The 481st meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was held in Newton on December 15, 2004 courtesy of Newton Fire Chief Joseph LaCroix. Our host was Newton Fire Captain Mark Roche. Westwood Fire Lieutenant Billy Cannata, Jr. and Sharon Firefighter John McLean presented the program on Handling Autism Emergencies.
Lt. Cannata has a fourteen-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism when he was around two years of age. The program was presented in collaboration with the South Norfolk County Association for Retarded Citizens (SNCARC) and Family Autism Center (FAC). The program is funded by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Dedham Institution of Savings Foundation. The program was developed by the Autism Alliance of Metro West, Inc., an organization Cannata and others helped organize.
“The DA wanted to get this out to all police department and fire departments in the county and elsewhere,” said Cannata. The goal of the program is two-fold: to provide and overview of the program and to identify symptoms. There are many sides of autism and the motion picture “Rain Man”, which starred Dustin Hoffman shows only a “single side.” Autism is not a disease or a mental illness. It is a developmental disability affecting the brain. Autism is a neurological disorder effecting over 1 million people in the U.S.
Autism Statistics
Autism is growing at a rate of 10 – 17% each year in Massachusetts. In 1993, there were 550 people diagnosed with autism. In 2003, there were 4007. In Norfolk County eight years ago, had seventy members of the Family Autism Center (FAC). They now have 550 families. The biggest problem according to Lt. Cannata is that there is “no known cure.” There are a lot of theories, but “nothing concrete.” Some researchers are looking at Preservative Thimerosal as a possible link. This is found in the DTP vaccination. Children usually receive this at a very young age.
NFL and former Boston College quarterback and Natick, Massachusetts native Doug Flutie has a son with autism. According to Cannata, Flutie thinks this DTP vaccination caused his son’s autism. Before that, according to Flutie says of his son, “he was fine.”
The vaccination is mercury-based and can cause brain poisoning, making this kind of a claim is very controversial. Pharmaceutical companies will fight the matter legally if anyone brings the issue up.
Categories of Autism
1. Autism
2. Aspergers Syndrome
3. Childhood Degenerative Disorder
4. Retts Syndrome
5. Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
Of PDD, Cannata said, “this is the big one.” Each category varies from mild to sever e and from “high functioning” to “low functioning.”
Autism and the First Responder
Safety – the first priority
The following are example of autism patients who died as a result of
incidents involving first responders:
o Pennsylvania – child dies in house fire after
retreating back in house to “safe place”
o Florida – Mall shopper dies after being maced
by police and forcibly restrained
o Texas – Group home resident shot by police
o Massachusetts – Twenty-one year old man arrested
at mall after he was approached by a teenager who asked him to buy cigarettes
escalated when police mistakenly thought he was
on drugs or alcohol
In your community, you should know who the people with autism are. Encourage parents to discuss the condition with firefighters/EMT’s and police.
Largest Challenge
o Communication
o Individuals struggle to interact
o Picture cards developed to aid communication by
Mayer Johnson, Inc.
o Problems with rescue
a. Forced entry due to locks inside and out
b. Barred or nailed windows
c. Fence with locked gates
d. Bolt risk after rescue (Will run away)
Condition at home
o Bed on floor
o Lack of furniture – for their own protection
o Reportable conditions (DSS?)
Patient Care
o Hypothermia – under developed muscles
o High threshold of pain
o Seizure disorders
o Asthma
o Heart condition
o Medications
o Blanket roll – wrap patient up in blanket’ makes
them feel “snug”.
Handling Patients
o Give them space
o Let them “stim” – thresh, flap (keeps them calm)
o Patient might be aggressive – biting, punching,
hair pulls, etc.
o Wear turn-out coat or heavy jacket for protection
Lt. Cannata then shoed the members a video tape entitled “Autism Asberger
Syndrome, which was developed in Florida for training first responders
on how to handle such cases.
New Business:
None
Old Business:
Nothing to report
Bills paid January 2005
Beginning Balances for 1/2004
Jan 05 Newsletter
$105.00 Mike
Checking $
646.77
Savings $ 1,669.52
Dec Coffee & Danish $55.00 Mark
Total
$ 2,316.29
Total
$160.00
50/50 Raffle = Collected $
Winner = $
Deposit from 50/50 Raffle = $
Owed to treasurer for Mailings $ 26.00 - thru January
1, 2005
Labels $ 10.00
$ 36.00
Total members = 104
Mailings
Dues paid thru 2006 = 2
Dues paid thru 2005 = 26
E-Mail - 23 Home
- 70
Dues paid thru 2004 = 76
Work - 11
81
Balances as of 01/01/05
Membership Totals
Checking 172.36
73 - Active - 27 Retired - 4 Associate
Savings 1,327.88
Total
$1,500.24
Thank You for the calls & cards of condolences in the recent loss of my mother, words just cannot describe the feeling and sometimes THANK YOU is just not enough.
Be Safe
David
Respectfully submitted 1/1/2005
David M. Jardin
MIFDI Treasurer
Fire Chief – Stoughton
The 482nd meeting of M.I.F.D.I. will be hosted by the Merrimac Fire Department courtesy of Chief Ralph W. Spencer. The meeting will be held in the Hose Co #1 training / meeting room at Merrimac Fire Headquarters, 16 East Main Street, Merrimac, Mass on Wednesday, January 26th, 2005.
Our speaker will be Amesbury Fire Chief & long time MIFDI member Bill Shute. Chief Shute will speak on firefighter safety and discuss the various confined space rescue equipment his department uses for various emergency situations.
DIRECTIONS:
From Rte 495 in either North or South directions, take exit
53, the Broad Street exit. Follow Broad Street north to the end, and
the Fire Station will be directly in front of you. Parking is to the left
side and rear of the building. Please, no
parking on the apparatus apron area in the front of the station.
SCHEDULE:
0900 Coffee & Pastry
1000 Program presentation
1130 Business Meeting
1200 Lunch (on site)
LUNCH:
As in the past, lunch will be provided on site for a cost of $10.00
per person. There will be sandwiches and other refreshments available.
CANCELLATIONS:
During the winter months or hurricane season,
check the MIFDI website for cancellations @ www.mifdi.org
As we begin the 46th year of MIFDI, let me begin by thanking
all of you for your confidence by allowing me to serve as your President.
When I attended my first meeting of MIFDI as a guest of Past President
Richard Hay around 20 years ago, I immediately recognized the benifit of
this organization by witnessing some of the most dedicated fire service
professionals joined as a group. The networking alone with so many skilled
people proved as an advantage of belonging to this great establishment.
As President, I intend to continue building the membership
as the previous presidents have strived to do. After Prop. 2 1/2, many
departments sacrificed training officers in an effort to maintain suppression
forces. Another apparent reduction with membership is that there is a high
turnover rate in the training divisions of the fire service due to many
"junior" officers being assigned to training as a condition of promotion
until a spot in a company opens up and the next guy moves in. With the
institution of 24 hour shifts and the many demands placed in the home life,
there is little incentive for long term "day people". We all need to work
on spreading the word about MIFDI to not only the new training officers
that we know of in the many departments across the Commonwealth, but also
let it be known that one does not have to be a training officer to join,
the only requirement is to have an interest in improving the safety and
quality of the fire service.
Also on my agenda will be to apply for O.E.M.S. credits
anytime a training topic may justify qualifying for credit. This will not
only benifit our members who are EMT's, it may also attract more guests
to attend with an incentive to join. Finally, I will continue to work with
Vice President Brian Belliveau and the Board of Directors to provide quality
and interesting training topics held at various fire related locations
throughout the Commonwealth allowing our membership to gain knowledge from
not only the topic, but also providing a prospective of how other departments
do things.
In closing, I want to thank Past President Michael McLeieer
for his professional leadership during the past two years. I think all
would agree that Michael has done a superb job as MIFDI President. I also
want to thank Scott Maker for his endeavor with the MIFDI Bulletin. Through
Scott's efforts, what was once just a "Meeting Notice", is now a professional
fire service publication. Our Treasurer David Jardin does a great job watching
every penny received and spent allowing our members to get the most from
their dues. Secretary Tom Bogart methodically records every meeting with
such accuracy, we can now maintain a precise record of all meetings for
reference. Last but not least, thanks to the Board of Directors for providing
constant input and support for a strong foundation. This organization is
truly blessed with a great leadership team to carry on the long tradition
of MIFDI well into the future.
Stay safe
Mark
January 16, 2005, 17th Annual Apparatus Specification Symposium Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, FL - Contact: www.fdsoa.org
January 26-28, 2005, Suppression & Detection Research Symposium Orlando, FL. Contact: www.nfpa.org
January 31-February 4, 2005, Firehouse World Exposition & Conference San Diego Convention Center. Contact: www.firehouseworld.com
February 9-12, 2005, SPAAMFAA 2005 Winter Meeting Houston, Texas. Contact: www.texasspaamfaa.org
February 10, 2005, Firefighter 2005 MDA Ski Muster Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, MA. Contact: MDA 508-870-1687
February 11, 2005, DFS/MFA Firefighter Recruit Graduation (New location for the ceremony to be announced)
March 19, 2005, Statewide Exam for Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, District Chief GOOD LUCK!
April 11-16, 2005, FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference) 2005, Indianapolis, IN - Contact: www.fdic.org
April 16, 2005,
Honor
Guard Competition Indianapolis, IN - Contact: 508-881-3543
On Sunday, November 21, 2004, the Windsor Locks, CT Fire Department
responded to a reported car fire. Upon arrival the fire was confined to
the engine compartment. While gaining access to the engine compartment,
one of my firefighters had just released the hood safety latch when the
hood shock strut exploded and fired into the firefighter, striking him
in his upper thigh and piercing completely through his leg and bunker pants
with the aproximate 18 inch long strut. He is home recuperating and we
will not know how extensive his injury is for a while. I wish to make other
departments mindful that these struts are gas filled and are common on
General Motors products, in particular Buick's that I am aware of. In my
30 plus years on the department this is the first time I had ever heard
of one of these gas filled struts exploding like this. The fire and accident
remain under investigation. Please pass this along to other firefighters
to be aware of the potential for these shocks to fail when exposed to fire.
I am just grateful that this accident did not have a worse outcome. A picture
of the car in question is on the Department's website @ www.wlfd.com.
NATIONAL L.O.D.D.
Name
Department Date
Cause
Age
Fire Marshal Roger Allard Grand Forks, ND
11-29-04 Cancer
65
EMT Molly Algren
Sitka VFD, AK 11-30-04
Vehicle Accident 47
Chief James L. Rogers Claxton,
GA
12-13-04 Short Illness
55
F.F. Jackson H. Gerhart Chambersburg, PA
12-05-04 Head Injury
65
F.F. Michael R. Dunlap Hydetown VFD,
PA 12-14-04 Heart
47
F.F. Herbert C. Caldwell Etters VFC, PA
12-17-04 Heart
49
F.F. Nito R. Guajardo Baytown,
TX
12-20-04 Smoke Inhalation
24
F.F. Theodore Myhre
Bishop Hill, IL
12-21-04 Struck by Vehicle
73
Chief Jason T. Rowe
Elkhorn City, KY 12-23-04
Struck by Object 30
F.F. John Stoudt
Summit Hill, PA 12-25-04
Heart
67
F.F.O.P. Jared Moore Basehor,
KS
12-29-04 Vehicle Accident
19
MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE
MIFDI
Attn: David Jardin,
Treasurer If
you have not already done so, it's time to renew your dues.
Due Jan. 1st.
52 Willow Street
Stoughton, MA
02072-1027
*Dues are $25.00 per year for Active Members - Please review your bulletin label for the date your dues will expire.
*$100.00 per year for Associate members (which includes a 1/4 page of advertising in the MIFDI Bulletin and on the MIFDI website).
*Retired members
dues are $12.50 for one calendar year (January 1 through December 31).
This forum is an extension of the Guest
Book on the MIFDI Web-site, and provides our members a way to ask
questions and get answers about problems encountered in the Fire and EMS
service. If you would like to reply to a question, pose your own question
or submit an article for publication in the MIFDI bulletin, but have no
internet capabilities, you may do so in writing to: Michael McLeieer,
President - MIFDI, PO Box 507, Merrimac, MA 01860-0510. Fax # (877)
327-4353. Faxing or e-mailing of articles is preferred. Please
e-mail articles in MS Word format to michael.mcLeieer@merrimacfire.com
#
DATE
LOCATION
TOPIC
482 - January 26, 2005:
Merrimac
"FF Safety, Survival & Rescue"
483 - February 23, 2005: Lynn TBA
484 - March 23, 2005: Stow - MFA/DFS TBA
485 - April 27, 2005:
Billerica
TBA
CANCELLATIONS: During the
winter months or hurricane season, please check the MIFDI website for severe
weather cancellations at www.mifdi.org.