WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect......Acting to Save January 2013 Volume 1, Issue 1 Inside this issue: Fire & EMS Run Report EMS Bureau Report 2 Fire Prevention/Public Education Bureau Operations Bureau 6 Training Bureau 7 In Their Own Words 8..Acting to Save Emergency Activities 1 4 NEW LOOK.. NEW INFORMATION Welcome to the West Bend Fire Department s new monthly report. Our goal with this new format is to provide our city s administration and our Police and Fire Commissioners with pertinent and up to date information that is easy to read and understand. Each month will feature stories on our personnel, our runs, our involvement in the community as well as a fire prevention message. We are excited about this new look and we think you will be also. Browse around this newsletter and let us know what you think. PERSONNEL SPOTLIGHT. MEET THE CHIEF The men and women of the West Bend Fire Department are led by Fire Chief Gerald Kudek. Chief Kudek holds a Bachelor s Degree in Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University, and has close to 30 years of service in the West Bend Fire Department. Chief Kudek is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy s Executive Fire Officer Program. Chief Kudek would like you to feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our organization or the services we provide. If you are in the area, feel free to stop and visit one of our neighborhood fire stations. You can find these stations located at 325 N 8th Ave, 901 N. River Rd or 2100 S. Main Street. Chief Kudek can be reached at 262-335- 5052 or kudekg@ci.westbend.wi.us. Calls Classification: This Month Last Month Totals Year to Date (2013) Year to Date (2012) Fires 4 6 4 2 Emergency Medical Calls 214 231 214 179 Paramedic Intercepts 8 22 8 10 Interfacility Transports 45 49 45 47 Hazardous Conditions 7 11 7 3 Service Calls/Good Intent Calls 11 11 11 5 False Alarms/False Calls 12 21 12 15 Other/Special Incident Types 0 1 0 1 Totals 301 352 301 262 Town of Barton Calls 6 6 6 6 Town of West Bend Calls 9 12 9 7
Page 2 Page 2 Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Todd VanLangen Captain Tom Thrash The West Bend Fire Department provides Emergency Medical Services at the Paramedic Level which is the highest level possible in the State of Wisconsin. Of our 36 members who work a 24 hour shift we have 28 Paramedics and 8 EMT Intermediates. Our 3 staff positions are 2 Paramedics and an EMT Intermediate. To become a Paramedic you have to first be an EMT Basic, which is 190 hours of training. After another 1500 hours you then have your Paramedic License. As a Paramedic Department we offer a more advanced assessment, more critical lifesaving skills and the use of over 35 medications. When you call for an ambulance in West Bend or the West Bend area you will get 3 dedicated EMS Professionals at your door with a minimum of 2 Paramedics. EMS Meetings Captain Tom Thrash works with Battalion Chief Todd VanLangen to coordinate and oversee the operations of EMS. Capt. Thrash attends various monthly meetings representing the WBFD. He attends a monthly Trauma meeting at St Joseph s Hospital. Capt. Thrash attends a bi-monthly meeting at St Joseph s Hospital for Emergency Preparedness. Capt. Thrash also attends the monthly Washington County Injury Prevention Coalition and the quarterly Washington County EMS meetings. Along with attending meetings outside the organization, Capt. Thrash and BC VanLangen coordinate a committee within the department. This committee is the EMS Advisory Committee which meets bi- monthly to discuss various topics relating to EMS such as the replacement of equipment and review of protocols. This committee is comprised of 2 members from each shift. Working with Area Technical Colleges During the month of January we had 40 Paramedic Students participating in this ride along program. The West Bend Fire Department has been playing a very important role in working with Moraine Park Technical College and Waukesha County Technical College. Over the past several years we have been proctoring various levels of EMT and Paramedic Students. This process is a requirement of the course and it allows the students to get real life experience and apply what they have been learning in the classroom. During the month of January we had 40 Paramedic Students. The students are allowed to ride along at either Station 1 or 3. They are then assigned or attached to the crew from that station and respond to calls with that crew. The students are then allowed to work with the crew and perform skills and assessments under the direct supervision of our Paramedics.
Page 3 EMS Training One of the topics for EMS training in January was to focus on the use of our Philips Cardiac Monitors and to review Stroke Assessments and treatment options. Our Philips Monitors have many different features on them. Our Paramedics can use this monitor to take a look at your heart. We can do 5 lead and 12 lead cardiac interpretations and then turn around and fax the rhythm to the hospital. We can use the Philips to monitor your pulse, blood pressure and the amount of Carbon Dioxide you breathe out. With this same machine we can defibrillate your heart and use it as an external pacemaker. With all these different functions it is important to continue to train and refresh on how to use this valuable piece of equipment. We also spent some time talking about different assessment tools for patients with symptoms of a stroke. We then continued the discussion to talk about treatments that we can do and what facility would be the best option to receive definitive care for a stroke patient. EMS Transports If you call for a WBFD Paramedic Ambulance you have a choice for where you would like to be transported. That is, you have a choice to a point. The ultimate choice will be up to the Paramedic in charge of your care. That Paramedic will make that decision based on the severity of your illness or injury, or the availability a Cardiac Catheterization Facility if needed. These are the different types of facilities that we interact with. A majority of our transports go to St Joseph s Hospital but we can go right to a Level 1 Trauma Center if needed. Transport Destinations The Wisconsin Heart Hospital 1% No Transport 26% ST JOSEPHS COMMUNITY HOSP 50% AURORA MED CTR- GRAFTON 2% AURORA MED CTR- WASHINGTON CO 5% CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WI 1% FROEDTERT MEM. LUTHERAN HSP 11% COMMUNITY MEM HOSP-MENOMONEE FALLS 3% Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center 1%
Page 4 Planning to Protect.. Fire Prevention & Inspection January 2013 Inspections Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle Captain Tammy Lamberg Follow-up BC Spartz attended the annual meeting of the Washington County Hazardous Materials Team. The annual meeting is used to elect the team coordinator and establish the executive committee. The department has been active with the hazmat team since its inception and has worked hard to establish procedures and maintain equipment. BC Spartz was elected the team coordi- Semi- Inspectionance Compli- Annual Annual Total Violations Cards Station #1 89 10 99 52 0 0 Station #2 34 7 41 21 2 1 Station #3 98 18 116 39 0 1 Totals 221 35 256 112 2 2 Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Program (UST/AST):A site plan was received from Boucher Ford at 3021 W. Washington St. and a permit was issued for the installation of an above ground waste oil tank. Meetings, Seminars & Continuing Education: Permits & Fees nator for 2013. MPO Peil and MPO Heinen have also been very active with the team during the past years. BC Spartz has also assisted BC VanLangen and the EMS bureau with implementing ems reporting through Firehouse and WARDS. A meeting with 3 Rivers Billing was held to update billing procedures and coordinate cost recovery efforts through the software programs used by the department. BC Spartz and Captain Lamberg attended an eight hour PEPP class to meet their EMT licensure advanced life support requirements. The class was held at Station #1 and attended during a work shift. Count Permit Type Total Fees 1 Fire Alarm System Annual Permit $25.00 1 Above Ground Tank Installation 1,100 gal or Less $210.00 1 Hot Works Operation - Annual $50.00 1 Fire Alarm Monitoring Company $25.00 1 Fire Alarm System Installation/Modify 1-50 Detectors $50.00 1 Sprinkler System Installation/Modify 15-50 Heads $100.00 1 Sprinkler System Installation/Modify 15-50 Heads $486.00 Total Permit Fees for January $946.00
Page 5 Prevention Bureau Activities: Captain Lamberg met with the new owner of 2100 Northwestern Avenue. The asbestos abatement was completed and we are awaiting the documentation from the contractor. A meeting between Captain Lamberg and the facilities manager of St. Frances Cabrini School discussed having fire doors wired into the fire alarm panel and keeping the building secured. BC Spartz worked to move the issuance of annual fire department permits from the Prevention Bureau to the Finance Department. This has been planned since last year as the Finance Department is better suited to sending the invoices. Permits were mailed early in the month and are in the process of being collected. Captain Lamberg met with the owner of the Cinema Brewhouse at 125 N Main St. to follow up on the sprinkler system failure and water damage that was reported by a passer-by. The sprinkler system failed due to an apparent lack of heat in the building which ruptured the water pipes. The building is without fire protection or a working fire alarm system at this time. The department has flagged the hazards associated with the building in the dispatch center so fire fighters do not enter and protect exposures in the event of a fire. Fire Sprinkler, Fire Alarm & Fire Suppression Systems Captain Lamberg worked with owners and occupants at the following occupancies to test and approve fire sprinkler, fire alarm and commercial kitchen systems. Date Occupancy Address Hours Comments To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here. 1/09/2013 Lac Lawrann Learning Center 190 Schmidt Rd.5 1/11/2013 Park Avenue Apartments 2428 Park Avenue.5 1/15/2013 Westridge Condominiums 645 Westridge Dr.75 1/15/2013 Michaleno s Pizza 1032 Gateway Ct 1.0 Completed acceptance test of alarm system Acceptance test for new alarm panel. System did not pass. Consulted on fire alarm system lock outs at the electrical panels. System test of kitchen hood system. System did not pass. 1/18/2013 West Bend High Schools 1305 E Decorah Rd.42 Acceptance test of fire alarm system. 1/21/2013 Michaleno s Pizza 1032 Gateway Ct 0.75 1/22/2013 1/25/2013 La Mexicana Grocery Store Sheriff s Department Vehicle Storage Building 432 N Main St.33 Completed hood system acceptance test. Completed acceptance test of kitchen hood system. 500 Schmidt Road 1.0 Completed alarm acceptance test. 1/25/2013 Cherry Berry Yogurt 1733 S Main St.50 System accepted 1/28/2013 Washington House 228 N. 6 th Ave.58 1/28/2013 The Threshold 2380 W Washington St 2.0 1/30/2013 Heartland Woodcraft 529 N River Rd 2.0 Completed commercial kitchen hood system acceptance test. Researched original sprinkler plans for Simplex-Grinnell and reviewed proposed alterations. 200 psi test and flow alarm tests completed. System worked properly.
Inside Story Headline Page 6 Operations Bureau Battalion Chief John Spartz Captain Jon Coutts WBFD Maintenance Hours for January Green color shades = Shift personnel hours Red color shades = Capt. Coutts hours A large amount of time was spent completing year end reports and getting things set up for the new year. BC John Spartz was assigned to head the Bureau of Operations and Administration. Capt. Coutts will work with him to assist in any way possible to smooth the transition. Each month, personnel within the department contribute to keeping our equipment, vehicles, and buildings in a state of readiness. All of these repairs or preventive maintenance is conducted by shift personnel or by Captain Coutts, the department s Certified Emergency Vehicle Technician. Preventive Maintenance: The act or work of keeping something in proper condition by performing necessary preventive actions in a routine manner to prevent failure or breakdown. NFPA 1911 Preventive Maintenance (PM) Service & Inspections Fire trucks, ambulances, and other power equipment are the most important component of a fire department next to its personnel. WBFD utilizes a Preventive Maintenance (PM) program to insure equipment operates when needed. Fleet maintenance allows a fire department to extend the life of a vehicle. The following services were completed during the month of January: 60 Day Level A Preventive Maintenance Truck 1 (Vehicle 923) Truck 2 (Vehicle 128) 180 Day Level C Preventive Maintenance Tech Rescue (Vehicle 790) Med 21 (Vehicle 1106) Med 11 (Vehicle 1304) Personnel also cleaned and waxed the following vehicles: Truck 12 (Vehicle 689) Tech Rescue (Vehicle 790) Truck 1 (Vehicle 923) Med 31 (Vehicle 1027) Med 11 (Vehicle 1304)
Hours Page 7 Fire Instruction & Training Bureau The Training Bureau is now directed by newly promoted Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle. Working with BC Beistle is Captain Tom Thrash. Trainings are conducted in the department with Capt. Thrash, 700 600 500 Inside Story Headline BC Beistle or one of our other State Certified Fire Instructors within the department. The Training Bureau schedules, prepares and conducts all aspects of training within the department. This Training includes EMS, fire suppression, fire prevention, operating apparatus, ladder operations and many more unique types of training. Battalion Chief Chuck Beistle Captain Tom Thrash 400 300 200 100 0 EMS Fire Technical Total Jan-13 466 34 76 576 Jan-12 385 293 0 678 Year to Date 466 34 76 576 Last Year 385 293 0 678 Working with St Joseph s Hospital seph s Hospital, the speaker was Dr Lorin Browne from Children s Hospital of Wisconsin. Capt. Thrash worked with St Joseph s personnel to not only offer the training at St Joseph s but to be able to have it Not all training comes from the fire department. Capt. Thrash has been working with St Joseph s Hospital to deliver some EMS training to all EMS agencies in the County. During January a training was held at St Jostream live for the members working at our 3 fire stations in the City. That way the on duty crew was able to view the lecture and still be in position to respond if needed.
In Their Own Words... The back page of our newsletter will feature a couple of notes or cards that we receive from our customers.the people we serve. Whether it is on an ambulance call, fire call, or a public education assignment, the members of the West Bend Fire Department are dedicated to making their contact with us a positive experience. To: West Bend Fire Subject: Ambulance service last Monday night Please forward this email to the ambulance crew who transported me from St Joseph's Hospital in West Bend to St Mary's Ozaukee Hospital late Monday night. I wanted to express my sincere appreciation to these men for their care and assistance. They took their jobs very seriously and very professionally and went out of their way to ensure that I was as comfortable as possible. As it turned out, I suffered some minor fractures in the posterior acetabulum of my left hip. The fractures were around the edges of the cup in which my hip bone sits, and not in a load bearing area. Because of this, fortunately I did not need surgery and my recovery should be shortened without further complications. My thanks again to the men who helped me-- it's a great relief to know there are dedicated professionals out there like the West Bend team who work behind the scenes to help keep us safe! Best regards WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Planning to Protect...Acting to Save 325 N 8th Ave. West Bend, WI 53095 262.335.5054 www.ci.west-bendbend.wi.us