January 2022

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for January 2022

To: The Honorable Mayor Bryan Barnett and the esteemed members of the Rochester Hills City Council From: Sean M. Canto - Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Ladies and Gentlemen: The primary purpose of this report is to keep the officials of the City of Rochester Hills informed as to the activities and programs of the Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Department. As a second purpose, this report will be shared with the Officers and all fire personnel in the organization to illustrate how their day-to-day activities benefit the citizens and the community of Rochester Hills. Call Data: Total Incidents January 2022: 627 (Approximately 32% of these incidents occurred in Senior Congregate Housing / Skilled Nursing Facilities) Total number of mutual aid coverage / requests: 1 - No Rochester Hills Fire Department units were available during these times. Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 627 Year-to-Date comparison 2021 to 2022: 591 (2021) 627 (2022)

Operations Bureau Deputy Chief - Todd Gary Shift Commanders - Bat. Chief Jason Murray, Bat. Chief Rogers Claussen, Bat. Chief Jerry Yurgo The Operations Division has begun to track on a more accurate basis the number of “Concurrent Incidents” that are happening. This graph details that out of the 627 incidents that occurred in January, 311 times (50 percent) additional incidents were taking place at the same time. As this happens the department’s resources are stretched thin, if not depleted. The department will continue to monitor this information closely. We pay close attention to these totals to ensure we can respond to simultaneous emergencies quickly enough and with enough personnel. Call concurrency examines the frequency of multiple calls occurring during the same time that units are still committed to a previous call. This situation affects the ability of the organization to commit additional resources to respond to additional calls as they occur. Members responded to 88 calls for service that resulted in estimated $15,729 in damage. This damage estimate was the result of four (4) minor incidents, which includes vehicle fires.

Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head – Captain Tim Matz Statistics Total number of EMS calls of service: 539 Total number of Cardiac Arrest: 11, the age range of these patients is 35 to 87. Of these patients, five (5) were transported for further care at a local hospital with a cardiac care center. For information related to Coronavirus statistics for the State of Michigan, please go to: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173---,00.html

For the month of January, the EMS division focused on treating the younger members of our community, pediatric patients. This was done through several drill topics held throughout the month beginning with Pediatric Medication Dosing. Several years ago, the State of Michigan conducted a multi-year study and found this was an area of patient care Paramedics needed more improved training on. As a result of this study, since most medication dosing is weight based a resource guide was created called the MI-MEDIC card booklet. Using a patient’s weight and age this booklet helps EMS providers get the proper dose for our little patients. It is a fast, efficient, and complete way to confirm the proper dose for a pediatric patient. This is a required training that all Paramedics in Michigan must attend and is the only training that is strictly a practical training. Though many training drills are hands-on practical, this one must be practical. The department Paramedics are given scenarios and practice using (mock) medications and equipment, and must draw up the medication using their MI-MEDIC cards. It is a vital training to incorporate both the cognitive and psychomotor elements into the training room. Though most medication dosing is in the Paramedic skill set, there are some that our Basic EMT’s can deliver when they provide care. Some of these are oxygen and oral glucose when treating someone with trouble breathing or low blood sugar. As education and patient care has advanced, EMT’s have taken on new skills and have expanded their treatment options. These include Narcan for opioid overdoses, Epinephrine for allergic reactions, and nebulizing certain respiratory medications for asthma. During January, we focused on two studies RHFD has been involved in with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA). We reviewed and practiced giving Narcan to possible opioid overdose patients. The manner in which this medication is delivered is a mist into the patient nostril. We also focused on assessing these patients and treatment options including oxygen therapy, ventilation, and Narcan delivery, as well as post medication care. Members practiced giving Epinephrine to patients having an allergic reaction, including both adult and pediatric patients. Due to the increased cost of for Epi-pens, OCMCA decided to train our EMT’s on how to draw up a medication and give it in shot form. We discussed signs, symptoms and treatment options for patients having an allergic reaction, and practiced assessment and treatment including utilizing Epinephrine. Since 2014, the department has been providing the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course to its Paramedics. This course is a pediatric-based course that focuses on the three major conditions that can cause the death of a pediatric patient: respiratory, shock, and cardiac issues. Each Paramedic attended a four-hour online course that discussed the challenges of pediatric assessment, signs and symptoms, and how to treat them. Each Paramedic then went into the EMS lab and participated in several scenarios to show and practice their assessments and treatment skills. The department recently started holding a class for our EMT’s from the AHA called Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS). This class is held every two years, and we were able to offer it to some of our part time EMTs in the evening and will be offering soon to daytime staff. The EMT’s looked into identifying many pediatric conditions that can cause more serious issues. The course has many similarities to PALS but not as many skill sets to learn. They focus on assessing and recognizing conditions that can be detrimental to pediatric patients. They practice CPR for both children and infants, using an AED, setting up IV’s, giving nebulized medications, and placing a pediatric patient on a cardiac monitor. The course utilizes videos of pediatric patients to allow them to assess real patients in a safe environment and then make treatment plans.

Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke The Community Risk Reduction Division highlights for the month of January 2022 included the following: Fire and Life Safety Inspections: 61 Follow-up Inspections: 24 Plan Reviews: 8 FOIA Requests: 8 Professional Development (Training Hours): 54.75 Public Education Activities: Smoke Detector Programs/Installations: 69 During the month of January, the fire inspectors began researching buildings and scheduling their 2022 inspections. This is the second year of our newly adopted 3-year cycle. This year we will be inspecting the following: • High Hazard (all locations), which include places of worship, restaurants that allow 50 or more people, multi-family apartments, hotels, City owned buildings, and our site specific businesses; • Medium Hazard (even-numbered locations), which include industrial locations, gas stations, restaurants that allow 49 or less people that also have an automatic extinguishing system over the cooking equipment; • Low Hazard (one-third of the locations), which include retail, medical offices, general business offices, etc. focused on the Rochester Road corridor. Building research is critical for the inspection process and provides answers to questions about firewalls, fire rated doors, storage type and height, and required systems like fire alarms and fire suppression systems. Also during the month of January, a new, weekly training program was started for Code Enforcement education. The inspectors meet on Thursday afternoons for 1-2 hours and a member discusses a topic that is relevant to what everyone is seeing in the field. This training provides new knowledge and also good reminders to make sure that we are providing a consistent message to our businesses. A few of the training topics for this month include Plan Review, Passive Fire Systems, Life Safety, High Piled Storage, and Commodity Classification. Finally, the testing process for the vacancy left by Captain/Assistant Fire Marshal Lee Mayes’ retirement next month was completed on January 14, 2022. Lieutenant / Inspector Ann Echols successfully passed the written test and oral interview and will be promoted to the position of Captain / Assistant Fire Marshal effective Monday, March 7, 2022. Lieutenant / Inspector Echols’ promotion also left a vacancy in the division, which will be filled by Lieutenant Joseph Szyszkiewicz effective February 28, 2022. Congratulations and best wishes to both of these members in their new positions!

Training, Health and Safety Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of January 2022, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received 594 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. For 2022, members have completed 594 hours of training. This month’s topics included Ice Rescue Operations and Technician level rescues, and review of the Department’s Pre-Incident Planning Program. Members also participated in Technical Rescue and Hazmat training. Fire Training Members were instructed by Battalion Chief Rogers Claussen in performing ice rescue operations and technician level training. Members received the didactic training in preparation for practical ice rescue at Spencer Park. RHFD will perform an ice rescue demonstration for the Boy Scouts on February 5th at Spencer Park’s Carter Lake. Special Training Members received training on access to RHFD's Pre-Incident Planning Program. The Community Risk Reduction Division worked to compile critical information for this program throughout 2021. The Program was rolled out to the Suppression members with this training. Information within the program includes mapping, location of critical sites and storage sites. The Program provides visual information and location of access points. Videos and pictures can be uploaded into the program as well. The Program also communicates out-of-service fire hydrants with the Department of Public Services.