The 480th meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was held on Wednesday November 17, 2004 at the Wayland Public Safety Facility. Wayland Fire Chief Robert Loomer was our host. Chief Loomer welcomed MIFDI members to the one-year-old $8 million building. Chief Loomer explained that the facility was eleven years in the making, but is finally a reality. He said the Wayland FD is comprised of twenty-four full-time members and ten call firefighters. Wayland is served by two stations, Headquarters and the Cochituate Station. Loomer is the fifth full-time fire chief in the history of the Wayland Fire Dept.
The program was provided by Lieutenant Colonel William Tyminski of the Massachusetts National Guard. Lt. Col. Tyminski is the Public Information Officer of the National Guard’s Environmental Readiness Center at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) on Cape Cod. Tyminski presented the plan to create a New England Regional Center for Homeland Defense/Homeland Security (HLD/HLS) Training Center. The new training center would be located at the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The Massachusetts National Guard has asked the federal government to conduct a feasibility study to build such a facility and thus secure funding from the U.S. Congress. This facility would have tremendous potential to the fire service in terms of training opportunities in the future.
He explained the difference between Homeland Defense and Homeland Security. Homeland Defense is defense of the United States from a threat from outside the U.S. – primarily military defense (some civilian support). Homeland Security is defense of the United States from within the U.S. – primarily civilian (some military support). Naturally, Homeland Security involves the fire service, particularly as it relates to hazardous materials. “The fire service has the greatest expertise in HazMat,” said Tyminski. Tyminski’s presentation included the following points:
What: Feasibility Study
· $1 million in funding to study feasibility of creating a New
England Regional Center fro HLD/HLS Training Center at the MMR
· Concept championed by U.S. Representative Delahunt whose district
includes Cape Cod and the Adjunct General
· The study was initiated on June 2, 2003 with study delivery
due on March 31, 2004
· Focus on training requirement’s and facilities to support
training
Where: MMR
· An established joint military base
· 20 thousand acres for HLD/HLS training exercises
· Easily accessible by rail service, airport, and sea
· Central to all Coast Guard activities in New England
· Conveniently located to provide coverage for major industrial
centers in New England
The Result ($22M)
· A regional center id the right organizational concept
· The MMR is the best location
· Cost effective to have regional approach
Two-phase approach
· Phase I – continue training, plus joint military/civilian exercises
· Phase II – facilities to focus on urban operations
o Joint operation – Urban Training Center
o Indoor small arms firing range and shoot house
· Facility modeled after Randall’s Island facility in New York
City
Second Phase
· Next steps – Indoor Small Arms Training
Joint Ops Urban Training Center
· Third Phase – after 2010
After the presentation, Tyminski took questions from the members.
He explained that this project is very ambitious, but he held out much
hope for it to come to fruition. After that,
Chief Loomer gave members a tour of their new station. MIFDI members
were very impressed with the building and all of its amenities.
New Business:
President McLeieer opened the meeting. He brought up FDIC 2005.
A motion was made to appropriate the same amount of money ($800.00) as
last year for 2005. This amount typically includes the conference
fee and lodging. Member pays for transportation and meals, etc.
The motion was approved
Motion: President McLeieer to attend FDIC – Approved
Motion: Deputy Chief Mort Shurtleff (Retired): Eliminate the 2nd Vice President’s position and elect one vice president only. Motion passed pending By-Law change.
Elections: The following members were voted into office
President – Captain Mark Roche, Newton, FD
Vice-president – Captain Brian Belliveau, Fitchburg FD
Secretary - Lieutenant Thomas Bogart, Lynn FD
Treasurer – Chief David Jardin, Stoughton FD
Board of Directors – Term Expires 2005 - Lieutenant George Churchill
(Retired),
Brockton FD; Lieutenant Kevin Breen, Swampscott FD; Firefighter Barry
Aptt, Gloucester FD
Board of Directors – Term to expire 2006 - Assistant Chief Robert MacKendrick
(Retired), Lynnfield FD; Chief Richard Gomes, Norton FD; Deputy John
Sullivan President, Billerica FD; Michael McLeieer (Recent Past President),
Merrimac FD
Upcoming Meetings
December 15, 2004 – Newton – Handling Autism Emergencies
January 26,2005 – Merrimac – Trench Rescue (Amesbury
Chief Bill Shute)
February 23, 2005 – Lynn – TBA
March 23, 2005 – Mass Fire Academy, Stow – TBA
April 27, 2005 – TBA
May 25, 2005 – TBA
June 22, 2005 - TBA
Old Business:
None
Bills paid
Beginning Balances for 1/2004
Dec 04 Newsletter $105.00 Mike
Checking $
646.77
Pens
$128.45 National Pen
Savings $
1,669.52
FDIC 2005
$350.00 Mike
Total
$ 2,316.29
Web Page
$111.70 Mike
Total
$695.15
50/50 Raffle = Collected $
SEE COMMENTS BELOW
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 $ 25.00 - thru December
1, 2004 - includes clothing mailings
Labels $ 10.00
$ 35.00
Total members = 103
Mailings
Dues paid thru 2006 = 2
Dues paid thru 2005 = 12
E-Mail - 22 Home
- 70
Dues paid thru 2004 = 89
Work - 11
81
Balances as of 12/01/04
Membership Totals
Checking 107.36
72 - Active - 27 Retired - 4 Associate
Savings 1,327.21
Total
$1,434.57
Respectfully submitted 12/01/2004
David M. Jardin
MIFDI Treasurer
Fire Chief – Stoughton
Thank you to the membership for your support.
The 481st meeting of M.I.F.D.I. will be hosted by the Newton Fire Department courtesy of Chief Joseph LaCroix. The meeting will be held in the training room at Newton Station 4, 195 Crafts St., corner of Watertown St. (Rt.16) on on Wednesday, December 15th, 2004.
(NOTE: This is the 3rd Wednesday to avoid Christmas week).
The training program will be an overview of autism, its characteristics, and suggestions for the best approach methods in an emergency situation.Written specifically for fire, police, and emergency personnel, this training session consists of an interactive presentation, visual aides and video. The presentation will be provided by Lt. William A. Cannata, Jr., of the Westwood Fire Department and parent of an autistic child. This interesting presentation is also O.E.M.S. approved for continuing education credits for those members who are EMT's.
DIRECTIONS:
The City of Newton is located in Middlesex County, 8 miles west of
Boston.
From Rt.128 (I 95), take Exit 21. Follow Rt.16 east aprox 2 miles. NOTE: after you pass the Police Station and Court House, stay in the LEFT lane as Rt.16 bears left onto Watertown St. at that point. Continue west on Watertown St. aprox 1 mile and the Fire House will be on your left. There is parking in the rear of the station as well as in the School Administration parking lot diagonally across from the station.
From the Mass Pike (I 90), Take Exit 17 in Newton Corner onto Washington St. Follow Washington St. WEST aprox 1 mile to Crafts St. (Whole Foods Market on corner). Turn right on Crafts St. to 1st. traffic light and the Fire Station is on the corner.
SCHEDULE:
0900 Coffee & Pastry
1000 Program presentation
1130 Business Meeting
1200 Lunch.
LUNCH:
Keeping with our holiday tradition, our meeting will adjourn to Yerardi's
Restaurant, 418 Watertown St., a short walk or drive from the station.
(This is the same location as the December 2004 meeting). We hope to see
everyone there.
CANCELLATIONS:
During the winter months or hurricane season,
check the MIFDI website for cancellations @ www.mifdi.org
As your webmaster, I plan to continue to add pictures from the past
MIFDI meetings and events to the website as well as other vital information
for all to view. We are always looking at ways to make your membership
more enjoyable and if there is a way that the website can fulfill this
need, please let me know.
I would like to also thank the Department of Fire Services and State
Fire Marshal Stephen Coan as well as the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
for their continued support of MIFDI.
In closing, I appreciate the support of my brothers. Please give your continued support to our new President, Captain Mark Roche so he may continue the traditions of this organization as well as lead us through these ever changing times.
Stay safe,
Michael
PLANNING AHEAD:
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
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
Access Cardio Systems. Inc. of Concord Mass., initiated a voluntary recall of all of its Automated External Defibrillators (AED's). Additionally, for reasons beyond its control, the company is no longer doing business.
Two potential problems identified with certain AED's that warrant immediate attention:
1) Potential Failure of the Shock Delivery Circuit:
The Company is aware if a situation involving certain
of its AED's in which the device may experience a "catastrophic failure"
of the shock delivery circuit. The
Company's investigation indicates to date that this failure mode is restricted
to a specific batch of one device component. To date, the company has received
11 complaints of this occurrence in
devices containing the component shown to be associated with this failure
mode. Although the investigation of this issue is still
ongoing, the Company has determined that AED's with the following serial
numbers may have this problem: 075690-077140.
2) Potential of the AED to Turn on Unexpectedly:
The company is aware of a situation involving certain
of its AED's in which the "ON/OFF" button of the device may become inoperative
after the device turns on unexpectedly. The company’s
investigation indicates to date that this failure mode is related to a
specific manufacturer of a specific device component. To date, the Company
has received 33 complaints of this occurrence in devices containing the
component, none of which have involved a patient treatment. If this potential
problem occurs, the device may not defibrillate. Although the investigation
of this issue is still ongoing, the company has determined that AED's with
the following serial numbers may have this problem: 075180-084760.
USERS ARE ADVISED TO IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE USE OF AND TO REMOVE FROM SERVICE ACCESS CARDIOSYSTEMS AED DEVICES WITH THOSE SERIAL NUMBERS LISTED.
The company discontinued manufacturing and marketing ALL models of its AED's and discontinued supporting its AED's that are currently in service. The company cannot accept orders for new AED's, for consumable components (specifically disposable battery packs and electrode sets) used with its AED's, and cannot service, repair or answer technical questions for existing AED's. For units not affected by the recall, Access Cardiosystems is no longer accepting orders for disposable parts used with its AED's. Therefore, when your supply of disposable parts is depleted, immediately discontinue use of and remove from service all of the Company's AED's that you have in your possession. Customers should consider replacing the AED's as soon as possible.
To obtain the most updated information, visit the Company's website
at www.accesscardiosystems.com.
NOVEMBER NATIONAL L.O.D.D.
Name Department Date Cause Age
A.C. Lewis McNally Newmanstown, PA 11-1-04 Heart 42
F.F. Donald Carlson Ute, IA 11-2-04 Heart 60
Lt. Charlie Webb Mayking, KY 11-6-04 Heart 63
Lt. Donald Hekkers Colorado Springs, CO 11-11-04 Cancer 54
Capt. Edward Schnauss Morrison, MO 11-13-04 Heart 54
B.C. Donald Kersting Wichita, KS 11-15-04 Sudden 47
F.F. Roland Levesque Lewiston, ME 11-18-04 Heart 47
Capt. Robert Campbell Toronto, Ontario 11/23/04 Leukema 64
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
481 - December 15, 2004:
Newton
Autism
482 - January 26, 2005: Merrimac "FF Safety, Survival & Rescue"
483 - February, 2005: Lynn TBA
484 - March, 2005:
Stow - MFA/DFS
TBA
CANCELLATIONS: During the
winter months or hurricane season, please check the MIFDI website for severe
weather cancellations at www.mifdi.org.