Monthly July 2018

City of Rochester Hills Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for July 2018

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 July 2018: 584 (30% of these incidents occurred in Senior Congregate Housing/ Skilled Nursing Facilities) Total number of mutual aid coverage / requests: 4 - No Rochester Hills Fire Department units were available during these times. Total Incidents Year-to-Date: 4,205 Year-to-Date comparison 2017 to 2018: 4,141 (2017) 4,205 (2018) (Approx. 2% overall increase)

Operations Bureau Deputy Chief - Todd Gary Shift Commanders - Bat. Chief Tim Quaine, Bat. Chief Rogers Claussen, Bat. Chief Jerry Yurgo Fire Suppression Division Members responded to 113 calls for service. The Department responded to eleven (11) incidents that resulted in $11,050 in damage. On July 4, 2018, the Rochester Hills Fire Department assisted the Auburn Hills Fire Department with a structure fire at 2424 Dexter Drive. Rochester Hills Battalion 1, Engine 1, and Ladder 5 and Alpha 24 assisted. Returning from the hospital, Rochester Hills Alpha 24 was the first unit to arrive and reported a working fire in a detached garage. Auburn Hills Engine 2 arrived on-scene and with the assistance of Rochester Hills Alpha 24 quickly contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to the nearby home. Command released the remaining Rochester Hills units. No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported. On July 8, 2018, the Rochester Hills Fire Department was dispatched to 3150 John R Road for a structure fire. Rochester Hills Alpha 24 was the first unit to arrive and a homeowner putting water on a detached shed with a garden hose. After further investigation and overhaul it was determined the fire was started by a firework (bottle rocket). The Community Risk Reduction Division was notified and the homeowner was cited for a firework violation. According to NFPA, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 18,500 fires caused by fireworks between 2009 and 2013. These fires included 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, 16,900 outside and other fires, and killed two people per year. Almost half of the fires reported on Independence Day in the U.S. during this period were started by fireworks, more than any other cause of fire. However, the vast majority of fireworks injuries occur without a fire starting. In 2017, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 54% of those injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated 2017 injuries.

Emergency Medical Services Division Division Head - Captain Tim Matz Total number of EMS runs: 471 Total number of Transfers: 1 Total number of Cardiac Arrests: 4 - The age range of patients was 55 to 94 years of age. The department transported one (1) patients for further care. Total number of Narcan Administration: Administered at three (3) possible overdose incidents. Total number of lift assists: 46 (YTD- 326) EMS Training This month for EMS training the topic was patient packaging and handling. The providers went through the use of their stretcher, stair chair, stokes basket and long backboard. The providers were then given scenarios to remove a multi trauma patient from an elevated platform and a below ground area. They had to treat and stabilize the patient prior to moving as well as secure any treatments in the packaging process. Also this month we had an addition to our Back Safety Initiative or BSI, a Tank Boss Lifting Device was purchased to assist with the moving, loading, and unloading of large oxygen cylinders from the ambulances. These cylinders are very heavy and can be very awkward to pick up due to lack of handles. This device can be operated by one individual and safely move these heavy cylinders to and from an ambulance as well as in and out of. This item will decrease the chance of back injury from this important task.

According to an article in EMS World, back injuries account for more than 20% of all workplace injuries in the United States and are a particular problem in EMS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors EMS workers’ injuries, and in the most recent data set available, more than 27,000 EMS workers experienced on-the-job injuries and illnesses, and more than 21% of those injuries were to the lower back. The financial burden is not insignificant. Each year back injuries cost the economy nearly $50 billion in direct medical bills and lost revenue, and $20 billion of this cost is in injuries related to the healthcare profession. This exceeds the cost of back injuries in construction, mining and manufacturing. Each individual back sprain carries an anticipated direct cost of just over $18,000 in physician and medical bills, lost income and employer costs. Community Risk Reduction Division Division Head - Assistant Chief Bill Cooke The Community Risk Reduction Division highlights for the month of July 2018 included the following: Fire Safety Inspections: 132 Follow-up Inspections: 40 Plan Reviews: 11 Burn Permits: 19 Professional Development (Training Hours): 8 hours Infant Car Seat Installation and Checks: 11

Public Education Activities Daycares (Pre-K): 2 presentations totaling 85 individuals Camps/Scouts: 4 presentations totaling 160 individuals Senior Programs: 5 presentations totaling 135 individuals Station Tours: 3 presentations totaling 48 individuals AHA CPR Class: 2 presentations totaling 20 individuals This month in Community Risk Reduction members completed the annual fire and life safety inspections in our multifamily apartment complexes throughout the community. In last month’s report, it was stated 28% of all types of fires have occurred within apartment complexes and 69% of those fires were caused by careless cooking. In July, division members completed the door hanger campaign and were able to physically distribute 1887 hangers and provided an additional 450 to an apartment complex for their distribution. In total, 2,337 multifamily residential units received this information by our staff’s efforts. Door hangers have also been left with each apartment complex for their distribution contained in a new resident packets. Congratulations to our members for accomplishing this task as well as providing opportunities to educate our citizens. Also during the month of July, two separate fireworks related incidents took place within the City of Rochester Hills. Both events resulted in fires that damaged a shed and to a garbage can at the exterior of a single family dwelling. The fires were minor in nature, but both could have been very significant events if they were not discovered so quickly. Training Bureau Division Head - Captain Larry Gambotto During the month of July 2018, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department received nearly 440 hours of Fire and EMS professional development. Year-to-date, members have completed over 7,430 hours of training. This month’s topics included Minimum Standards training, EMS patient handling, Firefighter Self- rescue drills, vertical ventilation and wall breaching. Fire Training During this month’s fire training members were assessed on the Minimum Standards, Standard Operating Procedure 400-04. Members were timed on SCBA donning. Fire fighters go from daily uniform to full PPE with SCBA in less than 2:00 minutes. Lt. Chris Kraft led the way with a 1:02 time. Company evolutions included Engine Company members evaluated on pulling a 1 ¾” attack line and connecting to a positive water supply from a hydrant. Truck Company members were evaluated on ground ladders and vertical ventilation. Evolutions were performed at a residence supplied by a citizen of Rochester Hills for fire department training.

Special Training In May, special training involved Fire fighter self-rescue skills. Inside the training tower, members practiced self-rescues. Members worked on initiating a MAYDAY, understanding situational awareness and giving L.U.N.A.R. reports (L=location, U=unit, N=name, A=assignment/air status and R=resources needed). Members then performed ladder or window bailouts with the assistance of the Rapid Invention Team outside the structure. Firefighter Survival Training Online Training Members completed the City’s Active Assailant training via video on the Fire Rescue 1 Academy. Members have completed over 500 hours of training during the previous six month (6) period on Fire Rescue 1 Academy. Fire Rescue 1 Academy offers nearly 350 courses that are NFPA based or CAPCE accredited EMS courses. All of these courses are delivered in a convenient, cost-effective online training package. This learning management system tracks certifications, decreases liability, and improves performance for all Fire and EMS services and systems. The training and curriculum is designed for firefighters currently working in the field and can be used as refresher training nationwide and toward recertification hours.

Battalion Training During this month’s Battalion training members were able to utilization the acquired training structure to perform vertical ventilation and wall breaches. Vertical Ventilation Training Administration Bureau On July 12th and 13th, members of the Rochester Hills Fire Department and Department of Public Services - Fleet Division traveled to Pierce Fire Apparatus Manufacturing in Appleton Wisconsin to perform the mid- point inspection on the Ladder 3. The unit will be delivered in September, at which point we will begin mounting equipment and the training process to familiarize our personnel with the components of the apparatus. Ladder 3 will be located at Station No. 3 in the Avondale area.

Finally, during the month of July the construction team at the Fire Station 4 project continues to move along at a very good pace. The underground utilities have been completed in the existing floor slab in which allowed for new concrete footings to be constructed for the structural steel installation. The excavated areas of the floor slab are all now filled with new concrete which has allowed for the carpenters to start framing our walls. Once this work is completed, this allows for the electrical piping and plumbing to take place in the walls of our new facility. The installation of the windows and exterior door have also been completed which now provides for an enclosed station. Most of the landscaping has been installed this past month, which is beginning to provide us with a good idea at what the finish product will look like.