MFRI Bulletin

Bulletin for September/October 2002

Firefighter Survival and Rescue Program: Called One of the Best MFRI Programs Since Smoke Divers!

Students participate in rapid intervention exercises with smoke in the structural training building.

MFRI’s Firefighter Survival and Rescue program provided important specialty training for close to 100 students during the 2001-2002 training period. Each program offering was very successful. Instructors regularly received positive and complimentary remarks about the class. Comments included “keep up the great work,” “this has been a real eye opener and everyone should be required to take this program, especially the chiefs,” and “best class since Smoke Divers.”

The 24-hour course teaches structural firefighters and fire officers how to prevent and/or survive a sudden life-threatening occurrence such as a back draft, flashover, explosion, or structural collapse. The program promotes the development of pre-fire plans and a strong incident command structure. It further advocates the elimination of firefighter freelancing and win-at-all-cost attitudes that contribute to faulty firefighter decision-making.

The program combines classroom and practical training to emphasize what firefighters need to know so they don’t get into trouble; what firefighters must do when they find themselves in danger; and what Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) need to know in order to rescue firefighters in jeopardy. Classroom subjects include building construction, incident command, fireground size up techniques, and decision-making. Students identify lessons learned from numerous case studies that focus on firefighter fatalities resulting from sudden hazardous events.

Students also participate in rapid intervention exercises with smoke in the structural training building. There are evolutions in personal escape such as the wall breach, ladder bailout, and personal rope escape. All escape evolutions are conducted with students in full fall protection, maintaining strict discipline and safety precautions. In addition, a new prop simulates an entanglement situation that is similar to the incident that contributed to the death of a firefighter in Memphis, Tennessee. A drop ceiling made out of metal ceiling grid, sheet rock tiles, wires, telecommunications cable and plastic/wire reinforced HVAC venting is placed over a team of firefighters wearing full protective gear. The team, with obscured face pieces in a dark room, must extricate themselves from the ceiling debris while following a hose line.

In the entanglement evolution, students learn how to recognize their entrapment, call a mayday using their portable radios, activate PASS devices, untangle themselves from the maze of wires and cables, and work as a team to assist each other in successfully escaping the event. Crew Resource Management (CRM) concepts are applied by simulating a stressful environment and allowing a team of students to use all of their capabilities to effect a successful escape. By utilizing CRM philosophy, students, if ever impacted by a ceiling collapse, should remain calm and engage in a proactive decision-making process that will ultimately set them free.

Although the program teaches students quick escape and rescue techniques, major emphasis is placed on precautionary decision-making that will assist firefighters in conducting a complete risk/benefit analysis through a fireground size up; developing an action plan; and implementing the plan cautiously through a strong, supported, and effective Incident Command System (ICS). Now in its fifth year, Firefighter Survival and Rescue has been conducted in the majority of the training regions throughout Maryland. This year the program is being conducted at Cresaptown, Centreville, Aberdeen, Snow Hill, Clarksville, Princess Anne, and College Park. Last year, MFRI’s team of survival and rescue instructors taught at Princess Anne, Westminster, College Park, and Hagerstown. Especially noteworthy is that about half of the members of the Hagerstown Fire Department attended and completed the training.

MFRI Field Instructors Joe Ross and Mike Baker wrote an article on the subject of firefighter survival and rescue training called, “The 3 W’s of Saving Our Own,” that was published in the July 2000 edition of Firehouse Magazine. The article offers this fine point, “This training offers an opportunity to learn from the many past incidents that have resulted in the line-of-duty deaths of firefighters. This may be our last opportunity to practice what we have learned from the past to prevent line-of-duty deaths in the future.” Please take the opportunity this year to attend MFRI’s life-saving program.

Firefighter Survival and Rescue Training at the Hagerstown Fire Department Training Academy, April 12-14, 2002. Approximately half of the department completed MFRI’s training.

Photos by Joseph B. Ross Jr. and April Walker

The recently completed fiscal year was quite an unusual one for the fire and rescue service, both in Maryland and throughout the United States. The events of September 11, 2001, have greatly impacted each of us in profound ways. There is no doubt that fire service training programs have been altered and created to focus on many emerging threats. We will all have to continue to change and contribute in new and different ways in order to ensure that first responders are adequately trained and equipped for their mission. I have been very proud of the manner in which the emergency services of this state have responded to these events and I know that we will be on the forefront of preparing for the future, whatever it may hold.

The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute is working to augment our terrorism response training programs with new and improved subject material. We are seeking federal grants and other opportunities to secure funding for training program and equipment needs. There is a new MFRI Terrorism Response Training Coordinator leading this important effort within the Institute. In addition, we are acquiring new teaching tools that are necessary to reach the level of proficiency needed in various terrorism-related subject areas. With the assistance and support of many other agencies and organizations that are involved in this effort, MFRI will have what you need to prepare for a potential terrorism event.

This fiscal year showed once again that Institute faculty, staff, and field instructors are always very busy. In fiscal year 2002, MFRI conducted 1,425 classes in which we trained 27,082 students. The student hours involved in MFRI programs totaled 700,655. This is quite an accomplishment and one in which we can all be very proud. There is no question that there is a tremendous amount of emergency services training and education being conducted in our state.

I would like to offer special recognition to the students who attend our classes. Completing these programs often involves investing a significant amount of time and effort above and beyond regular work responsibilities. Further, a large number of students are attending classes on a volunteer basis. Thank you for consistently attending and completing the course work necessary to provide a very professional level of emergency service to the citizens of Maryland. Thanks also to the fire and EMS departments that support the Institute and our students in their endeavors. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Steven T. Edwards, Director
sedwards@mfri.org

Fire Prevention Programs - More Multifaceted Than You Think

By April Walker

Each Spring, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute provides public fire safety education for many fo the tens of thousands of people who come to Maryland Day, the University of Maryland's annual open house.

Look at the relatively small number of fire grant applications requesting funding for new fire prevention programs and it’s apparent that prevention continues to be low on many fire service organizational lists of what’s most needed. Perhaps the word “prevention,” in a country of risk-takers, is a hindrance. Fire service personnel, being the cream of the crop, naturally think that responding to a fire is more exciting than preventing one. But look deeper; the old adage, “Prevention is better than cure,” is particularly applicable to fire.

Preventing deaths, injuries, and property damage from fire is by far better than trying to repair the damage after a fire has happened. Spend one afternoon at a burn camp or burn hospital and you will see that some damage just can’t be repaired. However, stopping fires from happening is only one facet of the prevention mission. Fire protection measures, such as installing smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems or developing and practicing escape plans do not prevent fires, but they can prevent injuries from fire and minimize fire damage. Apprehending a serial arsonist is yet another facet of fire prevention.

While a working fire is definitely an adrenaline rush, implementing programs to combat fire problems that face people at risk in our communities is also exciting. Maryland State Senator Paul Sarbanes, Chairman of the Congressional Fire Service Caucus, is just one person who is a strong believer in fire prevention. “Certainly, the events of September 11th have made us more conscientious about our personal safety and the built environment in which we work and reside.” Sarbanes said in a letter to attendees of a Beyond Solutions 2000 Symposium, the goal of which is to share responsibilities for improving fire protection. “There are many individuals in our nation who cannot adequately protect themselves from fire because of age or disabilities. They need our help. They need someone to champion their cause.”

R.Wayne Powell, chief of USFA’s Mitigation Branch, is one champion. Powell led an extensive effort to develop and offer a series of three, two-day outreach fire prevention advocacy courses. Each course is on the USFA/NFA direct delivery list and will be offered at Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Headquarters this year. The programs focus on volunteer and/or combination department emergency services personnel in communities with a population of 25,000 or less; an often under-served population within the fire service. However, each course is open to all interested current and future emergency services personnel leaders, both volunteer and career.

Fire Prevention for First Responders and Small Departments – A motivational course that focuses on identifying exciting and highly successful tools and approaches for addressing the total fire protection challenge. The class teaches an understanding of various potential risks, hazards, and building occupancy types.

Prevention and Mitigation Advocacy for Small Department Responders – Identifies successful prevention tools, such as analyzing specific challenges and identifying resources needed to bring about significant community change. A fire department’s culture of power, influence, and ability to build coalitions is examined.

Marketing Fire Prevention in Your Community – A skill-based course on how to develop a prevention marketing plan and influence people whose assistance or buy-in is needed for successful plan implementation. Upon course completion, students are ready to begin putting a plan into action within their community.

So how good are these programs? Recently, a pilot program, designed by NFA Instructional Systems Specialist Emily McGlaughlin, was held that combines the three courses into one, six-day VIP program entitled, “Prevention Solutions for Small Departments and Communities.” All 23 students in attendance left fired up and ready to implement new prevention programs. “The program universally changed people’s minds with regard to the importance of reducing fire hazards,” McGlaughlin said. “Every student was impacted in a positive way and left a much better person. One particular chief officer unexpectedly came away with a completely new outlook on prevention wondering where this program was years ago!” Attend one of the NFA prevention programs being offered at MFRI and decide for yourself.

Giving children the opportunity to try on firefighter gear teaches them not to be afraid of a firefighter who may someday come to rescue them from a fire. MFRI gives a photo to each child so they will remember what they have learned.

Photos by April Walker

Keeping Up with the Pace of Technology at MFRI

by Thomas Sweeting

Brian Fuselier, Thomas Sweeting, and Gabe Tassone (left to right) MFRI-HQ main lobby. The plansma display screen provides up-to-the-minute information about daily meetings and classroom assignments.

In the time it takes you to read this article half an hour of “Internet Time” will have passed. The Information Technology (IT) staff in MFRI’s Administrative Services Section - Brian Fuselier and myself, the two full time IT coordinators, with the help of Gabe Tassone our part-time student intern - work fast to keep up with the rapid pace of technology and also provide day-to-day service to MFRI’s faculty, staff, and students throughout Maryland.

Small incremental changes are now being made to our web site on an almost daily basis to keep it up-to-date with information about our course offerings and events. These changes will continue as new capabilities are addressed and new technologies are developed. The web site will be undergoing a complete facelift in the third and fourth quarters of this year. Our aim is to enhance the ability of web site visitors to find what they need quickly and easily.

New software systems are also being added behind the scenes to automate many tasks that are now repeated manually each month. Instructors and regional staff will find that the number of things that can be done on line will continue to increase, replacing paper-based forms and stand-alone computer software. E-mail distribution lists are being created to promptly share information and reduce the need to send out expensive postal mailings.

Brian Fuselier evaluates future MFRI needs to develop specifications for the next generation of servers.

Planning for the future is essential in a rapidly changing field like information technology. The MFRI IT staff is aware that the current servers are nearing the end of their useful life. We must fully consider future applications and requirements to accurately develop specifications for the next generation of MFRI servers. Plans to test various strategies for restoring the network hardware and data in the event of a catastrophic failure are also being developed.

Remembering that we are here to support the instructors and students first, some of the new technology is already beginning to appear in classrooms and at regional training centers. Most of the regions use broadband satellite dishes to provide high-speed access to the Internet. Some regions also use wireless networking to allow the computers within a facility to be networked without the expense of running network cables.

Many classes are now being taught with all of the audio-visual material being displayed through AverEPack 300 presentation devices. These paperback book sized devices allow an instructor to use a presentation developed with Microsoft PowerPoint without having to lug around a heavy and expensive laptop computer. Some of you may already have seen the AverEPack 300s in use. With their 32 MegaByte (MB) memory cards they offer nearly the same capabilities as a computer-based presentation at a fraction of the cost.

Advanced presentation devices eliminate the need for instructors to cart heavy and expensive laptop computers.

MFRI Headquarters is now using state-of-the-art projection systems. The main auditorium (also known as Classroom 1) and the two new classrooms have sophisticated systems, which allow presentations to be given from computers, videotape, DVDs and other formats. This capability, coupled with the document camera and video camera found in each classroom, provides the opportunity for a rich multimedia- learning environment.

Visitors to Headquarters will see one component of MFRI’s multimedia systems when they walk through the main entrance. In the lobby you will find a state-of-the-art plasma display. This screen provides up-to-the-minute reminders of daily programs with listings of meeting and classroom assignments. When the building is fully wired for cable TV, we will also have the capability of displaying important news events and MFRI presentations on this screen.

Brian, Gabe, and I work hard to apply our expertise in the computer and software industries, enhanced by my personal fire service experience, to provide the best solutions technology can offer to the MFRI community. The fire service is known for keeping traditions, but the pace of technology is increasing every day. Your IT staff is making sure that MFRI stays on the forefront of technological applications in fire service education, today and tomorrow.

Close-up of the AverEPack 300, a convenient and portable device for presentations.

Photos by Thomas Sweeting

MFRI Calendar of Events

NOVEMBER

1-3 Firefighter Survival and Rescue
MFRI NERTC, Aberdeen, MD

2-3 Western Maryland Trauma
Garrett College, Frostburg, MD

4-8 30-Hour Outreach – OSHA for General Industry
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

4-8 First Responder
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

8-10 Firefighter Survival and Rescue
MFRI LESRTC, Princess Anne, MD

9 Interfacing with Emergency Services K-9s
MFRI NERTC, Aberdeen, MD

11-12 First Responder Refresher
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

11-15 Hazardous Materials Series “OSHA”
MFRI NERTC, Aberdeen, MD 11: Awareness
11: Refresher
11-13: Operations
11-15: Technician

13-15 EMT-Basic Refresher
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

14-15 Hazardous Materials – Incident Commander NFPA 472
MFRI NERTC, Aberdeen, MD

14-19 2002 National Fire Service
Emergency Medical Services Staff & Command
Tampa, FL

16-17 Transportation Emergencies
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

18-23 Fire Officer II – NFPA 1021
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

25-Dec. 16 EMT-Basic
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

30-Dec. 1 Marketing Fire Prevention in Your Community
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

DECEMBER

2-6 Fire Inspector III – NFPA 1031
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

3-5 Emergency Response Team Leader
MFRI UESRTC, Centreville, MD

6CPR/AED
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

6 Respiratory Protection Program Development
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

6-8 Firefighter Survival and Rescue
6: 5th District VFD, Clarksville, MD
7-8: MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

7-8 NFA Courtroom Preparation Testimony for First Responder
MFRI-HQ, College Park, MD

9-20 Fire Officer III – NFPA 1021
MFRI-HQ, College Park

For further information or to register contact MFRI at 1-800-ASK-MFRI or 301.226.9900

Paramedic Update and Refresher Courses

Prince George's County

September 5, 12, 19, 26: 0830-1730
October 3, 2002: 0830-1730
Fire Service Building, Landover

Southern Maryland

September 13, 27, 2002: 1830-2230
September 14, 15, 28, 29, 2002: 0800-1700
St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown

BWI Airport

September 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 2002: 0800-1700

Frederick County

September 30-October 30, 2002
Monday & Wednesday: 1830-2230
Frederick County Training Center

Western Maryland

October 11, 25, 2002: 1830-2230
October 12, 13, 26, 27, 2002: 0800-1700
Cumberland Memorial Hospital

For more information email Angie Bennett at abennett@mfri.org
or call 301.226.9900

MFRI Instructors Attend Rescue Tech Orientation

MFRI Headquarters main auditorium was packed with instructors during a recent orientation on the newly revised Rescue Technician Program. (l) Field Operations Manager Steve Cox and Institute Development Section Manager S. Rebecca Spicer-Himes (r), who have been working together closely during the recent pilot program delivery, are happy to see the large turnout at this important milestone event.

Photos by April Walker

Copyright © 2001 Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, All rights reserved.