VTEMSD#3 Training Committee Minutes for August 10, 2000

Greg Thweatt called the meeting to order at 1830, those present were:

Peter Keibel, Bolton Valley Ski Patrol
Kevin Williams, Burlington Fire Department
Becca Webb, Charlotte Rescue
Mike Cannon, Colchester Rescue
Hayes Mumma, Essex Rescue
Gilbert Helmken, FAHC E.D.
Kirsten Jaquith, FAHC MHCIC
Al Barber, Hinesburg Fire Department
Katrina Sinkewicz, Lamoille, FACT
Tanner Trombley, Malletts Bay Fire Department
Darren Adams, Milton Rescue
Lee Jones, Richmond Rescue
Karen Poulin, Shelburne Rescue
Keara Cahill, St. Michael’s Rescue
Kevin Wood, Williston First Response
Bill Clark, Vergennes Area Rescue Squad
Danny Collins (visitor), VTANG
Kate Soons (visitor), St. Michael’s Rescue

Introductions: Danny Collins advised that he was visiting on behalf of the VTANG and distributed an announcement regarding the Annual Airport Emergency Plan update. On August 30^th, the VTANG will provide a meeting with the Phase 5 services to review the Airport Emergency Plan. The meeting will start at 1900 hours at the Green Mountain Dining Hall. Greg asked if only the Phase 5 services should attend? Danny advised yes and that Assistant Fire Chief for Training, Randy Eppley (660-5325 or Randy.Reppley@vtburl.ang.vt.mil), would have make a decision on other services attending. Greg offered to contact Randy and then advise services via the listserv of his answer. All Phase 5 services should contact Randy by August 16^th with a confirmation of attendance.

Agenda Review: Greg reviewed the agenda for the evening.

Approval of Minutes: Kevin Williams motioned to accept the July 13^th minutes as posted, Hayes seconded. No discussion, motion passed.

Announcements:

• Next meeting: Greg advised that the next meeting will be conducted on September 14, 2000, 1830 hours at St. Michaels.
• Greg advised that the next FAHC case review will be on September 19, 2000.
• An e-mail was distributed from Mike O’Keefe announcing a Farm-Medic course to be conducted in Reading, New York.
• Pat advised that the EMT-B courses are filling with 30 for the evening course and 16 for the day-time course to date.
• Kate advised that to date, she has 18 names for the September/October Refresher course. There is still room for additional participants, call Kate at 893-8145.
• Becca distributed an announcement regarding the September 9^th/10^th MCI Amtrak drill. Arthur Candenquist, Manager for Emergency Preparedness for Amtrak, will provide both lecture and practical sessions for the MCI drill. The schedule is as follows: Saturday, September 9^th: 0830 to noon will be a lecture portion, 1315 to 1630 will be hands on at demonstration site. Sunday, September 10^th: 1000 to noon will be the drill, noon to 1630 will be lunch, debriefing and a review of videos. The lectures will be at St. Michaels College, Cheray Hall 111. There will be a planning meeting at the Vermont Respite Home in Williston on August 21^st, 1730 hours. RSVP to Wendy Struble at 879-7052 to attend either the organizational meeting or the weekend (Lee Jones may be contacted as well).
• Becca advised that Vergennes and Charlotte will hold a joint training session on August 29, 1900 hours. The session will be specfic to the well-being of EMS providers and coordinated by the Green Mountain CISD Team with Frank Silfies. Call Becca at 482-6690.

Old Business:

• First Responder Policy: Mo motioned to entertain an amendment to the district policy with Lee seconding. Bill provided an amendment to the VTEMSD#3 Policy on Instruction of First Responder Courses with the following statement: "Any person who wishes to coordinate a First Responder course must act as an apprentice to an instructor of a First Responder course approved by District #3. This apprenticeship must include attendance at least half of the practical and lecture sessions." Discussion included concerns over the wording not being specific enough on the expectations of an apprentice. A suggestion would include to create a simple checklist that would include a recommendation by the course coordinator. The consensus of the committee was to have Bill rewrite the amendment to include the recommendations from the discussion. Motion tabled until the next meeting.
  

• Practical Instructors List: Greg asked why no names have been submitted to him for the district-wide practical instructor list for either First Responder or Refresher courses? The only explanation given was that service members were hesitant to commit before an actual course was proposed. Greg reminded services that a submission of a name did not mean that the person would have to help with a course. He also reminded the committee that the list is an attempt to help services meet the 50% ratio for outside practical instructors with any district approved course.

• First Responder Course Proposal: Hayes motioned to entertain a course proposal for a First Responder course, Bill seconded. Chris McCarthy provided a packet for each represented including the following: 1. An agreement to follow the district policies on instruction of courses, 2. Tara Pacy will be the instructor coordinator to act as her resource person, 3. She will follow the 1995 National Standard First Responder curriculum and will not add additional material to the curriculum, 4. The course is open to the district with a priority to Hinesburg Fire Department members, 5. The practical instructors are: Kathy Karg (Hinesburg Fire Department), Becca Webb (Charlotte), Lisa Begnoche (Essex/Charlotte), and Rick Pollack (Charlotte Rescue), 6. She agreed to administer a district evaluation form. The course will be conducted at the Hinesburg Fire Station on Monday and Wednesday evenings (from 1830 to 2130) with two Saturdays (0900 to noon). Cost = $45 including the text (AAOS First Responder, 2^nd edition). Prerequisites = Healthcare Provider or Professional Provider CPR and participant must provide a pocket mask. Maximum enrollment = 24 students. Contact = Chris McCarthy at 879-1737 (h), 655-7215 (w) or vabirom@aol.com. Motion approved.

• New EMT-I Curriculum: On July 19^th, 2000, Greg attended a videoconference hosted by the Vermont EMS Office focusing on the New National Standard EMT-I curriculum. Greg distributed a handout outlining his notes from the meeting. In short, the changes are sweeping dramatically increasing the scope of practice and hours required to complete an EMT-I course. The state is looking for feedback on whether or not the state should accept the new curriculum or modify it. They have sent surveys to each district medical advisor(s) asking them to rank the proposed new interventions. The results will be reviewed and then reported back to districts sometime in November.