WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save May 2017 Volume 5, Issue 5 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS Run Review 1 EMS Bureau Report 2 Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4 Operations Bureau 6 Training Bureau 7 In Their Own Words 8 The Honor Wall is a way to show all those that have served on the Fire Department for 20 years or more. Honor Wall Relocation of 8th Ave. This project has been undertaken by Ben Heinen as part of an Eagle Scout project. It has also been funded by donations. Although it is not quite finished it is progressing well and is looking GREAT! If you would like to make a donation, please contact Mike Heinen by calling the Fire Department. Its original location was facing 7th Ave below the flag and it was difficult to access as well as out of space for additional members. Its new location is near the front entrance off..acting to Save Emergency Activities Types of Calls May 2017 May 2016 Year to Date (2017) Year to Date (2016) Fires Calls 32 29 145 164 Emergency Medical Calls 269 236 1269 1177 Paramedic Intercepts 20 9 75 51 Interfacility Transports 39 46 178 204 Totals 360 320 1667 1596 Town of Barton Calls 23 9 67 40 Town of West Bend Calls 12 6 59 51
Emergency Medical Services Bureau BC Todd Van Langen and Captain Tom Thrash Page 2 End of a Career... by Fire Chief Gerald Kudek Battalion Chief VanLangen shown here as a the Blue Shift rookie. Also picture (left to right) MPO Bruce Grosz, FF Alan Hefter, FF Gerald Kudek, Lt Eugene Harth, MPO Carl Zimmermann, MPO William Lutz, and rookie FF Todd VanLangen Todd was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2000. BC VanLangen was instrumental in advancing the department s and Washington County s emergency medical services. He has served on numerous EMS related committees to provide defibrillators and standardized operating protocols. In 2005 he was selected as the American Legion EMT of the Year. In addition Todd has received several awards for his work with the American Heart Association. We thank Todd for his many years of dedicated and faithful service to the citizens of West Bend and our department. We all wish him a long, healthy, and happy retirement!!!!! Battalion Chief Todd Van- Langen joined the fire department on June 18, 1992 after serving with the Kewaskum Fire Department for several years. He was promoted to MPO, Lieutenant and spent several years as Captain of the WBFD Training Bureau. He is a certified CPR instructor, hazardous materials technician, and State certified EMT- Intermediate. Battalion Chief VanLangen last day with the Green Shift. Pictured with the BC VanLangen is (front row left to right)lt. Whitmore, FF Kammueler, Lt. Heinen, MPO Asselin, MPO Demler, (back row) FF Nickels, FF Williams, FF Stockhausen, FF Kolberg, MPO Dornacker, BC VanLangen, Lt Hefter, FF Keon
In May the West Bend Fire Department worked with Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin to host a car seat and booster safety check. Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin supplied volunteer, certified passenger safety technicians to complete a safety inspection and education for child passenger seats. West Bend Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Todd Van Langen & Captain Tom Thrash Child Safety Seat Checks Fire Department provided the space, which was done at Fire Station #3 on South Main Street. There were about 12 vehicles that came through on May 25 to have their child seats inspected and properly installed. Having your child s seat properly installed can give you peace of mind, especially after reviewing some of these basic facts Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of children ages 1-14 in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, on average, there are 2,700 children ages 1-14 injured in motor vehicle crashes. Car seats, when used correctly, are up to 71 Page 3 percent effective in reducing infant death and 54 percent effective for children ages 1-4. Booster seats, when used correctly, reduce the risk of a child s injury by 59 percent. Unrestrained children are more likely to be injured, suffer severe injuries and die in motor vehicle crashes than children who are restrained.
Page 4 Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle
Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation Another great Wisconsin summer is just around the corner. The outdoors is inviting with the longer days and warmer temperatures. Our senses are filled with the sounds of children playing, the sights of people enjoying outdoor activities, and the smells of people grilling. All in all, summer is just a great time to be alive. But we would be remiss if we didn t focus on some of the safety issues that plague us during the summer months. Everyone enjoys their food that has been cooked on a grill. While there are purists out there who love the smell of charcoal, others prefer the cleanliness of the gas grill. That is why we are focusing this month on propane safety. The National Fire Protection Association has the following tips for propane grill use: by Captain Kenny Asselin Handle any propane -powered equipment cautiously and always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Cylinder tanks for equipment such as stoves and ovens must be located outside of the home. Never store or use propane gas cylinders larger than one pound inside the home. Never operate a propane-powered gas grill inside the home. Have propane gas equipment inspected periodically by a professional for possible leaks or malfunctioning parts. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions when lighting a pilot. If you smell a strong odor of gas, Page 5 leave the area immediately and call the fire department from outside the home. (BELOW) Summerville, SC - The aftermath of a U- Haul that exploded on May 17 th due to a propane tank that was still connected to a grill inside the truck. Thank you to Todd Pruitt at SConFire.com for allowing us to post the picture.
Operations & Maintenance Bureau Page 6 Battalion Chief Jeff Gustafson & Battalion Chief John Spartz WBFD Prepares for Annual Hose Testing Spring for the West Bend Fire Department means it is time for the department to conduct annual hose testing. Fire hose can be found on all of the department s fire engines and aerial ladder trucks. In addition, there is fire hose on the tender, brush truck, and spare hose in each station. Each of the departments 295 lengths of hose has to pass this annual test to remain in service. Annual service testing consists of a visual inspection on the outside of the hose for rips and tears in the outer shell, or jacket. in the hose for five minutes. Any leaks in the hose are marked and the hose is removed from service until it is repaired. It then has to pass the pressure test after the repairs are made. Then the hose is filled with water and pressurized up to 300 pounds per square inch. The pressure has to remain There aren t any pictures from this year s testing, so we found some in our archives. The pictures below are from WBFD testing their fire engine pumps and hose at Regner Park on June 4, 1944. There are ten lines flowing in the first and second pictures. The department s 1923 Seagrave, 1936 FWD engines and hose wagon are the apparatus in the pictures. Chief Kuehlthau is the officer in the lower right.
Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash WBFD Public Relations Page 7 Active Shooter Incident Management: On May 3 the West Bend Fire Department along with 30 other fire and law enforcement personnel, from several different agencies, participated in an Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) tabletop exercise, held at the West Bend Police Department (WBPD) training room. ASIM is a course designed to improve incident management and integration of law enforcement, fire and EMS responders to active shooter events by decreasing time to (1) threat neutralization (2) medical intervention, and (3)increasing survivability of victims. The course focuses on the core response process and integration. A model Active Shooter Incident Management Checklist was reviewed. It is a tool that outlines the law enforcement, fire and EMS process. This class was both educational and eye-opening for everyone who participated. Thanks WBPD for hosting. 2017 American Legion Lt. Ray Dickop Post 36 Firefighter and EMS of the Year Award. On the left: Motor Pump Operator Kyle Demler was selected as the local post Firefighter Of The Year. On the right: Lieutenant Rob Schafer was selected as the local and county EMT of the Year. Both individuals were honored at a meeting in May. Annually individuals are selected for going above and beyond what is expected.
In Their Own Words... The back page of our newsletter features a note or customers.the people we serve. Whether it or a public education assignment, Department are always dedarea residents a card that we have received from our is during an ambulance call, fire call, the members of the West Bend Fire icated to making their contact with positive experience. Personnel Spotlight: Captain Kenny Asselin Captain of Prevention / Paramedic Kenny Asselin has proudly served the City of West Bend since 1996. Kenny is from Butler, WI, where he was a volunteer firefighter/ EMT and a fire inspector prior to his arrival in West Bend. His certifications include Firefighter II, Fire Officer II, Fire Inspector I, Fire Instructor I, Driver/Operator Pumper and Aerial, Haz Mat Technician and is licensed as a critical care paramedic. Kenny holds associate degrees in marketing and paramedic technician, a bachelor degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University as well as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), also from Cardinal Stritch. Kenny is an adjunct EMS instructor and National Registry examiner at Moraine Park Technical college, and an adjunct driver/operator instructor at Gateway Technical College. Kenny and his wife Sandy enjoy downhill skiing in Colorado and Upper Michigan, camping, biking, golfing, and the occasional relaxing weekend in Door County. WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect...Acting to Save 325 N 8th Ave. West Bend, WI 53095 262.335.5054 www.ci.west-bend.wi.us