Recent Work ANd Collaborations
United States Fire Administration: New Manual Helps Departments Develop an EMS Safety Program
Posted: June 2, 2022
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) EMS Safety Practices manual outlines how to develop a safety program that covers all aspects of EMS operations to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and respond to all hazards. It covers safety regulations and guidelines while also emphasizing the importance of developing a culture of safety in the organization including, but not limited to:
Developing a culture of safety. Including the maintenance of effective communication between leadership and practitioners to promote shared decision-making about personnel safety.
Maintaining physical and mental health. Each year, thousands of EMS providers visit the emergency department due to physical injuries. Additionally, about 85% of first responders indicated that they have experienced symptoms of mental health issues. The manual provides recommendations to reduce the burden of physical injuries and encourages employees to seek out appropriate resources and support.
Training on how to deal with infectious disease agents and hazardous materials. This manual provides a review of the data from recent scientific literature, with evidence-based recommendations and suggested best practices on how to control infectious disease agents and hazardous materials.
Improving situational awareness. EMS responders work in unpredictable environments. This manual offers information on a variety of scenarios, including the response to, and de-escalation of, violent patient scenarios, to help reduce the risk of common physical injuries and lost days of work among EMS practitioners.
Mitigating traffic safety issues. Regarding fatalities and potential liability, transportation is among the riskiest activities for EMS workers. This manual cites initiatives underway to mitigate risk factors, including, but not limited to, the USFA’s Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations Safety Program and the Emergency Vehicle Safety Program, in partnership with the International Association of Firefighters.
RPM Brings Team Dynamics Training to the Boston Fire Department...
Through a competitive bid process, the City of Boston selected RPM to deliver Team Dynamics/Respectful Workplace Training for the Boston Fire Department. The RPM Team developed the program for the fire service and further tailored it for the Boston Fire Department.
This 4-hr, in-person program, highlights the impact Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging have on the individual, as well as the overall team.
Tenured fire service instructors delivered the class to over 1600 uniformed firefighters, chief officers, 911 dispatchers, and support personnel.
The program met with great success, as demonstrated by metrics gathered through pre-and post-training assessments and evaluations.
As Firehouse Sees It: Is Your Fire Department Critical to the Community?
Firehouse Magazine
Written by Peter Matthews
October 18, 2021
Peter Matthews shares the important matters that were discussed at Wingspread VII weeks ahead of the release of the report that will be issued by the conference organizers.
As summer wrapped up, it was a great honor to attend Wingspread VII in Wisconsin, where fire service movers and shakers gathered to assess today’s fire service and dug deep to address the concerns of the next couple of years. This extremely dedicated group outlined dozens of trends that became an actionable list...
Enhancing Resources for Better Health Among EMS Personnel
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
September 2, 2020
Priyatham Kurapati is a second-year MPH student at the Dornsife School of Public Health within the department of Environmental and Occupational Health. When his journey in the public health world began, Kurapati was initially interested in how climate change and environmental hazards could impact health. Now after having completed year one of his MPH program with many interdisciplinary courses, his interests have expanded to include mental/behavioral health, substance use and abuse, and infectious disease.
To gain more experience in these areas, Kurapati pursued an Applied Practical Experience (APE) at a company that could accommodate this goal. He chose to intern over the summer at RPM Solutions Group, Inc., a consulting firm that provides a wide range of professional management services to public, private, and nonprofit organizations....
At RPM, Kurapati was joined by fellow MPH student, Mariah Menanno. Together, they conducted a comprehensive review of an existing safety guide for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and identified areas for evidence-informed improvements.