Kendall Fire Department

Kendall Fire Department

Best Practices

BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES and Procedures

These guidelines and procedures are the guidelines that the fire department will strive to follow. They represent the best practice and not the standard practice in the community. The guidelines are flexible as emergencies are never standard and as leaders have different methods of remedying a situation. Individuals will not be disciplined for failure to strictly follow these procedures. They are not intended for use in litigation or to establish a legal standard for care. The ultimate decision regarding the use of any procedure must be made by the appropriate officer or firefighter. An approach that differs from these guidelines, standing alone, does not imply that the approach was below the standard of care. A conscientious firefighter might responsibly adopt a course of action different that that set forth in the guidelines when, in the reasonable judgment of the firefighter, such course of action is indicated by the circumstances.

Effective Date: 01/01/2009

Table of Contents

Accountability………………………………..……………page 3

Confined Space…………………………………………..page 5

Drug and Alcohol…………………………………………page 6

Effects of alcohol chart……………………………….page 7

Blood alcohol percentage chart…..………………….page 8

Electrical Hazards………………………………………..page 9

Exposure Control…………………………………………page 10

Hazardous Materials Response………………………..page 16

Contact Numbers….………………………………….page 18

Health Maintenance………………………………...……page 27

Hose Testing………………………………………………page 29

Jr. Fireman………………………………………………..page 31

Ambulance call guideline…..…………………………page 34

Fire call guideline….………………………………….page 35

Lens Program……………………………………………..page 36

MVA Apparatus Placement………………………………page 37

Officers safe parking cue card…………………………page 42

MVA’s………………………………………………………page 44

EMS personnel……………………………………….page 45

PPE…………………………………………………………page 46

Rehab………………………………………………………page 50

Rehab Form…………………………………………..page 53

Respiratory Protection……………………………………page 54

Physical, Fit Test, Facial Hair………………………….page 55

Safety Vest………………………………………………..page 56

Seat Belt…………………………………………………..page 58

Sexual Harassment………………………………………page 59

Structure Fires……………………………………………page 61

Training and Education………………………………….page64

Minimum Training by job description………….……page 64

Interior…………………………………………page 64

Exterior………………………………………..page 64

Medic………………………………………….page 65

Fire Police……………………………………..page 65

Support………………………………………..page 65

Driver………………………………………….page 65

Kendall Fire Department

Best Practices

Accountability

It is the purpose of this guideline to provide a means of accounting for all personnel involved at an emergency to ensue no person, injured or otherwise, is left behind.

Each member will be given a job description based on his or her knowledge, training, physical ability, and personal interest. These job descriptions will consist of Interior Fire Fighter, Exterior Fire Fighter, EMS Personnel (medics), and Support Personnel. A member may be designated to more than one job description.

Interior Fire Fighters will be assigned two green identification tags. Exterior Fire Fighters will be assigned two red identification tags. EMS Personnel will be assigned two blue identification tags. Support Personnel will be assigned one yellow identification tag. Each tag will include the member’s name and K.F.D. Upon arrival at the scene it will be the responsibility of each member to remove one of his or her tags and place it on the “ON SCENE RING”.

It will be the responsibility of the Incident Commander to designate an officer or fireman to be the “Personnel Safety Officer”, (PSO) as soon as possible. It will be the PSO”s responsibility to check that all personnel have “tagged on scene” and, at the conclusion of the call, ensure that all personnel are accounted for by the return of his or her tag to its proper location. It will also be responsibility of the PSO to maintain communications with those members working inside of any structure or involved space. Such communication may be voice, visual, or signal line. This communication will be frequent enough to assure their safety.

Interior Fire Fighters will be assigned a second green tag to be carried with his or her personal or company issued gear. Upon being requested to enter a structure the interior member will be responsible for leaving this tag with the PSO, and for retrieving it upon his or her exit from the structure. All interior firefighters will report to rehab after each 45-minute air tank and shall not return until cleared by a rehab medic. At the discretion of the PSO, any officer or EMS personnel, any member may be requested to report to rehab to be evaluated by the medical personnel on scene at any time before this.

After completion of any SCBA operations all SCBA members are to report to rehab for medical evaluation. No exceptions.

The Incident Commander shall assure that the OSHA rule of 2-in, 2-out for Interior Fire Fighters are assembled prior to implementing operations inside the structure involved unless, in his professional judgment, immediate action must be taken to prevent the loss of life or serious injury.

Whenever interior operations are being performed the PSO shall have command of an adequate number of suitably equipped personnel to perform rescue operations should the need arise. Rescue teams shall consist of a minimum of two (2) Interior Fire Fighters who shall be located in the nearest safe area so as not to be affected by any likely incident which would precipitate the need for their services.

The PSO shall dispatch the rescue team whenever he or she receives a request for assistance from those inside or whenever he or she is unable to determine their status.

Although the final responsibility of personnel safety ultimately falls on the shoulders of the Incident Commander, it is in all our best interests to work as a unit to ensure that no one is left unattended at the scene, or that no fellow fire fighter endanger him or herself or others around him by performing tasks above his or her ability to training level.

Kendall Fire Department

Best Practices

Confined Space

PURPOSE:

The Kendall Fire Department recognizes that in its first response district there is a potential to encounter situations that may entail confined space rescue.

It is recognized by the Kendall Fire Department that confined space rescue is considered to be a specialized incident that may require resources beyond the means of the department’s normal operating procedures due to manpower, training, and equipment restraints.

TRAINING:

The Kendall Fire Department will train personnel to a confined space awareness level.

The Kendall Fire Department will train in the basic use of Department equipment to include harnesses, ropes, blocks, tackles etc... at department training sessions.

The Kendall Fire Department will identify and preplan potential sites in the first response district.

The Kendall Fire Department will be familiar with the basic concepts of confined space awareness and call in for assistance the appropriate resources when the incident is outside of its normal response.

INCIDENT RESPONSE:

The Kendall Fire Department first responding unit will set up an incident command structure.

The Incident Commander will obtain as much information as possible and set up responding units to mitigate the situation.

The Incident Commander will notify the appropriate outside resource for confined space rescue if it exceeds the capabilities of the Fire Departments normal response.

Kendall Fire Department

Best Practices

Drug and Alcohol (Zero Tolerance)

Alcohol or drug, legal or illegal, use prior to service or impairment due to use during service will not be tolerated by the Kendall Fire Department or Kendall Fire District.

No active member shall consume any alcohol within four hours prior to any service as an active member. The member shall wait four hours after the consumption of one drink (12oz beer, 6 oz wine, 1oz 80 proof or less liquor) and minimum of eight hours after the consumption of more than one drink.

No active member shall participate in any emergency, stand-by, drill, or training under the influence of alcohol or drugs, legal or illegal. If the member is impaired by alcohol or drugs, shows or exhibits any signs or symptoms of alcohol or drug use. Including but are not limited to the scent on the breath or clothes of a member the member may face disciplinary actions.

Any member that has a good faith belief that another member is in violation of this policy shall immediately report the violation to a chief of the department. Any violation occurring while at an emergency shall immediately be reported to an appropriate line officer or incident commander. The suspected individual shall be relieved of duty immediately and placed on the side of the scene. The individual will then be transported home in a non-emergency vehicle. The individual may be asked to submit to a drug test or breathalyzer test at the request of the fire dept. officer in charge or his appointee. If the individual refuses, he shall be suspended from the fire department for a period not less than three (3) months.

Any individual blatantly disregarding obvious signs of another member's intoxication and not reporting the same shall be subject to discipline including suspension or termination of membership.

Any violation of this policy may result in the immediate suspension or expulsion from membership in the department.

Progressive Effects of Alcohol[5]
BAC (%) / Behavior / Impairment
0.01–0.029 /

Average individual appears
normal

Subtle effects that can be
detected with special tests

0.03–0.059 /

Mild euphoria
Sense of well-being
Relaxation
Talkativeness
Joyous
Decreased inhibition

Alertness
Judgment
Coordination
Concentration

0.06–0.10 /

Blunted Feelings
Disinhibition
Extroversion
Impaired Sexual Pleasure (Coates Syndrome)

Reflexes
Reasoning
Depth Perception
Distance Acuity
Peripheral Vision
Glare Recovery

0.11–0.20 /

Over-Expression
Emotional Swings
Angry or Sad
Boisterous

Reaction Time
Gross Motor Control
Staggering
Slurred Speech

0.21–0.29 /

Stupor
Loss of Understanding
Impaired Sensations

Severe Motor Impairment
Loss of Consciousness
Memory Blackout

0.30–0.39 /

Severe Depression
Unconsciousness
Death Possible

Bladder Function
Breathing
Heart Rate

>0.40 /

Unconsciousness
Death

Breathing
Heart Rate

Standard Drink Chart (US)[6]
See also: Alcohol equivalence
Alcohol / Amount in ml / Amount in fl. oz. / Colloquial amount / Alcohol% by vol. / Alcohol in fl. oz.
80 proof liquor / 44 ml / 1.5 fl. oz. / one shot / 40 / 0.6 fl. oz.
beer / 355 ml / 12 fl. oz. / one can / 5 / 0.6 fl. oz.
table wine / 148 ml / 5 fl. oz. / one glass / 12 / 0.6 fl. oz.
Male
Female / Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage (US)[7]
One drink has 0.5 fl. oz. alcohol by volume
Drinks / Body Weight
40 kg / 45 kg / 55 kg / 64 kg / 73 kg / 82 kg / 91 kg / 100 kg / 109 kg
90 lb / 100 lb / 120 lb / 140 lb / 160 lb / 180 lb / 200 lb / 220 lb / 240 lb
6 st 6 lb / 7 st 2 lb / 8 st 8 lb / 10 st / 11 st 6 lb / 12 st 12 lb / 14 st 4 lb / 15 st 10 lb / 17 st 2 lb
1 / –
.05 / .04
.05 / .03
.04 / .03
.03 / .02
.03 / .02
.03 / .02
.02 / .02
.02 / .02
.02
2 / –
.10 / .08
.09 / .06
.08 / .05
.07 / .05
.06 / .04
.05 / .04
.05 / .03
.04 / .03
.04
3 / –
.15 / .11
.14 / .09
.11 / .08
.10 / .07
.09 / .06
.08 / .06
.07 / .05
.06 / .05
.06
4 / –
.20 / .15
.18 / .12
.15 / .11
.13 / .09
.11 / .08
.10 / .08
.09 / .07
.08 / .06
.08
5 / –
.25 / .19
.23 / .16
.19 / .13
.16 / .12
.14 / .11
.13 / .09
.11 / .09
.10 / .08
.09
6 / –
.30 / .23
.27 / .19
.23 / .16
.19 / .14
.17 / .13
.15 / .11
.14 / .10
.12 / .09
.11
7 / –
.35 / .26
.32 / .22
.27 / .19
.23 / .16
.20 / .15
.18 / .13
.16 / .12
.14 / .11
.13
8 / –
.40 / .30
.36 / .25
.30 / .21
.26 / .19
.23 / .17
.20 / .15
.18 / .14
.17 / .13
.15
9 / –
.45 / .34
.41 / .28
.34 / .24
.29 / .21
.26 / .19
.23 / .17
.20 / .15
.19 / .14
.17
10 / –
.51 / .38
.45 / .31
.38 / .27
.32 / .23
.28 / .21
.25 / .19
.23 / .17
.21 / .16
.19
Subtract approximately .01% every 40 minutes after drinking.

Kendall Fire Department

Best Practices

Electrical Emergency Response

PURPOSE:

The Kendall Fire Department recognizes the hazards associated with emergency response to electrical emergencies. This SOG is based upon a few of the responses that the department will encounter.

ARCING WIRES:

The Kendall Fire Department will set up the incident command system when the first officer arrives on scene.

The OIC will size up the incident.

The OIC will set up incoming apparatus to isolate the area.

The OIC will request the Orleans County Fire Control Center to contact the appropriate Utility Company. When the utility company arrives on scene the incident will be turned over to their jurisdiction.

In case of fire, the utility company will shut off the power. When the utility company states that the incident is safe then fire operations will be conducted.

MVA INVOLVING POWER LINES:

The Kendall Fire Department will set up the incident command system when the first arriving officer is on location.

The OIC will size up the incident, set up incoming apparatus to isolate the area, set up fire protection lines and other equipment to mitigate the scene. All units will act in a defensive mode until the power is shut off by the utility company.

The department, once the power is disconnected, will refer to the MVA policy.

Kendall Fire Department

Best Practices

Exposure Control Plan

[A] POLICY STATEMENT:

The Kendall Fire Department is committed to provide a safe and

healthful work environment for all personnel. In pursuit of his/her

endeavor, the following exposure control program is provided to eliminate/

minimize occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens in occurrence

with OSHA Standards, Title 29 code of regulations 1910.1030 and NFPA

guidelines1581.

[B] PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION:

The Kendall Fire Department EMS Captain or designeeis responsible for the implementation of the ECP (exposure control plan) procedures.

The EMS Captain and Lieutenant will meet annually with the department Chiefs to review and update the written engineering and control procedures to include new or modified tasks and procedures.

Kendall Fire Department personnel whether they are EMS or Fire-fighters will have the responsibility to comply with the exposure controlprocedures and work related practices as outlined.

The EMS Captain and his/her designated subordinate officer’s will have the responsibility for written house keeping procedures and will ensure that proper disinfectants are purchased and utilized as per the ECP.

The Kendall EMS Captain will be responsible to ensure that allmedical actions required are performed and that appropriate medical records are maintained.

The EMS Captain and his/her subordinate officers will be responsibletraining, documentation of training and making all procedures available to all department personnel including representation from OSHA, and Federal Underwriter Inspectors.

The Kendall Fire Department EMS Captain and his/her subordinate officers will ensure that all necessary equipment for departmental personnel protection, engineering control and disposal procedures are followed as per the exposure control plan (ECP).

[C] EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE DETERMINATION:

As part of the exposure determination section of the Department’s ECP,

The following is a list of all job classifications in the department which may

Have an occupational exposure. They are as follows:

FIREFIGHTER’S INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR
FIREFIGHTER/ EMT’S

3. EMT’S

[D] ECP IMPLEMENTATION AND ENGINEERING CONTROL

[1] All Kendall Fire Department personnel will utilize universal

precautions. Universal precautions is an infection control method which

requires personnel to assume that all human blood and specified human

body fluids are infectious for HIV, HBV, HCV and other Bloodborne

pathogens and must be treated accordingly.

[2] TRAINING:

All Firefighter’s in the Kendall Fire Department will receive training

in regards to the ECP. The training will be broken down into the

Following training sessions:

Entry Level Firefighter’s will receive initial ECP training program.

All Department personnel will receive updated training on a yearly basis in regards to new updates, engineering controls and PPE.

EMS personnel will be updated annually in regards to Department

Procedures, Engineering controls and demonstrates procedures on new equipment.

The Department EMS Captain or his/her delegates will beresponsible for all training and documentation concerning theECP.

Department personnel upon request will receive copies or additional training in the ECP. Department personnel will contact the EMS Captain or Chief of Department for this/her material.

The Department Officers will be responsible for reviewing and updating these procedures.

[3] EQUIPMENT:

The EMS captain and Lieutenant along with the Department medics will continuously inspect any and all equipment that involves the Departments engineering controls.

Firefighters and EMT’s will be instructed in the following pieces of EMS equipment that they will come in contact with. They are as follows:

red bags
ambu bag
oxygen masks
heart monitor
spinal immobilization equipment
AED’s
sharp’s containers
PPE equipment ( gloves, tyvek suits, face masks, tb masks

Turn out gear, haz mat gear)

Firefighter’s will be instructed that at no time will they come in

Contact or handle any sharps (self sheathing needles, vacutainers

Etc…)

[4] INCIDENT ENGINEERING CONTROLS

Departmental personnel will take all universal precautions on all incidents.

All biohazardous materials will be picked up at the scene and placed in a red biohazard bag; his/her includes gloves, gowns or other PPE used on scene. Material will be given to the transporting agency upon their approval to be disposed of at the receiving hospital by the transporting agency crew.

All sharps (self sheathing needles, broken glass, dental wire etc. will be placed in the appropriate sharps container by the ALSProvider.

All equipment that may have been contaminated will be placed ina red bag and brought back to station for proper decontaminationas per department procedures for decontamination of equipment.

Immediately after incident Department personnel will use interimhand washing procedures.

[5] STATION HOUSE ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE

PRACTICE CONTROLS:

The Kendall Fire Department provides hand washing facilitiesin the male and female bathrooms of the fire department.

Fire Department personnel are required to wash hands after removingrubber gloves or if body contamination to shower after the incident.

All decontamination of personnel and or equipment will be conducted either grossly, on scene or at the fire station. Personnel shall not leave the fire station until properly decontaminated.

[6] DECONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT:

Department personnel will observe all universal precautions whendecontaminating equipment that has come in contact with anyBio-hazards.

All equipment will be decontaminated at the scene or back at the fire station.

All equipment will be decontaminated with a chlorine solution made of (1 part bleach to 10 parts water), then allowed to air dry. After

Equipment is dry then it will be sprayed with a disinfectant, driedand placed on the apparatus.

After cleaning of equipment, Department personnel will then wash hands and dispose of gloves.

If equipment has not been thoroughly decontaminated or in the

Process of decontamination it will be labeled as such.

[7] DECONTAMINATION PERSONNEL CLOTHING

If blood or body fluids come into contact with turn out gear andor personal clothing it will be decontaminated by the Department or disposed of. Other garments will be issued to personnel during the procedure.

[8] BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL