Following Standards

[jasonstrite]

The Standards Committee has put ALOT of hours and thought into these standards. I am not bashing any one department, but why is it so hard to follow the standards that are in place? If you have any questions about the standards, ask someone on the committee or check the FCFCA web page and look at each standard. It gets old when fire departments are counting JR. members in staffing, or not going responding and on the scene with your manpower or proper size up reports. Just a couple of examples. Hats off to the departments that are following the standards.

[jasonstrite]

My point exactly, "Tower 9 to Command 9 approaching the scene what is my assignment". The standard is First engine and Truck to Side A and everyone else is to stage 1 block in their line of approach unless given instructions by the OIC. Is this stuff really complicated?

7 Engine responding on a local with NO staffing? Maytown guys must be down this weekend because they went with 7 on the Squad into 16's area for the crash. I guess the President screened their applications and they are ok to be members. Or maybe the LT. was counting all of the junior members since they can go on the roof for chimney operations!!!

[jasonstrite]

I cannot believe 134 views and not one response. I know this topic has nothing to do with any companies banquet that gets multiple replies or doesn't anybody give a _hit about standards?

[Bill]

Sue and I were in the City of New York back in 2005. We were standing on Columbus Circle. The first loud "thump" we heard was when the taxi hit the female pedestrian dressed for the evening in black. The second loud "thump" occurred when her body hit the blacktop.

I did get to interface with the New York City Fire & E.M.S. folks. We all back-boarded the pedestrian together in exactly the same manner, were able to anticipate each others moves, knew what treatment came next and were able to work together consistently and uniformly.

Thanks to the United States Department of Transportation for the E.M.S. Act. This forms the basis for the "Standardization" for Emergency Medical Services.

The fire and rescue services lobby have resisted attempts at legislation for years to provide standardization. The manner in which this perceived control is provided today is in the allocation of grant monies. If a services does not have the trained people and does not comply with regulatory expectations they don't get money.

It's not just that they don't, "give a _hit," they just never had to.

It's all about power and control. Compliance and standardization seem to take the back seat.

P.M. me. I need to know how you are doing these days!

[BigFoot]

Currently the commonwealth is working on a series of bills that would require the FD's to be accountable to their host municipalities. It has strong support from the PFESI and commissioner.

Along with the financial accountability will also be the requirement for performance. Many of the local municipalities, not all but most, have been working hard to learn how emergency services operate through the Alliance. They are currently working with the Council of Governments to generate a county wide system for house/street numbering and communications in large scale box buildings.

It would work in everyone's best interest to participate before your municipalities get involved.

[Bill]

H'mmmm.....

bigfoot said:

Currently the commonwealth is working on a series of bills that would require the FD's to be accountable to their host municipalities. It has strong support from the PFESI and commissioner.

Interesting.....

And just what do the host municipalities know about holding the FD's accountable? For the most part, NOTHING! Nor is it fair to expect them to know and have the expertise.

The Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute is an association of emergency service organizations, emergency responders, industry, and elected officials. So much for the fox guarding the hen house.

As far as the State Fire Commissioner's Office goes, I'm sure they don't want the work load that this would require.

Now the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency might make better sense.

[HMWMDSpecialist]

Foot,
I have to ask some questions here.....I have read this over and over but it just begs to have questions asked. My questions or statements will be in red.......

Currently the commonwealth is working on a series of bills that would require the FD's to be accountable to their host municipalities For Example Would this be the same group of people that thought non-wood bats should be banned from little league baseball. Because some politician who happens to coach a baseball team felt non-wood bats were dangerous to kids. So instead of tending to critical matters that effect the commonwealth this type of person wasted tax payers money investigating a matter which no government entity should have the ability to do. But this same group is wanting to draft LAWS on subjects they no nothing about. (I know that was not a question, but it was a statement). It has strong support from the PFESI and commissioner Ahhh your kidding me right. Thats like bringing a toothpick to a gun fight. (Yes another statement. Both organizations mentioned here are toothless tigers...all roar and no bite).

Along with the financial accountability will also be the requirement for performance Requirement for performance. Please tell me when the state adopted statewide standards for emergency services? How can the state make requirements for performance when they can't even institute minimum standards for the states emergency services? Each county either has or does not have standards. To the greatest extent the county emergency services associations can put a standard to paper and all parties could agree to use said standards but if someone decides they do not want to then they just don't and there is NO enforcible action to be levied. In order to hold someone accountable for performance you have to identify what the performance objectives are. Lets say for the purpose of conversation the state implements such laws for emergency services. Based on performance what will the state have to gauge this so called performance. If there not statewide standards in place it would be impossible . Many of the local municipalities, not all but most, have been working hard to learn how emergency services operate through the Alliance Can you tell me what the alliance is training the local municipalities on? Who are the subject matter experts on emergency services for the alliance who are teaching the municipalities on how emergency services operate? . They are currently working with the Council of Governments to generate a county wide system for house/street numbering and communications in large scale box buildingsIt would seem prudent for the FCFCA to be the organization to lead this effort. As far as the communications in large scale box buildings I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Please explain this one. If my thought process is correct it would not matter what the size of the structure was as long as those operating were using the established IMS or ICS based terminology. .

It would work in everyone's best interest to participate before your municipalities get involved I say it would be in everyones best interest to know what the real expectations are here.....

Thank you for your time and I now yield my soapbox.
Les

[BigFoot]

I agree, with what you are saying and I personally feel that the state fire commissioners office is doing everything possible to bleed the volunteer fire service. I personally do not support the legislation, but I am not a lawyer or insurance company (if you watch PCN you will see that many of our state legislators are). There are no quick band aids and I am afraid the future may be somewhat bleak for some volunteer services.

We can all be proactive by giving our municipal officials the best information possible. Many do not understand how our departments operate, nor do they understand why many do what they do, for fun. (Running into burning buildings when everyone else is running out or getting out of a warm bed a 2 AM to attend to an accident victim) All we can do is educate and make every attempt to avoid the negative talk that sometimes accompany the decision making process.

Keep your elected leaders informed of the good and most importantly, let them know what they can do to help, before a crisis or other legislation that will handcuff our already tied up organizations. We can only do what we have the resources to accomplish and we all have to be willing to ask for help.

There will be many challenges and issues to be addressed in the future, but someone needs to decide the right building to put the ladder against.