Texas Fire Chief - Fall/Winter 2007 - (Page 31)

The strength of the CTBS course lies with personal testimony from line-of-duty-death survivors. Kathy Hedrick, whose son was killed battling a house fire, is featured throughout the program. An initial offering of the CTBS program was given in Dallas in March, with opening presentations given by John and Marie Collins, the parents of Brian Collins, who was killed along with Phillip Dean and Gary Sanders while battling a church fire in Lake Worth in 1999. The purpose of having survivors speak is to show how families are changed forever following a line-ofduty death or catastrophic injury and to provide firefighters with viewpoints they might not otherwise receive. For example, anecdotal dinnertable stories at the firehouse detail close calls as exciting events and part of the reason firefighters get into the fire service. But what may be exciting to the firefighter is frightening to the family. Chances firefighters may take while responding to an emergency or by failing to maintain physical fitness are taken in stride by the firefighter, but when something goes wrong, it has horrific results for the family, department and community. An introductory CTBS train the trainer (TTT) course was held in Austin in May with great assistance provided by State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado and the Austin Fire Department. More than 50 Texas fire departments were represented. A pool of more than 68 instructors was created. Thirteen of these instructors are from the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), with which a stra- tegic partnership was forged. Using the TEEX infrastructure, many departments will gain access to this program, the tracking of course participants is easier, and an information flow of updates is established. Lynn Bizzell spoke about the importance of the program and this partnership during the initial TTT course. Scott Matthews demonstrated the records algorithm and recordkeeping. Attitude can be either the ally or a prime enemy of the firefighter. Complacency kills. The Brian Sutton Seat Belt Pledge has shown few departments nationwide exhibiting 100 percent compliance, yet failure to wear seat belts has resulted in many firefighter deaths. The evidence of lives being saved simply by buckling up is overwhelming. Texas LifeSafety advocates Rob Franklin and Rodney Smith introduced a request at the June 28 meeting of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to have the CTBS training become part of the required curriculum for basic firefighter certification. Post-meeting conversations show promise, and the initiative has been sent to the curriculum committee for review and recommendation. Dennis Gifford reports that the Texas State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas has agreed to become a LifeSafety initiatives partner, and the executive board of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association has endorsed the CTBS program. There is no charge for the CTBS program, though requesting agencies may be required to help cover instructors’ expenses. The NFFF is nonprofit. Requests for the CTBS class can be made by e-mailing the Texas advocate in your area or by following the links on the TEEX Web site. A second TTT course is scheduled as a preconference offering for the 2008 Southwest Fire Rescue Conference in Galveston. FEMA Region VI Danny Kistner Assistant Chief, Garland Fire Dept. dkistner@ci.garland.tx.us Texas State Lead Advocate Rob Franklin Captain, Lancaster Fire Dept. RFranklin@lancaster-tx.com Texas State Advocates Paul Maldonado Texas State Fire Marshal Paul.maldonado@tdi.state.ts.us William R. Mora Captain, San Antonio Fire Dept. capmora@aol.com Rodney Smith Captain, Arlington Fire Dept. smithrd@ci.arlington.tx.us Dennis Gifford Fire Chief, Lumberton Fire and Rescue Services dgifford@lumbertonfirerescue.org John Davis Battalion Chief, El Paso Fire Dept. DavisJA@elpasotexas.gov For the broadest and most innovative benefits for emergency responders, including lifetime disability benefits, contact Provident or your local agent. Accident & Health Insurance Group Life Insurance 24-Hour AD&D Coverage Specializing in MOBILE SYSTEMS FILL STATIONS CASCADE SYSTEMS AIR ANALYSIS Daren D’Ippolito Regional Director PO Box 11588 Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Toll Free 800.447.0360 ddippolito@providentbenefits.com Insuring America’s Heroes Since 1928 CUSTOM SYSTEMS 1-800-937-2479 Email us FOR A FREE CATALOG sales@breathingair.com www.breathingair.com TEXAS FIRE 325386_breathing.indd 1CHIEF Fall/Winter 2007 5/8/07 7:46:44 AM 309014_Provident.indd 1 31 12/4/06 11:40:14 PM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Texas Fire Chief - Fall/Winter 2007

Contents Executive Director’s Report Fire Chief of the Year What is an Emergency Service District (ESD)? Tax-Exempt Financing 101 The Benefits of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Southwest Fire Rescue 2008 Preview Membership Application ‘Courage to be Safe’ Program Aims to Save Lives Red Truck, Green Building Index to Advertisers

Texas Fire Chief - Fall/Winter 2007

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