport. The patient was tested and found to be not contagious.

8 The back page of our newsletter features a customers.the people we serve. call, or a public education Fire Department are with area In Their Own Words... note or card that we have received from our Whether it is during an ambulance call, fire assignment, the members of the West Bend always dedicated to making their contact residents a positive experience. Personnel Spotlight: Firefighter Luke VanNatta Firefighter Luke VanNatta is this month s spotlight. Luke is our newest firefighter starting on June 4th of this year. Luke has previous firefighting experience coming from Grafton Fire Department. Prior to Grafton FD, he was on Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department. Luke was a paramedic student ride along with our department 4 years ago. Luke received his firefighting education through MATC and also received his Paramedic Associates Degree from MPTC. Luke currently lives in the Village of Grafton with his wife Allison. They have been married for two years. When not at the fire department Luke enjoys snowboarding in the winter, hiking, and camping with his wife in the summer. On a bad note, he is a Cubs and Bears fan. WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect...Acting to Save 325 N 8th Ave. West Bend, WI