The 477th meeting of MIFDI was held in Wakefield on Wednesday, June 16, 2004.  Wakefield Fire Chief David Parr welcomed the group and offered a tour of their new Public Safety Building.  President McLeieer presented to the members a debrief of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) he attended in March/April in Indianapolis.  He passed out CD’s of the programs he attended, including Healthcare Firefighting: Tactics and Strategy.

David Hood, FPE on April 28, 2004 at FDIC, presented the program. Case scenarios were included in which it was emphasized that health care facility fires are the exception “not the rule.”  Most fires occur in one and two family dwellings.  Preplanning was stressed as the best way to deal with fire in health care facilities.

Another program President McLeieer attended was entitled Instructor To The Second Power, which was presented by MIFDI member and Nantucket Fire Chief Everett Pierce along with Mike Chiarmaonte.  The presentation outlined a number of “Basic Mistakes” fire instructors can make and offered a “Survival Guide” as a way to deal with these common mistakes, particularly as it pertains to stress and change.  The course pointed out the benefits of the “team teaching” concept.

Another CD handed out to the members by President McLeieer was a CD on Props and Training Aids.  That CD included ways to design and make various training props and other aids to help the training officers present different drills.  Michael promised our members he would “burn” other copies of a couple other CD’s as soon as he receives them from FDIC.

New Business:

President McLeieer read a letter from MIFDI Treasurer Chief Jardin of Stoughton FD asking for our support of the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC).  PMC is a charity bicycle race that benefits cancer research.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of PMC and will start in Sturbridge, MA on the weekend of August 6, 2004.  Chief Jardin is riding the PMC and is asking for pledges for his ride. Donations have to be received by September. Please contact him at 781-344-3170 x 202.

Motion:  (Made by 2nd V.P. Mark Roche) MIFDI donate a sum not to exceed $50.00 to PMC.  Approved

Old Business:
None

                                                                       Bills paid
Beginning Balances for 1/2004                            Sept 04 Newsletter  $105.00 Mike
Checking       $    646.77                                   July 04 May & June $  69.98 Mike
Savings          $ 1,669.52                                    Total                      $173.98
Total             $ 2,316.29

50/50 Raffle = Collected $
Winner =
Deposit from 50/50 Raffle = $
 
 

MIFDI Stickers & Pens Cost   $865.00                 MIFDI Clothing collected $ 364.00
               Collected                  $  98.00                                         purchased $ 354.00
 
 

Owed to treasurer for Mailings  $  22.00- thru September 1, 2004 - includes clothing mailings
                              Labels         $  10.00
                                                $   32.00
 

Total members = 139                                                              Mailings
     Dues paid thru 2005 = 5                                     E-Mail - 33         Home - 85
     Dues paid thru 2004 = 87                                                              Work - 21
     Dues paid thru 2003 = 46                                                                        106
 

Balances as of 8/25/04                                   Membership Totals
Checking          122.45                                   105 - Active - 29 Retired - 5 Associate
Savings          1,675.10
Total            $1,797.55
 

Thank you for the support for the 192 mile Pan Mass Challenge bike ride with your help, I was able to raise $4,200.00
 

Respectfully submitted   8/25/2004
David M. Jardin
MIFDI Treasurer
Fire Chief – Stoughton

Thank you to the membership for your support.

• Deputy Marshal Leonard gave a legislative update on MFA.  Budget is not out yet.
• MFA will ask for $330 K increase ($290K was cut last year).  MFTC will hold a Summer Meeting when the budget figures are released.
• Burn Building – DCAM will provide an engineer and will control the project.  The money is “on hold - nothing happening” on it right now.
• Wayne Delaney, Code Compliance Officer for the OSFM has resigned to become the Assistant Fire Chief in Lexington.
• Communication System – State is attempting to secure a 154 channel for all FD’s across the state to communicate with each other.
• MFTC is considering increasing the size of recruit classes to 60-65.  The Council does not want to run 2 classes at once anymore.  MFA claims it is difficult to get the necessary number of instructors and other resources needed to run two classes simultaneously.  The last MFA class - # 163 – started with 44 and dropped down to 36.  Class #164 stared last Monday and lost 2 recruits already.
• Training of Demand has been “very well accepted.”
• Western Massachusetts now has 2 liaisons to the area FDs to MFA/MFTC based in Northampton.  MFTC has determined the need especially to      Firefighter I/II + Program.  FF I/II+ is a recruit program for call and volunteer firefighters.
• Presently there are 44 recruit waivers currently.  There are 158 “real names” on list.
• Summer meeting – discuss Director and Programs Manager posts.  Director’s position: 44 applied – 20 had no experience – 1st round down to 8 – then 5 – now 3.  Interim Director Dick Farrah interviewed on June 8th.
• Retreat in October at Cape Cod

 

Marshal Coan will present the program.  He will speak about the challenges of firefighters in a post 911 world and his vision.

SCHEDULE:
0900 Coffee & pastry, 0945 Board of Directors meeting, 1000 Program Presentation
1130 Business meeting, 1200 Lunch (On site).

From Rte 128/I-95: Take Rt. 20 west to Rte 27 in Wayland. Turn right onto Rte 27 and continue until Rte 27 makes a right towards Maynard. DO NOT TURN RIGHT,  continue straight for aprox. 3 miles and the Academy will be on the right.

From Rte 495 North: Take Rte 85 (Exit 25) towards Hudson. At the traffic light, turn left onto Rte 85. Turn right onto Broad St. (First traffic light), and at the second traffic light, turn right onto Rte 62. Continue straight until Rte 62 takes a left toward Stow.  DO NOT TURN LEFT, continue straight for aprox 4 miles and the Academy will be on your left.

From Rt.495 South: Take Rte 62 (Exit 26) into Hudson Center. Continue halfway around the rotary and continue on Rte 62 east. Continue straight until Rte 62 turns left towards Stow. DO NOT TURN LEFT, continue straight for aprox 4 miles and the Academy will be on your left.

NOTE: There will be Green signs with gold MFA symbols to help point the way.

CANCELLATIONS:
During the winter months or hurricane season, check the MIFDI website for cancellations @ www.mifdi.org

Our membership continues to grow and it’s good to see new and old faces attending the monthly meetings.  By continuing to exchange ideas for better ways to conduct our training drills, and networking with one another, we will continue to be prepared to handle any emergency situation we encounter.  Remember to participate often in Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and National Fire Academy courses.  These courses will continue to keep our skills sharp and keep us informed of the latest training techniques available.

If you are looking for an additional grant opportunity, FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program is now available online at:

This grant program runs from September 1st through September 30th, 2004 ending at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time.   The goal of the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program is to provide assistance to State, regional, national or local organizations to address the issues of fire prevention and firefighter safety with an emphasis on the prevention of injury to children. FEMA’s primary goal is to address at risk target groups and USFA identified goals. Be advised - an advantage will be given to applicants whose goal is the prevention of injury to children due to the emphasis placed on this in the authorizing legislation.

Finally, we are always looking for hosting sites and speakers for upcoming MIFDI meetings in 2005.  If you or your department is interested in hosting a meeting or have a speaker in mind for an interesting topic, please don’t hesitate to contact either Mark Roche or me.

Remember, this is your organization.  Please let the Officers or Board of Directors know if there is anything we can do for you.

Stay safe,

Michael
 

P.S.  Please take a moment to remember our fallen FDNY brothers on September 11th.

September 7, 2004, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Recruit Class # 165 begins.

September 10, 2004, Greenwood Fire Apparatus Open House 2004 530 John Dietsch Boulevard, North Attleboro 10:00am - 2:00pm

September 18, 2004, 17th Annual IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Contact www.iaff.org.

September 25, 2004, Scott Firefighter Challenge, South Portland, ME.  Contact www.firefighter-challenge.com.

September 27 & 28th, 2004 - 10th Annual S.A.F.E. Conference, Westford Regency Inn & Conference Center, Rte. 110, Westford, MA - Contact Jennifer Mieth @ DFS.

October 1-3, 2004, Worcester Firefighter Memorial Safety & Survival Seminar.  Contact www.worcesterfiretraining.com

October 3, 2004, Fire Prevention Parade & Firematic Flea Market.  Downtown Manchester NH @ 12:00noon

October 3-9, 2004, NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK.  This years campaign: "Test Your Smoke Alarms"

October 3, 2004, Denis Leary 5th Annual Celebrity Hat Trick Hockey Game.  Proceeds to benefit The Denis Leary Firefighters Foundation
Fleet Center, Boston @ 3pm. Contact www.bostonbruins.com

October 25-30, 2004, FDIC EAST 2004, Atlantic City Convention Center.  Contact www.FDICEAST.com

October 27-31, 2004, FDSOA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.  Contact www.fdsoa.org

November 14-17, 2004N.F.P.A. Fall Education Conference, Miami Beach, FL.  "Preparedness & Protection In A Hazardous World"
Contact www.nfpa.org

November 19, 2004, Mass Fire Academy Recruit Class #165 Graduation.  DFS/MFA Fire Station @ 1:30 pm

During the past summer, an increase in threats of Hepatitis A cases have occurred. These incidents have all precipitated from exposures at restaurants and food handling facilities. Hepatitis A is a viral disease which causes the liver to swell. Symptoms include; fatigue, jaundice, fever, loss of appetite, and nausea. The disease generally lasts a week or two but can persist for months.
Hepatitis A is spread through contact with stool due to poor hygiene by "high-risk" populations. This tells me that there are some dirty people out there handling food! Restaurant managers MUST insist that employees who handle food engage in proper hygiene habits including frequent hand washing and wearing gloves.
It reminds me of an episode of the TV series Seinfeld in which the star Jerry  encountered a restaurant owner in the bathroom stepping out of a stall and telling Jerry that he would "personally cook his meal" while exiting, never washing his hands. In all fairness to the restaurant industry, this is not the common behavior of most professional chefs, however, there are isolated cases of poor hygiene in kitchens that we will never know of until we get sick.
The other types of Viral Hepatitis, are Hepatitis B which is less common than Hepatitis A, but usually MORE severe. It is spread by exposure to infected blood or body fluids. Hepatitis B can be 100 times more contagious than the AIDS virus.  Complications include; severe liver infection, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Hepatitis C is the MOST serious of the three and primarily spread through exposure to infected blood. Complications also include; severe liver infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
So how does this affect the fire service? As firefighters respond to an increasingly number of medical calls each year, the term "universal precautions" is not just an EMS buzz word but a necessary mandate for all emergency personnel. It is important to change gloves frequently each time they get contaminated during an incident to avoid contaminating other equipment. Hepatitis B is a hardy virus and found to live in dried blood for many days. It is vital to clean all contaminated equipment after each incident with spray bottles of a bleach/water solution. A tragic reminder of the hepatitis virus hazard hit home with all of us when on November 2, 2003, Cambridge Fire Lieutenant Barry Bennett lost a 16 year battle with liver disease after receiving a needlestick injury while treating a "high risk" patient. For sixteen years, Lt. Bennett courageously fought this dreadful disease received in the  performance of his duty as a life-saving professional. This injury could have, and can happen to any one of us.
The most important thing that we can do for ourselves and our members is to get vaccinated. Vaccines are available to immunize against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, there is still no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C.
Federal grants are available for a Firefighters' Hepatitis program by checking the FEMA website @  www.usfa.fema.gov.

Remember, stay safe and Bon appetite!

• The Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors regrets to report the death of Everett Fire Captain Thomas J. Duggan, active member, Engine Co. 1.  Capt. Duggan died suddenly from a heart attack on June 19, 2004 at age 54.  Our condolences are offered to his wife Debra, and his friends and colleagues of the Everett F.D. May he rest in peace.
• The officers and members of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors offer our condolences to MIFDI member William Shute, Chief of the Amesbury Fire Department on the passing of his father Clifford W. Shute on July 24, 2004. A donation has been made by MIFDI in Mr. Shute's memory to the Shriners Children's Hospital. May he rest in peace.

• Los Angeles Fire Department Probationary Firefighter Jaime L. Foster, a three-month rookie of Ladder Co. 73, was killed on August 14, 2004 after an apparent fall from the tailboard of Engine Co. 273 while backing out of a street onto a another street and run over by the rig. F.F.O.P. Foster is the first female to die in the line-of-duty in the 118-year history of the L.A.F.D. May she rest in peace.
• Philadelphia Fire Captain John Taylor and Firefighter Rey Rubio, both of Engine Co. 28, died on August 20, 2004 while fighting a blaze in the basement of a home with an illegal marijuana growing operation. May they both rest in peace.

• Robert Bartlett - Hopkinton Fire Department
• Kenneth Burnham - Lynnfield Fire Department

• Congratulations to MIFDI member John Burke on his appointment as Assistant Chief of the Framingham Fire Department. Chief Burke formerly served as Chief of the Lincoln Fire Department for the past two years and for five years prior served as Chief of Sherborn Fire & Rescue. The officers and members of The Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors wish Assistant Chief Burke well in his new position.
• Congratulations to Chief Robert DiPoli of the Needham Fire Department on his   election as President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs in August. Chief    DiPoli has been chief for the past 15 of his 33 years on the Needham F.D. As President of the IAFF, DiPoli will lead a network of over 12,000 fire service leaders, testifying before Congress and working with the White House on issues of Homeland Security. He plans to focus on issues that insure firefighters efforts are adequately funded and that they have the necessary training and equipment. The officers and members of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors wish President DiPoli great success in his new position and offer our full support with any issues  involving training and safety for firefighters.
• Congratulations to MIFDI’s secretary, Chief David M. Jardin, for completing 192 miles in the Pan-Mass Challenge bike race, collecting $4,200.00! Way to go David!

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 -

*$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
478 - SEPTEMBER 22, 2004:  MFA/DFS, Stow - Room 109 - Our Speaker will be State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan "Update from the Marshal"

479 - OCTOBER 27, 2004:      Charlestown   "MBTA Bus Emergencies"

480 - NOVEMBER 17, 2004:   Brookline     "Homeland Security Training"

481 - December 15, 2004:         Newton       TBA
 

CANCELLATIONS:  During the winter months or hurricane season, please check the MIFDI website for severe weather cancellations at www.mifdi.org.