Tis the season for fire hose testing

Each fall the firefighters of Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue test all of the fire hose on all engines, tenders (water tankers) and the hose stored in the fire stations. 

Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue Engine 631

This involves testing literally miles of hose at high pressures, examining the hose for any defects, rolling and stacking the tested hose and returning it to service.  Ten separate teams spend several hours each testing hose.  The hose is tested at a pressure of 250 psi, much higher than the pressure typically used during firefighting operations.

ICFR uses colored hose to identify each section

Standards for fire hose testing are published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA has published two separate standards for fire hose testing. NFPA Standard 1961 documents the procedures for design verification testing of all new fire hoses and NFPA Standard 1962 documents the testing procedures to be followed for in-service hoses to make sure they can continue to be used.  ICFR follows NFPA guidelines for hose testing.

Consider joining ICFR for the next hose testing season.  Learn more about how to join ICFR by calling our non-emergency number at our office 303-697-4413.

Identify Your Two Ways Out During Fire Prevention Week

If a fire strikes your home, do you have time to escape?  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says a house fire can become life-threatening in minutes.  Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue urges you to take a few minutes during Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2012, to urge residents to “Have Two Ways Out!” -fire escape planning and practice.

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.   “One home structure was reported every 85 seconds in 2010,” says Dave MacBean, Chief of Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue. “Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize.  Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways is essential to ensuring your family’s safety should fire break out in your home.” 

Inter-Canyon Fire-Rescue recommends the following tips for planning your family’s escape:

• Install and check proper function of smoke detectors in your home.
• Add a Carbon Monoxide detector to monitor for CO - the silent killer.
• Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
• Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department (911) on your escape plan.
• Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.
• Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and remind grown-ups to have your family practice the plan twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.

ICFR EMS Staff Complete Advanced Stroke Life Support Course

Several additional members of Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue EMS staff have now completed the Advanced Stroke Life Support course offered through Saint Anthony's Hospital. 

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the U.S. 

Emergency treatments to limit the risk of disability are available but underutilized.  A practical stroke patient assessment tool suitable for routine use by EMS personnel, the Miami Emergency Neurologic Deficit Exam (MEND), is used to rapidly assess for stroke. The MEND exam training is an integral part of the ASLS course.

The MEND Exam:

• Is easy to learn, easy to use, & provides key information
• Enhances communication among EMS personnel, nurses, and physicians
• Is based on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), incorporates the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS), and takes less than 3 minutes to perform

EMS PERSONNEL

• On scene, first perform ABCs (airway, breathing, and circulation) of emergency care
• After ABCs, perform the three step Cincinnati Pre-Hospital Stroke Scale under “D” for disability
• En route, perform full MEND Exam if time allows (but NOT on scene)

Reduce your risks for stroke:
1.  Manage hypertension
2.  Manage diabetes
3.  Quit smoking

As the weather cools, risks for chimney fires heats up

As the weather cools, Inter-Canyon firefighters prepare to respond to chimney fires.  These fires can spread rapidly from the chimney into the surrounding structure and pose unique risks to homeowners and firefighters due to smoke, working on a slippery roof, and the heat of the fire.
More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.  Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas, such as the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District, every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.

Chimney and Fireplace Safety starts with you:

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

• Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
• Leave glass doors open while burning a fire. Leaving the doors open ensures that the fire receives enough air to ensure complete combustion and keeps creosote from building up in the chimney.
• Close glass doors when the fire is out to keep air from the chimney opening from getting into the room. Most glass fireplace doors have a metal mesh screen which should be closed when the glass doors are open. This mesh screen helps keep embers from getting out of the fireplace area.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have a glass fireplace door.
• Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
• Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
• Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.

Safely Burn Fuels

• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.

Protect the Outside of Your Home

• Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
• Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
• Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.

Protect the Inside of Your Home

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside of sleeping areas. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.
• Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof.

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Recommendations provided by the US Fire Administration

ICFR responds to Deer Creek Canyon Park for Patient with Rattlesnake Bite

On Saturday ICFR medics and firefighters responded into Deer Creek Canyon Open Space Park to assist a patient with a rattlesnake bite.  With assistance from Jefferson County Open Space Rangers, the ICFR staff located the patient, provided Advanced Life Support medications to the patient, and carried the patient out to a waiting Inter-Canyon ambulance, where the patient was transported to a local hospital for additional care.

Although venomous (poisonous) snakes are relatively common in the U.S., bites from venomous snakes are a rare cause of death in this country. While there are about 8,000 venomous snake bites reported each year in the U.S., no more than 12 deaths were reported each year from 1960-1990 as a result of poisonous snake bites.  About half of all reported snake bites occur in children.

Along the Front Range the prevalent rattlesnake is the Western Prairie Rattlesnake.  Contrary to movie and TV mythology, rattlesnakes do not always rattle before striking.

Western Prairie Rattlesnake

What do I do for initial first aid?

 Because many Coloradans live in rattlesnake country, a snakebite emergency plan should be developed before it is needed. If you are less than one hour from the nearest emergency room, initial treatment is relatively simple:

·         Try to calm the victim and call 911.

·         Gently wash the area with soap and water.

·         Apply a cold, wet cloth over the bite.

Several DON'Ts are very important to remember:

·         DON'T apply a tourniquet.

·         DON'T pack the bite area in ice.

·         DON'T cut the wound with a knife or razor.

·         DON'T use your mouth to suck out the venom.

·         DON'T let the victim drink alcohol.

The preceding treatments will NOT help the victim and are dangerous. Applying ice or a tourniquet can block circulation, which can result in gangrene and eventual loss of the limb due to amputation. Cutting the wound can cause excessive bleeding. Because human mouths are full of bacteria, sucking the venom from the wound can cause infection, making treatment more difficult.

ICFR treats patients with a rattlesnake bite by following the Denver Metro EMS Protocols, providing care for symptoms such as pain, itching, nausea and low blood pressure.

Emergency Medical Services at Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue

Initial Training
ICFR requires all firefighters to become certified as a First Responder at a mimimum.  ICFR First Responders can initiate Basic Life Support (BLS) using the BLS kits in each ambulance, engine, and rescue truck in the ICFR fleet.  In addition ICFR First Responders are trained in CPR and AED operation.


EMS Training:
Many of the volunteers at ICFR continue their medical education and become a members of the EMS unit, allowing them to treat and transport patients in the three ICFR ambulances.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment certifies entry level competency of EMS Providers for the State of Colorado. Pre-Hospital providers in Colorado can be certified at one of four different levels: 

1.  Emergency Medical Technician- EMT - provides Basic Life Support Care including oxygen administration, IV therapy and some medications

2.  Advanced EMT - additional training allows for the administration of more medications and patient treatments

3. EMT Intermediate - provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) care with oversight and medical direction

4. Paramedic. - provides ALS care and the full range of pre-hospital treatments

Certification by the CDPHE is based on successful completion of a recognized education course, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician certification, and an application process including a fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

Time required for completion:
First Responder - approximately 40 hours
EMT - approximately 200 hours
EMT-Intermediate - approximately 320 additional hours
Paramedic - approximately 1200 additional hours

Emergency medical services providers are used to staff first ICFR ambulances.  EMS Providers are allowed to perform medical acts as delegated by a Colorado Medical Director.   ICFR EMTs and Paramedics work under the Denver Metro Protocols, defining the care and treatment protocols.  All EMS Providers administering patient care in Colorado are required to have a Medical Director who directs how and where an EMS Provider may practice.  ICFR uses Saint Anthony's Hospital as our Medical Director, contacting the hospital for medical directions and questions.

ICFR Ambulance 683

Continuing Education:

All levels of ICFR providers must recertify as required by the State of Colorado and/or the National Registry of EMTs.  This includes 12-24 hours of annual continuing education.  ICFR provides monthly education at our EMS meetings and members attend additional training in the Denver Metro area and throughout the state.

ICFR Ambulance 682

ICFR EMS members invest significant time in initial and continuing training to provide the best possible pre-hopspital care.  ICFR responds to approximately 250 medical calls each year.

ICFR Ambulance 681

ICFR Firefighters invest time to prepare for response

Before responding to your call for help via 911, each ICFR firefighter invests hundreds of hours in preparing to respond.  These tasks are critical to the response and allow ICFR to respond rapidly with the right equipment, staff and apparatus.  Preparation includes:

Equipment maintenance - Just as your car requires maintenance to run properly, each engine, ambulance, water tender, rescue truck and brush truck requires diligent maintenance to be prepared to respond in all conditions.  Firefighters must maintain not just the vehicle but all of the equipment on the truck.  This includes the vehicle's engine, pumps, foam generators, hose, tools, extrication equipment, medical equipment, lighting, electrical generators, and saws.

Ambulance checks - One of our EMTs or paramedics checks the ambulances to ensure all three ambulances are equipped with the supplies and medications needed to meet or exceed the Denver Metro Protocols (these protocols identify the treatments for our patients), and the State of Colorado ambulance requirements.  All three ICFR ambulances are equipped to meet both the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) requirements.  In addition, Rescue 684 at Station Four is equipped with both BLS and ALS supplies.

Supply ordering and inventory maintenance - The EMS supplies used to stock our ambulances, rescue trucks and engines must be ordered frequently to maintain the proper inventory.  ICFR works diligently to ensure the right equipment and supplies are available, while monitoring our inventory levels to ensure we meet budgetary guidelines.

Administrative duties - The officers and firefighters of ICFR invest significant time in admiistering the department.  With five fire stations, 50 firefighters and EMS staff, and 15 pieces of apparatus, administrative duties are not the exciting part of ICFR, but must be addressed.

Training - ICFR offers weekly training on various topics to our firefighters and EMS staff.  In addition to the training offered within the district, ICFR staff attends many courses offered throughout the Denver metro area and Colorado.  Structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, Emergency Medical Services, Hazardous Materials response, fire prevention, fire investigation, and fire inspection are just a few of the training topics.

All of this time is invested before your call for help via 911.

Basic Wildland Firefighter Training

Initial Training:
The volunteer firefighters at ICFR must all complete basic wildland firefighter training.  This training includes several courses developed and approved by the federal National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).  The basic wildland firefighting courses include:

S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighting
S-190  Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Annual Training:
Following the initial course completion ICFR firefighters (like all federal, state and local wildland firefighters) must complete an annual safety refresher course and pack test:

Safety Refresher course - eight hour course each year focusing on fire behavior and safety
Pack Test - each firefighter must carry a 45 pound pack three miles in under 45 minutes to ensure physicial endurance and work capacity

Firefighters must maintain both the annual Safety Refresher and Pack Test to receive a "Red Card" which is required to work on major fires.

Advanced Training:
Many ICFR wildland firefighters have completed advanced course in fire behavior, wildland firefighter leadership, fire and team management, safety, Command and General Staff level courses, and engine/crew boss leadership.

These courses exceed the minimum training requirements to maintain current status

ICFR paramedics obtain 12 lead ECG in the field to shorten time to hospital treatment

An article in the Wall Street Journal this week pointed out that paramedics obtaining an ECG in the field before arrival in the hospital can shorten time to treatment.  ICFR paramedics and EMT-Intermediates routinely obtain and interpret a 12 lead ECG in the field.  The 12 lead ECG above is an example of a normal ECG.  Our staff can then notify the hospital of any ECG changes and alert the emergency room and cardiac catheterization lab of the patient's condition.  The patient can often bypass the emergency room and be taken directly to the cardiac catheterization lab for immediate intervention.

You can read the Wall Street Journal article at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444554704577643702705179164.html

  

ICFR Firefighter narrowly misses First Place in Firefighter Challenge at Big Chili Cook Off

ICFR firefighter Scott St. John narrowly missed first place in the Big Chili Cook-Off last Sunday.  Scott completed the grueling time trial demonstrating firefighter skills and missed first place by only seconds.  Congratulations to Scott and thanks to all of the firefighters who partcipated.  Photo courtesy of Michael Davis - Elk Creek Fire Department.

ICFR takes home Green Chili First Prize

The 11th Annual Big Chili Cook-Off, Music & Arts Festival was held Sunday, September 9.  The event was held at the Evergreen Lake House, located at 29614 Upper Bear Creek Road in Evergreen.  The spectacular day featured a chili cook-off competition between many firefighter teams from the local departments.

ICFR firefighter Bob Pastor's "How Green is my Valley" green chili took home first place for green chilis.  Thanks to all of the firefighters and citizens for their work in supporting the area fire departments.

The Big Chili Cook-Off supports local fire departments and remembers those lost on 9/11.

Congratulations to Bob!

Big Chili Cookoff in Evergreen Sunday

Sunday, September 9, 2012 is the annual BIG CHILI Cook-off at Evergreen Lake House. Tickets are $15.00 at the door (no dogs allowed, with the exception of Service Dogs).

Scott St. John will be proudly representing Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue in the firefighter challenge. He needs our cheering and support. He will be competing against the five other area Fire Departments.

ICFR has six chili’s entered and we need your votes; consider the following:

Blazing Saddles – red - #39A Belva Wildman

Shot Gun Willies – green - #39B Belva Wildman

The Hunt for Red October – red - #39D Kent Harris

Soy lent Green – green - #39E Kent Harris

Carlos (the Hangover Baby) – green - #39F Zoe Algien

How Green is My Valley – green #39G Bob Pastor

Proceeds benefit the area Fire Departments. The gates open at 10:30 am and the Music starts playing at 10:30. The lineup is great, playing all the way until 5pm. We start serving chili at 11:00 am. The Fire Fighters Competition is at 12:30 pm. The times are always subject to change slightly.