Friday, September 22, 2017

Weekly Update for Friday, September 22, 2017

OPEN SHIFTS: October: Friday 10/3 0700-1900 and 1900-0700 (19-07 must be an EMT). November: Saturday 11/11 1900-0700 (must be an EMT).  These vacancies were caused because our Assistant Chief will be touring the Peoples' Republic of China! What an incredible opportunity!
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CONGRATULATIONS: FF Walls and St. Germain have passed thier written and practical end tests and are now certified Firefighter II's.  And on Tuesday, Nikole had her 18th birthday!
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APRON SEAL COATING: This weekend the front apron will be seal coated. One half on Saturday, the other on Sunday.  Parking spots for apparatus have been temporarily rearranged for this weekend.
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WELCOME NEW FIRE COMMISSIONER: Dayton has appointed a new Fire Commissioner.
Ray Demers has volunteered to serve again on the commission. Welcome back Ray!
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DRUG BOXES:  There have been some significant changes to our way of obtaining, storing and inventorying medications.  I have updated Directive 2341. It is currently being reviewed by the Medical Director.  In a nut-shell: We no longer exchange drug boxes with the hospital. We now maintain our own drug boxes and order medications as we use them. There have been changes to the arrangement of medication in the drug box. The Deputy is working on a SOG to explain this. We will be required to inventory all our medications at least monthly and conduct expiration date checks every month.  So, there will be some slight changes in what's required on the drug log.  It is very important that our EMS providers familiarize themselves with the new layout of the drug boxes, policy changes and replenishing used, expired or broken medications.
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PYXIS:  This is the dispensing system at the hospital for medications.  All EMS providers must review the power point slides on use of the Pyxis system.  A copy of the slides are in the 3rd Quarter training binder along with a training sign-in sheet.  I also emailed these slides earlier this week.  Please complete this task ASAP.  Pyxis log in information is secured in the service drug box.  (GN 17-1506 & 1507 refer).
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EMS PROTOCOL UPDATES:  From Maine EMS Region 1 (APEMS):
1. Implementation date for the new protocols will be January 8, 2018.
2. The MEMSEd version of the education program is expected to be uploaded by Friday, September 22, 2017, and will be available to all licensed personnel. You can complete your protocol update by either completing the training and quiz online at MEMSEd, or attending a protocol rollout in-person session.
3. MEMS has expanded the list of people who can take the train-the-trainer and then teach the protocol update to include non-I/C's who teach regularly in other types of programs and who are otherwise qualified to teach the program. Providers who would like to teach the protocol update must attend one of the train-the-trainer programs and contact their Regional EMS office to get approval and access to the materials.
4. Maine EMS has approved some additional train-the-trainer programs, including programs in York County and Washington County. APEMS will provide TTT dates and locations once they are determined.
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NATION-WIDE TEST OF THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a mandatory nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Sept. 27, 2017 at 2:20 pm EDT. The test will assess the readiness for distribution of the national level test message, as well as verify its delivery.
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MAINE EMS CONFERENCE AT SAMOSET: November 8-12, 2017. https://seminar.apems.org/
Flyer is on the bulletin board.  Submit a training request if interested.
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PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST: We have at least 5 candidates for the PAT. We'll be holding our PAT (Regulation 1102) on Saturday, Oct. 21 setting up a 0700.  Please contact AChf Harris if you can help with administering the test.
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INITIAL TRUCK COMPANY (Ladder Company) OPERATIONS: Hollis FR is hosting an Initial Truck Company Operations course. The course is in 2-parts;  October 10 at 1830 and November 12 at 0800. This is a great opportunity to get some good size-up, forcible entry, overhaul, etc. training and practice. A flyer is on the bulletin board. If interested submit a training request.
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FIREFIGHTER I and II ACADEMY: The flyer is on the bulletin board. The 2018 academy will run from 1/3/2018 to 6/3/2018.  So far, we have one applicant from Goodwins Mills.
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The EMR-ISAC InfoGram for September 21, 2017 contains the following articles:
1. FirstNet update: full implementation scheduled for March 2018
2. Law Enforcement Mental Health Learning Sites Program
3. Tactical EMS vs. the Rescue Task Force
4. Mandatory nationwide test of Emergency Alert System September 27.
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PURPOSE:  verb "...have as one's intention or objective."  Oxford Dictionary
I talk a lot about our mission areas, our enabling capabilities, confidence and readiness. What I think I am missing in my message is purpose. What is our purpose?  We have a lot of written documents that hopefully, guide us in what we do.  Statutes, rules, regulations, directives, SOGs, protocols, checklists, MRCs, running cards, EMD determinants, etc., etc.  What’s the purpose of all this?  I think we often get caught up in just going through the motions to satisfy the paperwork and lose sight its purpose. Is it all just busy work? Or are we attempting to accomplish something? Many of the things we do daily in the fire service are monotonous. Then is a flash, our monotony is interrupted with excitement and urgency. Many cases are matters of life and death.  It is my intention that these SOGs, checklists, running cards, etc., prepare us to focus on our purpose. If you’ve read this blog this far, please go into the comments section and tell me what your purpose is in our organization.  So when you’re working on a truck check, SCBA check, turnout gear inspection, inventories, or whatever the task, ask yourself “why am I doing this?” Am I just putting a check in the box? Am I just counting widgets? What am I trying to accomplish? How is this going to help our purpose?
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Events Next Week: Sunday: Lobster at 1200. Tuesday: 1000 Wadliegh Pond EAM Drill, Company Drill (A,B,C) 1830; Thursday: 1300 CET Portable Pump Demo; Traffic Control Training 1900; Saturday: 9/30 Blood Drive 0900-1400.
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Best wishes to Courtney and Shevaughn on their big day tomorrow.   I hope everyone enjoys the steak and lobster on Sunday. Thanks to the GMFRA and Lt Daniels for getting that all arranged. I won't be in town on Sunday. Barbara won us tickets to tailgate with Vince Wilfork on Sunday.


Have a great weekend,
Chief



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Roger S. Hooper, Fire Chief
Goodwins Mills Fire-Rescue
481 Goodwins Mills Road
Lyman, ME 04002
Office: 207-499-7878
Cell: 207-432-0390
Station: 207-499-2362
Fax: 207-499-2893
www.gmfd.org


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