EMS

EMS DIVISION

REMINDER!

QA PROCESS We continue to follow our QA process through ImageTrend. This process has been updated and streamlined to where only those on the chart (typically just the author and Captain) will get the QA. If you get an email from ImageTrend letting you know you have a message, PLEASE go read the message and take advantage of improving your charts. We obviously are only doing QA so as to make each author become better at charting and ensuring excellent treatment is given. No one person is perfect and learning how to improve is imperative to any success. We put hard work into providing QA and if you don’t check the Image Trend message then that work is in vain. Thanks for your help on this.

Medic School

Preparation for medic school continues to be one of EMS's main objectives. There is an immense amount of work being put into this particular class as it will be under review and part of the process for our EMS accreditation is with The Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). Much like our Fire Accreditation, CoAEMSP provides validation of well-prepared and qualified work forces in EMS. We are excited for this next group to become paramedics and to do so through this accreditation process.

Zoll Case Review

At the Captains meeting we launched the opening of the Zoll Case Review Premium for Captains to playback and go over any codes you may run. Unfortunately, we keep locking out the account due to incorrect passwords being entered too many times.

This forces us to go another direction and assign each Captain a personal account. We are in the process of making this happen and will let you know once it’s done. Once we have this heavy lift completed, the expectation moving forward will be that after you work a code where CPR and/or shocks were delivered, Captains log in and use this tool to review CPR/treatment performance with the crew.

ETCO2

ETCO2 is a very valuable tool to help drive patient care. EMS has put lots of emphasis on the use of ETCO2 as it certainly supports treatment decision making. Image Trend now has validations rules for ETCO2 on call types that it should be used on.

OPS DIVISION Keeping Each Other Safe

It is becoming more and more important to make sure we are doing everything we can to help prevent transmission of COVID from person to person contact and from contaminant to person contact. As we continue winding our way through this pandemic, please consider the following habits that could help.

1

*Personnel shall maintain 6ft social distancing whenever possible*

UNIFORM AND GEAR

Wash all work-related clothes at the fire station Clean uniform boots with disinfectant after each call Do not wear uniform home Refrain from wearing bunker pants on EMS calls unless warranted Remember to decon items that aren’t laundered, such as fanny pack, hat, phone, belt, and pens Wipe down everything in your pockets (i.e. cellphone, wallet, keys) Consider using a hands-free device to avoid putting your phone near your face

THROUGHOUT THE STATION 2 The CDC, CFD, and IAFF recommend wearing a face mask in the station, rig and public Wash your hands often, for a minimum of 20 seconds Use hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% ethyl or 70% isopropanol alcohol Move or limit chairs to ensure 6ft spacing between personnel Prop interior doors open to reduce contact with surfaces, where possible Designate seating arrangements per position for the entire shift Clean recliners with approved cleaners after each use Wash bed sheets every shift change Wipe down dorm room prior to setting up your belongings

OPS DIVISION Keeping Each Other Safe Continued...

3IN THE GYM

5

Clean gym equipment before and after each use Limit number of crew members working out in the gym to ensure proper distancing Consider exercising outside for better spacing and ventilation

AT SHIFT CHANGE 4

Alter your pass-on process/location to reduce number of personnel congregating in one area Do not congregate at the kitchen table Refrain from physical contact (hugging, shaking hands or fist bumps)

IN THE KITCHEN

Cook meals that require utensils to eat, instead of your hands Limit number of people handling food, assign one or two people to cook Wear gloves and a mask when cooking Never leave a snack food on the counter (i.e. chips, donuts, finger food) Limit trips to the grocery store Bring food from home when possible

OPS DIVISION Keeping Each Other Safe Continued...

6ON THE FIREGROUND

Always wear gloves when handling tools Follow CFD procedures for post fire decon Provide 6ft spacing during rehab Clean hands before consuming food or drinks

DURING TRAINING

7

Maintain 6ft distance when proctoring and evaluating drills Clean SCBA masks after each use Ensure SCBA regulators are properly disinfected after each use Wipe down tools and equipment, after each use Complete online training on your personal device, when possible

IT'S WEIRD, WE KNOW.

Social Distancing is difficult because it feels awkward. This is especially true in the firehouse. Making changes to our normal behavior will drastically reduce the spread of illness in our stations and homes.

OPS DIVISION

#Throwback!