SAFER Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2017
SAFER Board Attendees: President Gurrola , VP Quinn, Wilkerson, Seely
San Diego Fire & Rescue Training Center
0945 Meeting called to order – President Gurrola welcomed SAFER and opened the meeting, Thanks to San Diego Fire – Rescue Department for use of the facility, to AllStar Fire Equipment for the morning hospitality and Scott of FIRE ETC for lunch.
Chief Gurrola Introduced Assistant Chief Weber who welcomed SAFER and related his appreciation for the group.
Committee Reports:
NFPA – Dick Weise absent today, Kirk and Jim added the 1851 Standard is in final phase of rewrite – “Public Comment period” till Oct 15th, committee to meet in LA to consider the comments before finalizing the standard.
Question: status of CalOSHA accepting the 1851 Standard as “California Law”. It was stated that it is still under consideration by CalOSHA.
Workplace violence reporting standard being worked on by LAFD et al.
Apparatus – Pres Gurrola discussed the values of sharing information between various departments nationwide after issues being
Safety and Training:
Program: “Firefighter Behavioral Health and Suicide Awareness / Prevention”
Presenter: Jeff Dill, founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA)
via teleconference from Firehouse Expo.
MS Degree, Retired Fire Captain Cell (847) 209-8208
On site facilitator/program coordinator: David Picone – Battalion Chief – Health and Safety Officer
San Diego Fire – Rescue Department
1010 Second Avenue, Suite 400 MS 604
dpicone@sandiego-gov, (619) 533-4466
SD Fire –Rescue began its Health and Safety Officer Position about three years ago. EMS Division now focused on citizens being served, the Health and Safety program is aimed at the fire service personnel. There is staff assigned for Cancer Awareness / Prevention and Behavioral Health.
Cancer:KurtisB@SanDiego.gov. (760) 845-6243. Related a three phase approach (1) Behavioral Change: Posters (Clean Gear, Clean Air, and Clean Body) (2) Policy Changes: Establishing operational standards for safety and wellness in daily operations and associated lifestyles. (3) Facilities upgraders such as extractors and multi sets of PPE Commitment: A sticker on helmet after committing to the programs any observed violation of “Best Practices” from the program.
Fire Department Chaplin: Has been involved with fire service in San Diego and nationally. Chaplin is a Member of “Peer Support Team” with the “firefighter’s benevolent association”. Many of “San Diego Fire & Rescue Departments” “firefighter’s benevolent association” programs were described that contribute to FF wellness needs. Contracts were developed with select mental professional services to provide needed assistance to Fire-Rescue family (includes lifeguards, fire, ems).
Notes from Jeff Dill’s presentation:
Jeff related the problem of FF Suicide and the most common causes that contribute to it:
Marital, Family problems
Depression
Addictions
Medical and Health Issuers
PTSD
Financial
Legal Issues
San Diego Fire-Rescue – BHP:
“Cultural Brainwashing” – Fire Service Inexperience
12 Steps in creating a successful Behavioral Health Program.
Joint Effort – I will be a constant working alongside Capt. Cerruto who oversees the SD program
“Commend the Call” – when a call for help is received. (from employee or a co-worker / supervisor)
Education will be determined based on feedback and trends and shared to us by the providers
Issues to be addressed in San Diego - BHP:
Education = all members within fire-rescue Division (FF’s, Lifegaurds, Pilots, Dispatch and civilians)
Resources – “Official providers” FOCUS Psy Services, Chaplin’s, Fire Fam Services (SDFRA), EAP, Private Med Insurance, PERR support group and vetted long-term facilities
Family Members
New Recruits
Retirement -0 Current and future retirees.
Policies and Guideline’s –
Data / statistics related to FF Suicide was presented (138 in 2015)
No observed differences between paid / Volunteer/ male / female / city / rural data.
Suicide by Firearms 4x other methods – statistics presented
Retiree’s vs. active employees – (36 within 1 week of resignation)
Q: Size-up: Why am I using these substances, why do have these feelings. We have to self-assess:
Warning signs:
Anger
Reckless Behavior
Isolation
Lack of personal self-confidence – job competence
Sleep depravation
Retirees:
Loss of sense of humor
If you look back to incidents in your career that you remember in absolute details of the incident you have some level of PTSD.
FIRESTRONG.org: A website from Phoenix FD with resources for direct access regarding Behavioral Health needs.
Sleep disorders program (from Harvard) is available for around $40,000 / agency. They send a “Train the Trainer” team out to teach your agency about sleep disorders. Those who’ve used the service highly recommend the program. Contact Kurtis with SD Fire-Rescue.
Discussion on the current state of affairs regarding mental health / suicide issues in the fire service. Recent experiences with various departments who’ve experienced suicide in their agency(s).
Additional information from local SD Fire – Rescue resources was provided: FOCUS Psychologist, Chaplin.
Roundtable:
Jeff Wilkerson – Camp Pendleton (Retired) -Great job SDF-R on the wellness issue
Jim Marugg - San Miguel Fire & Rescue Dept. – Related the green sheet report on an incident where a FF was contaminated with human waste at a homeless encampment. Related the particulars of his injury from a chemical burn / reaction to chemical contaminates. Policy changes include (1) No overhaul at night, (2) had to toss about $1,000 in PPE plus hose due to contamination. (3) All homeless encampments are considered a HazMat location.
Steve Hoyle – OCFA (Retired) – CA Fire museum
Adam Brandos LAFD – Attending for first time
Scott Quinn BC LAFD – “National” Mayday report is out, FF Memorial Ceremony held last week
Sebastion – Fillmore NTR
North Co FD -Firesrtong.org and Peer Councilors being used for several local agencies
Ventura – Running Academies, many resources are out.
Michelle Trout – Lion –Related lots of new products for PPE / Uniform needs.
John Fisher SD Fire and Rescue – Wildland Committee – Finishing a PPE Survey for 1977 gear.
David Bogg – Psychological “ FOCUS” program.
BullEx – Live and Visual displays.
Henry SD City – NTA
Frank Uram - Qualtel – Liked the topic, related the experience in today’s military.
MES – Covers SD County. Has new dual compliant work pant available.
David Molinatti – Industrial Scientific - Related new equip and services available to first responders.
Mario Marion – Streamlight , related new products avail
Scott Estrada – FIRE ETC. – Related they supply SD F-R, SoCal FPE – cleans PPE to meet 1851 standard
Emily Stubbs - Solutions Safety – Business development for Solutions Safety
Jim Evans – Solutions Safety – Long way since 19XX in the development of PPE selection, care and maintenance
Louie Garcia – Western States Fire Equipment – Related an attempted suicide event within his department.
Tracy Rabe – Linegear Fire & Rescue Equipment – Related equipment and support services available through Linegear.
Kirk Owen – Veridian - Liked the presentation, topic today. Thanked the presenter.
Larry Asst. Fire Marshall SD F-R – Related the importance of these types of employee support systems / programs.
Tom Martin – Has shelty gloves that meet the new NFPA standards. (Note new email address)
Rob Hoadley – Cardiac Science – First Meeting with SAFER, Vender of fully automatic AED’s and EMS AED’s
Ed Shabaro – LN Curtis – Related equipment / PPE currently available through Curtis.
Bill Ward – Pump Pod USA – Related the use of the “Pump Pod” that allows Fire departments to train, test and certify fire pumps while saving large volumes of water.
Abe – AllStar Fire Equipment – Related the PPE available through AllStar. Fire Show Reno – first week of November.
John Picone BC SD F-R –Related the topic today as being timely and needed.
Mark Sheldone – Days off Consultants – related the products they manufacture / rep.
Brett Days off Consultants – Reps Red Back Shoes and wildland foot wear
Jeff Storey – Plymovent rep. Related the importance of exhaust removal and the history with San Diego Fire with Plymovent. They were the first they were able to design and build a system for
Steve Cooley – Cobra Litter – Introduced the completed version of the Cobra Rescue Litter. Related the many uses of the system, the quality and versatility of the product for fire, ems, major event support where transportation of victim’s / support equipment / fire hose / SWAT – Law.
Mike Schlags – Cobra Litter – Added the potential uses of the Cobra Litter in incidents like the Las Vegas massacre / mass casualty incidents.
Keith Gurrola Fillmore Fire Chief (Retired Ventura County) – Related the importance of today’s topic and the myriad of employee assistance programs.
NEXT MEETING SanDimiss – US Forest Service
SAFER email : SAFER.Members@gmail.com, twitter, facebook etc.
Meeting adjourned: 1200
Vender’s, Manufacture’s and Consultants represented at this meeting:
Meeting Attendees (Sign-ins)
Agency / Co
NAME
PHONE #
EMAIL (s)
Downey Fire (Retired)
Chuck Seely
(949) 492-7993
firebiz@att.net
c alifornia fire muaseum
steve hoyle
9494965688
stbear@cox.net
Redback/Cosmas Footwear
Brett
619 203-6541
brett@cosmasusa.com
Camp Pendleton Fire ret.
Jeff Wilkerson
949-830-087
jwilker@cox.net
Quala-Tel Communications
Frank Uram
858-577-2900
furam@qualatel.com
BullEx
Daniel Vaccaro
518-698-5281
dvaccaro@bullex.com
LION
Michelle Trout
480-225-1324
mtrout@lionprotects.com
SCOTT SAFETY
Steve Hanks
858-226-7420
shanks@scottsafety.com
SDFD
David Picone
9492466999
dpicone@sandiego.gov
PumpPodUSA
Bill Ward
bill@liqui-pod.com
Aair Purification/Plymovent
Jeff Storey
8007766746
airpurisys@aol.com
Days Off Consultants/NightStick Lighting
Mark Sheldone
760-505-3473
msheldone@sbcglobal.net
AllStar Fire Equipment
Gabe Sayegh
6262550431
gabeallstar@gmail.com
Fillmore Fire
Keith Gurrola
805-558-0932
keithg@ci.fillmore.ca.us
Western States Fire Equipment
Louie Garcia
213-272-5680
lgarcia@vvgtruck.com
Safety Components
Bill Black
858-243-4371
bblack@safetycomponents.com
Responder Solutions
Tom Martin
909-264-4875
tmartin@responder.solutions
Solutions Safety Products
Jim Evans
770-634-0848
jime@solutionssafety.com
Solutions Safety Products
Emily Stubs
emilys@solutionssafety.com
San Miguel Fire & Rescue
Jim Marugg
619-977-0793
jmarugg@sanmiguelfire.org
San Diego Fire-Rescue
John Fisher
858-945-6869
jafisher@sandiego.gov
LAFD
Adam Brandos
Adam.Brandos@Lacity.org
LineGear Fire & Rescue Equipment
Tracy Rabe
949-230-5610
tracy@linegear.com
SoCal
Melissa Magee
619-309-2240
melissa@soicalppe.com
Cardiac Science
Rob Hoadley
619.208.9190
rhoadley@cardiacscience.com
Veridian
Kirk Owen
712-260-3547
kirk@veridian.net
Cobra Litters LLC
Mike Schlags
805-896-7993
mschlags@cobralitter.com
Industrial Scinetific
David Molinatti
714-403-1915
dmolinatti@indsci.com
VCFD
Robert Szczepanek
805-914-4021
Robert.Szczepanek@ventura.org
VCFD
Shannon Black
shannon.black@ventura.org
Streamlight
Mario Payan
(818) 731-2510
Mpayan@pactecsales.com
MES (Muni Emerg Services)
Bill Zamudio
(858) 715-4639
bzamudio@mesfire.com
SoCal PPE
Chase Powell
(619) 309-2240
SOCALPPE.com