April 15, 2022 SAFER Meeting
Costa Mesa Fire Department
Fire Station 4 - 2300 Placentia Ave Costa Mesa , CA 92627
Board Members Present: President Scott Quinn, Vender Liaison Sposato, Scott Hudson, Chuck Seely, Jeff Wilkerson, et al.
In House Firefighter Early Symptom Intervention Program (Update)
Presented by Captain Hammond Los Angeles Fire Department
0940 Meeting Called to order by President Quinn; related the attendance
Welcome by Batt/ Chief Vasin on behalf of Fire Chief Dan Stefano ,
Thanks to Velocity Fire Equipment (Louie Garcia) for refreshments
Flag Salute led by
Reports:
Vender report:
Joe Sposato – April 27-29 FDIC is on – great show.
Lots of shortages (NOMEX raised price 3 times in last year)
Turnouts $2400 up to $3400 / set.
Manufactures are working to control costs but materials (Aluminum , steel, fabric, plastics) continue to challenge the manufacturing / production side.
Fire Engine costs are virtually unknown until delivery – just too many changes
CalOSHA – Scott Hudson – Discussed the “Wildfire Smoke Standard” and how it affects FF crews. N-95 masks may need to be “fit tested’ or some other method to insure usefulness. Heat illness standard MUST be included IIPP. Jim - New standard for AB2146: April 21st meeting with CalOSHA to codify the bill. Bill will become law July 1, 2022. Phase-in standard over 5-7 years, some actions are sooner. Standard sets metrics for overhaul.
COVID Prevention Plan for (1) Sworn) (2) Support positions should be developed and communicated to all personnel.
Apparatus : Nothing
In House Firefighter Early Symptom Intervention Program (Update)
Presented by Captain Hammond Los Angeles Fire Department
Injury Prevention Program
Los Angeles Mayor’s office got funding for the program to reduce the direct costs of injuries. Audit revealed medical costs to the city will continue to rise. Once an injured employee enters the “Workers Comp” world – the city has no controls over costs – the medical community sets all the metrics, costs, path to return to duty. LAFD uses “Athletic Trainers” (Shawn) in this program to assess and recommend exercise / physical rehab measures to members having physical performance issues.
INSERT PowerPoint Program Here****************************************
NATA Public Safety Society
Mission:
1. Injury Prevention
2. Early Symptom Intervention
3. Work Hardening
FMS Testing; Functional Movement Screen
FMS Measures members propensity to get hurt / injured
Prescribes movements to strengthen / flexibility to reduce likely hood of future injury
“Firefighters that are more fit are less likely to be injured
LAFD’s IPU Educational Content: Original Injury Prevention Videos
Functional Movement Screen Corrective excursive series
A
B
C
D
Fixing minor acute injuries and chronic job-related pain before entering the workers comp scenario.
“Making Firefighters FIT FOR DUTY Post injury recovery”
May be a benefit for both “on-Duty” as well as “Off-Duty” injuries
IPU Metrics through March 2022:
1. 590 Injury Evaluations
2. 367 Follow-up Treatments
3. 27 Tele-Health Appointments
4. Total Injury Related Visits 984
5. Station Visit 85
6. Drill Tower Visit’s 38
7. Home Exercise Programs Distributed
Eliminate a claim vs reduce cost of claims
Rendered Injury Evaluation, Rehab, and treatment Costs $78,480
AIFF WEFIT Program;
1. Peer Fitness Trainer Program
2. Hire an ATC
3. Revamped approach to medical evaluation / intervention and rehab service.
Questions:
Where is funding coming from? B/C Quinn related the current funding is budgeted, but most need a grant program to demonstrate need / effectiveness.
How long is the MS Test?
Hammond related about 10 min.
IAre videos developed by LAFD available?
They are available on UTUBE page. LAFD Wellness
Roundtable
Next meeting in Ventura County Date, location and topic TBA
LAFD has New Chief, a new leader , 3 classes a year 20 week reduced to 12 weeks, new electric fire engine will be on the floor shortly, losing 83 gold positions.
Jack Kolti - Ventura Fed fire
Bill Ward Pump POD-USA – Co having a pretty good year, related the distribution of new units throughout SoCal. Related several purchases are being funded through water agencies with an eye to save water during drought.
LN Curtis – Respiratory Protection rep of MSA SCBA’s
Scott Hudson Hemet FD Retired – Related new FC in Hemet
Steve Hanks – SCOTT rep in SoCal discussed the new SCOTT SCBA products including communications interface vis Bluetooth.
Kyle Kringle – Scott Safety Regional 14 States Coordinator. First time at SAFER.
Jeremiah Herterich - Fire Dex, Bauer Compressors product representative.
Jeremy HMS – Thanks Costa Mesa Fire for hosting
Bret Falkner Anaheim Fire =
Chief Gurrola – Fillmore Fire – Budget looks good for future; (Stations Apparatus Etc.)
Louie Garcia – Velocity Fire Equipment (VTCFire.com) Discussed Rosenbauer electric engine – orders are about 2 years out. Will be at FDIC.
Robert Ashby - Ventura County Fire – New FC, new DC. Has been using live scan for staff.
Joe Sposado – AllStar Fire Equipment – New PPE elements are available and on display in engine room. SCOTT will be renewing CalFIRE contract for 5 tears. Just took the FLIR product line for TIC’s Phoenix Equipment locally.
Steve Harris – Plymovent Systems Regional Manager -Maintenance and service items are available, new install schedules are available – post-pandemic.
.AllStar- Fire Equipment sales rep related select equipment / PPE / SCBA available.
Christina AllStar Fire Equipment – Magnetic closure on PPE
S Haynes Huntington Beach FD – Thanked CM for Hosting and for the SAFER meeting, Are working to hire AO’s as well as lifeguards after spending lots of training
Jim Vasin CM Fire Dept – Thanked LAFD for the program, related they have been with the Santa Ana College program, thanks to venders for their efforts during the pandemic
Steve - Costa Mesa Fire Dept – Thanked SAFER for meeting, CM will be building a new training tower over the next two years.
Tracy Rabe – Line-Gear Equipment – Thanks OC agencies for attending. Pumping up equipment deliveries but supply chain / deliveries continue to be challenging.
Bob Lavato –Orange City Fire Department.
Sammy Cassio – Ret Phil Fire – Interested in CANCER prevention. Related 10 of 13 original crew he hired on with have passed from CA. Works with Chief Fineries (OCFA) Has a hose line cleaning equipment (Clean Get-Away) that washes contamination from fire hose prior to re-loading.
Jimmy Ceinero – Fillmore FD
Castro - Fillmore Fire –
Chris Coates – CM Fire Thanked
Jeff Wilkerson – Camp Pendleton Retired – Relate the importance of the “next thirty years look like”
Jim Evans - Safety Squeeze - Related the importance of the health measures that have implemented since NFPA 1851 Standard. New studies reveal “Parkinson’s” disease is the next health issue to be identified as problematic as FF’f live longer into retirement.
Jordan Evans – CitroSqueeze - Will be assisting Tracy with SM pics.
Emily Stumps – Advanced PPE’s – Locations in Ventura and Hawaii. Working to clean / repair / replacement PPE (ISP)
TOM Harvick – H3 Sales and Marketing representing “Working Athlete” – A hydration product line, lots of vitamins, minerals in support of maintaining Hydration. Spoke against RockStar – Monster Etc, calls them GARBAGE.
Bill Tilspon Athletic Trainer from Northern region.
Shawn – LAFD Athletic Trainer in thewellness program.
Lou Mansano – Ventura City – Taking delivery of a new Tractor Trailer Aerial , graduation a class of recruits through combo tower with Ventura County.
Eric Higgins – Bestway Laundry Solutions – Sales / Service of UniMac Extractor systems.
11:10 Meeting Adjourned to Vender Networking in Engine Room