Community paramedicine is coming back to the forefront as ESOs are seeing the benefits of doing business a different way. In this episode, we talk with Emergency Services Industry Specialist Dave Bradley and Industry Specialist Blair Tyndall of VFIS Client Risk Solutions about community paramedicine and the various models they’ve seen throughout the country. We also touch on some of the challenges of maintaining a successful and ongoing program.
Mar 07, 2023•14 min•Season 23Ep. 5
Water can be powerful and relentless. Although low in volume, water-related emergencies are high risk. Todd Stahl, President of WhiteCap Rescue Training, joins us along with Bryan Duquin of VFIS to talk about water rescue training and some best practices to help keep rescuers and victims as safe as possible. Don’t underestimate the power of moving water. Responders must continue to train in all conditions, be proficient in swimming skills and be able to save themselves before saving others....
Feb 21, 2023•21 min•Season 23Ep. 4
Fundraising events are not just a way to raise money for an emergency services organization. They also provide visibility in the community. Bryan Duquin and Blair Tyndall of VFIS Client Risk Solutions join us to discuss some creative ways organizations can engage in fundraising and some things to consider when your agency chooses to go this route, including fidelity best practices for handling money potentially collected during fundraising events.
Feb 07, 2023•11 min•Season 23Ep. 3
Evolutions in vehicle construction and safety, changes in procedures for PPE, emergency lighting, securing portable equipment and new training needs (to name a few), have altered the landscape of emergency response over the years. In this roundtable discussion, we hear from members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team as they reflect on changes They've observed in the industry over the course of their careers.
Jan 24, 2023•26 min•Season 23Ep. 2
Who is responsible for making HR decisions in your organization? In this episode, we talk about the ever-changing field of Human Resources and how it applies to emergency services. Glatfelter’s Suzanne McConkey, Vice President of Human Resources, and Sara Spangler, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Engagement, join us to provide their insight and offer some best practices for organizations who may not have the resources to employ full-time HR personnel.
Jan 10, 2023•19 min•Season 23Ep. 1
Intentional or unintentional, wrongdoing or a mistake made within an ESO makes for a bold headline. The vast majority of emergency responders set out to do the right thing; but that doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as being compliant. In this episode, we’re joined by VFIS Education Specialist Justin Eberly who offers clarification and guidance on operational requirements for emergency services versus recommended best practices.
Dec 27, 2022•10 min•Season 22Ep. 27
Be at the top of your game by following your organization’s policies and procedures. Dave Bradley and the VFIS team look back on what they wish they knew when serving as responders — including the importance of having an increased focus on driver training, burnout and fatigue in the workforce, best practices for documentation, developing a strong safety culture and risk resources and training availability.
Dec 13, 2022•15 min•Season 22Ep. 26
Volunteer recruitment and retention are among the top issues facing volunteer Fire and EMS organizations. In this episode with Rick Gurba, VFIS Director of Education and Training, we talk about the difference between these two separate functions and discuss a unique way to address these issues within emergency service organizations.
Nov 29, 2022•11 min•Season 22Ep. 26
“Keep your brand in your voice” as this is the identity of your department. Jenny Bragiel, Communications Specialist with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue., joins us to talk about social media and how to improve your department's brand and digital presence to recruit and retain new members. She walks us through how to leverage social media to reach out to other groups/organizations, build bonds within the community and promote members. Following these key concepts can assist your organization with...
Nov 15, 2022•27 min•Season 22Ep. 25
There is no such thing as safe ice. Although a low-volume occurrence, water and ice rescue is a high-risk situation and it’s easy for a rescuer to become part of the problem and not the solution. In this episode, we interview Todd Stahl, President and Lead Instructor of WhiteCap Water Rescue, to discuss how to effectively train for these conditions.
Nov 01, 2022•17 min•Season 22Ep. 28
Be ahead of the game when preparing your property for seasonal changes in temperature. In this roundtable discussion with members of the Client Risk Solutions team, we talk about some best practices for winterizing stations and support facilities, as well as things to inspect after a major storm. Visit https://www.vfis.com/Property-Management for additional resources on this topic.
Oct 18, 2022•9 min•Season 22Ep. 24
The Fire Service industry has undergone dramatic changes in the past decade - from training, station design, mental and physical health and wellness of responders, to command structure, accountability and more. In this group discussion with the VFIS team, we take on several topics and industry trends regarding safety and risk reduction. Our hope is to spark ideas of how to positively affect your department. Change is inevitable. Be a leader and catalyst for change within the industry and your de...
Oct 04, 2022•23 min•Season 22Ep. 23
In this episode, we revisit with VFIS Emergency Services Specialist Blair Tyndall and discuss employment practices and the challenges mid-level managers face. Blair has presented the Risk Control for Mid-Level Management program to departments across the country and joins us to share some of the things he’s learned while teaching the course and offer some advice to potentially assist your organization in better preparing these individuals to succeed in their role as a manager. Please reach out t...
Sep 20, 2022•10 min•Season 22Ep. 22
“It’s easy to focus on the negatives of an incident, but the positives are what you continue to build on.” Fire Chief Todd Gauldin with Stokesdale Fire Department in N.C. talks to us about an incident his department experienced, the post-accident investigation process they used, and the lessons they learned. Reach out to Chief Gauldin via the Stokesdale Fire Department website for more details about their Post-Accident Investigation presentation and how you can receive the training.
Sep 06, 2022•22 min
Parked vehicles, utility poles, other emergency vehicles, the station itself - striking fixed objects is a common type of loss in fire and EMS services. But, these types of losses are largely avoidable. In this roundtable discussion with members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team we discuss this issue and how crews can help reduce the rate of incidents through written response guidelines, training and a positive safety culture.
Aug 23, 2022•11 min
The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Fatigue impacts personal health as well as a responder’s ability to perform key functions including patient care, incident command and vehicle operations. In this episode we revisit the discussion of fatigue management in EMS operations with Fire Chief ...
Aug 09, 2022•30 min•Season 22Ep. 15
The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Fatigue impacts personal health as well as a responder’s ability to perform key functions including patient care, incident command and vehicle operations. Efforts to move to shorter shifts continue to face significant resistance while the number of EMS ...
Jul 26, 2022•8 min•Season 22Ep. 14
The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Critical incident stress can have a lasting effect on emergency responders; yet, the stigma surrounding mental illness often interferes with seeking help. Dr. Kathy Jansen discusses potential solutions to help manage traumatic situations when they arise...
Jul 12, 2022•18 min•Season 22Ep. 13
The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Distracted driving is a significant factor in vehicle accidents and emergency services organizations (ESOs) are not immune to these incidents. Historically, emergency vehicles have had a degree of distraction built in by design with two-way radio traffi...
Jun 28, 2022•9 min•Season 22Ep. 13
Situational awareness is a person's ability to perceive and understand what is happening in the environment around them, while accurately predicting what will happen next - a critical skill for firefighters and emergency responders. Dr. Rich Gasaway is widely considered one of the nation's leading authorities on human error, situational awareness and high-risk decision-making processes. He has also spent over three decades as an emergency responder, and will join us this week to discuss situatio...
Jun 14, 2022•43 min•Season 22Ep. 12
Implicit and explicit biases can greatly impact the culture of an emergency service organization, as well as how responders react to their environments in the field. This week, Director of VFIS Training Programs, Rick Gurba joins the podcast to discuss suggestions on how to manage personal differences while avoiding behaviors that divide personnel within the workplace.
May 31, 2022•21 min•Season 22Ep. 11
Following up from our previous episode, we continue our discussion on the prevalence of cancer within the fire service. We welcome Fire Chief Jake Williams, Deputy Fire Marshall Travis McGaha and Training Chief Joshua Simpson from Concord Fire Department of North Carolina and ask them about their decontamination program and procedures.
May 17, 2022•14 min•Season 22Ep. 11
Research has shown that firefighters have a higher risk of developing cancer. Why is this happening and how can fire departments help protect their volunteer and career first responders? Keith Brandstedter, President of Glatfelter Specialty Benefits, joins the podcast this week to discuss this important issue firefighters face.
May 03, 2022•15 min•Season 22Ep. 9
Wildland fires have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years. Taking steps to prepare for these events before they occur can help limit the devastation. Deputy Chief J.R. Fox of Campbell County Fire Department in Wyoming joins the podcast to discuss what his department does to plan and prepare for the wildland fire season.
Apr 19, 2022•12 min•Season 22Ep. 8
Communication is the most helpful thing an ESO can give to an Emergency Call Center (ECC). As a public safety answering point (PSAP), 911 call centers are a unit of first response, dispatching to multiple ESOs under various sets of operating agreements. Mark J. Boudreaux, Executive Director of Terrebonne Parish Communications District, joins us to talk about 911 centers, their role in emergency response, and how they manage the relationships with the ESOs they dispatch and the communities they s...
Apr 05, 2022•16 min•Season 22Ep. 7
First responders are accustomed to the bright lights and loud noises associated with an emergency scene, but for individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), these sights and sounds can be debilitating. Saranika Griffith from Lancaster EMS joins the program to talk about sensory bags, developed in partnership with Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development, and how they can be used by responders to help patients with SPD.
Mar 22, 2022•16 min•Season 22Ep. 6
Recent changes in payment policy have driven changes in EMS organizations, allowing for the integration of telemedicine. In this episode, Matt Zavadsky from Medstar in Fort Worth, TX joins us to talk about the rapid expansion of telemedicine in emergency medical services and how his organization has integrated this technology into their response operations, including platform selection, patient criteria and protocols.
Mar 08, 2022•29 min•Season 22Ep. 6
Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) are the foundation of an ESO’s safety culture. Without them, employees can only guess what leadership expects of them. In this roundtable discussion with members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team, we talk about how SOGs play a role in a positive safety culture when it comes to driver selection and training, and why it’s important to have SOGs in front of employees on a routine basis. For more resources and sample SOGs visit https://www.responderhelp.com/...
Feb 22, 2022•16 min•Season 22Ep. 5
Intersections are responsible for the majority of accidents involving emergency vehicles. This week on the program we discuss best practices when it comes to training, policies and procedures concerning emergency response and intersections. Our guests for this week are Mike Baker, Director of VFIS Client Risk Solutions and Blair Tyndall, Emergency Services Specialist.
Feb 08, 2022•9 min•Season 22Ep. 3
Roadside safety starts with education. In this episode, we talk about responders being struck on roadways. Tim Hayes, former medic and CEO of Medic Tim Hayes Ministries, leads us with his inspiring story and powerful message about highway incident response and offers suggestions on how to improve roadside safety through education. Todd Leiss, Traffic Incident Management Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, also shares his valuable work to promote stronger safety practices at roadway incide...
Jan 25, 2022•17 min•Season 22Ep. 3
