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Our Conference
* Schedule Subject To Change Without Notice*
LIVE At Johns Hopkins APL
7:00 AM Registration Opens
Breakfast Opens
Breakfast Sponsored By:
Daily Refreshments Sponsored By:
8:00 AM Opening Ceremonies
FSRI AUDITORIUM
Moderator- Dave Statter
Welcome Presentations
Honor Guard Presentation of Colors
Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services Honor Guard
National Anthem- Emily Lucht
8:30 AM KEYNOTE
FSRI AUDITORIUM
Rob Feeney
"First Person Perspective of the Station Nightclub Fire"
Rob Feeney, lives in East Wareham, Massachusetts with his wife and 3 daughters. He was hired as a Call Firefighter in late 2014, and is currently a career Captain/Shift Commander at Onset Fire Department.
Rob is a Peer Supporter and Burn Injury Advocate for Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors; a Fire/Life Safety Sprinkler Advocate for Common Voices; member of the Massachusetts Public Fire and Life Safety Educators Task Force (PFALSE); Public Speaker.
9:00 AM AM 1 Break out sessions
Workshop AM 1 A: Fire Alarm Systems Compliance- NFPA 72: Chapter 26: Supervising Station Alarm Systems
The Jarboe Room
Code Enforcement
Todd Iaeger, Alarm System Auditor, Building & Life Safety Technologies, UL Solutions
This session provides attendees a deeper perspective of the monitoring requirements for fire and life safety systems found within model codes and technical standards. Moreover, attendees will gain a broader understanding of Supervising Station Alarm System types and their respective service delivery requirement specified by NFPA 72. Additionally, this delivery addresses:
- The relationship between codes and technical standards addressing fire alarm system requirements found within NFPA 72
- How the AHJ ‘approves’ Supervising Station Alarm System types
- When, why, how, and where systems must be monitored
- The benefits of Central Station Service and systematic follow programs of compliance
- The service requirements for Supervising Station Alarm System types"
Workshop AM 1 B: The Massachusetts Miracle
The Spiker Room
CRR/Fire Prevention/Public Education
Michael Cassidy, Fire Chief, Holliston Fire Department
This presentation will detail how a task force of community risk reduction (CRR) specialists in Massachusetts worked with state legislators to create the S.A.F.E (Student Awareness of Fire Education) grant program, providing resources for fire departments to teach fire safety education in schools. Since the S.A.F.E. program began in 1996, child fire deaths decreased significantly in the state; and, for the first time on record in 2020, dropped to zero child fire deaths in a calendar year! The presenter – a member of the task force for more than two decades – will explain how the one thing that was happening in Massachusetts to improve fire safety for children, which was not happening for all other age groups, was consistent, comprehensive, statewide, school-based fire safety education. The presentation will share the problems the task force encountered, highlight a few ‘lessons learned,’ and discuss ways in which attendees can implement a similar comprehensive approach in their own state or region.
Workshop AM 1 C: Identifying & Responding to Human Trafficking in Your Community
The Robertson Room
Emergency Medical Services
Colleen Lull, Lieutenant, Baltimore City Fire Department
In this session, attendees will learn what human trafficking is, what it is not and how it presents to EMS and Fire crews. We will review why it is important for all front line personnel to be trained to recognize the signs of trafficking AND for your jurisdiction to have a response model when trafficking is suspected. Cases studies will be presented to demonstrate presentation, response, and documentation. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of human trafficking as well as the framework to implement a response model that suits their Department.
MORNING 2-Hour Session 9:00 AM to 10:50 Am
Science of Lithium-ion Batteries: Consideration for the Fire Service
The FSRI Auditorium
CRR/Fire Prevention/Public Education
Adam Barowy, Research Engineer, UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute
This presentation will summarize the hazards from li-ion battery thermal runaways, considerations for li-ion battery incident response and fire service size-up and tactics. Participants will learn about the construction and composition of li-ion cells to enable an understanding of li-ion cell thermal runaway, propagation of thermal runaway in battery packs and how those can lead to unprecedented fire and explosion hazards. Visual examples will demonstrate the thermal runaway process and the same development of fire and explosion hazards across a range of end-products including micro-mobility, consumer electronics, EV, and energy storage.
10:00 AM AM 2 Break out sessions
Workshop AM 2 A: Overview & Interaction with Emergency Responder Communication
Enhancement Systems (RTCES)
FSRI Auditorium
Code Enforcement
Todd Iaeger, Alarm System Auditor, Building & Life Safety Technologies, UL Solutions
This session provides attendees a broader understanding of the requirements for Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) found in model codes and technical standards. Moreover, attendees will gain a stronger perspective regarding the importance of this critical life safety system and the impacts on first responders operating within the built environment. Additionally, this delivery provides:
- A overview of the background, importance and requirements for ERCES
- The pathway to compliance from model code requirements to NFPA 72, 1221, and NFPA 1225
- An overview of UL 2524
- The importance and methodology for confirming on-going compliance of ERCES
Workshop AM 2 B: Critical Thinking in EMS Education
The Jorboe Room
Emergency Medical Services
Bev Witmer, Director of EMS Clinician Services, Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Systems
Patient care in the prehospital setting relies heavily on the ability of the EMS clinician to rapidly take in information and make a decision regarding treatment and transport. Incorporating critical thinking scenarios into EMS courses will better prepare clinicians for prehospital patient care. This course will discuss critical thinking in EMS, how scenarios give EMS students an opportunity to practice this skill, and how to create a critical thinking scenario8 for a course or company drill.
Workshop AM C: The benefits of Transcendental Meditation to First Responders- CANCELLED
IN PLACE Resources for Active Assailant Prevention Preparedness & Response
The Robertson Room
Emergency Medical ServicesTravis Nelson, Sergeant, Maryland State Police, Co-Chair MD Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work GroupRandy Linthicum, MIEMSS, Co-Chair MD Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work GroupThis session will cover resources developed and made available by the Maryland Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group such as a Field Operations Guide (FOG) for active assailant incidents, Guidance and Best Practices for Emergency People Search & Recovery following a mass casualty incident, and Guidelines and Recommendations for ballistic protective equipment for EMS clinicians.
This session provides an introduction to the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique and an overview of the structure and content of the David Lynch Foundation’s First Responders Program, including the results of pilot tests with firefighters in New York and California that document the benefits of TM for reducing symptoms of PTS, stress, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder and hypertension.
12:00 PM Lunch
Vendors Open
Lunch Sponsored By:
Acknowledgements of Vendors and Sponsors
Presentation of the John C. Spiker Award
Presentation of "Name Our Costume" Contest
1:00 PM PM 1 Break out sessions
Workshop PM 1 A: It’s Okay to Say I’m Not Okay
The NFSA Lunch Room
Mental/ Behavioral Health and Wellness
David Lewis, Maryland State Firemen’s Association
As individuals, we carry the weight of everyday stresses around each day: work, family, financial status, having more time to enjoy life. Couple that with the mental stresses of emergency response: witness to life and property loss, sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and we are equal to a ticking time bomb. Come learn how to identify the signs of stress and how to combat stress in order to maintain mental wellness.
Workshop PM 1 B: Resources for Active Assailant Prevention Preparedness & Response
The Jarboe Room
Emergency Medical Services
Travis Nelson, Sergeant, Maryland State Police, Co-Chair MD Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group
Randy Linthicum, MIEMSS, Co-Chair MD Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group
This session will cover resources developed and made available by the Maryland Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group such as a Field Operations Guide (FOG) for active assailant incidents, Guidance and Best Practices for Emergency People Search & Recovery following a mass casualty incident, and Guidelines and Recommendations for ballistic protective equipment for EMS clinicians.
Workshop PM 1 C: Tornado Response in Maryland: A Case Study of the September 1 Annapolis Tornado
The FSRI Auditorium
Natural Disaster/ Response & Recovery
Christopher Meyd, AEM, Emergency Management Planner, Annapolis Office of Emergency Management
Nicole Torres, Training, Exercise, and Outreach, Emergency Management Planner, Annapolis Office of Emergency Management
On September 1, 2021 , the first day of National Preparedness Month, an EF-2 tornado ripped through Annapolis. With peak wind speeds reaching about 125 mph, the tornado was a disaster the likes of which the city had rarely scene. With all of the devastation left in its wake things could have been much worse. There was no loss of life or major injury. Over a year later, the City of Annapolis is still dealing with the aftermath of the tornado. Through actions taken by the City of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Emergency Management Departments, legislation was passed through the state making access to recovery funds easier.
AFTERNOON 2-Hour Session 1:00PM to 2:50 PM
Using Simulations & VR/AR Technology to Promote Safer Operations & Training
The Spiker Room
Technology
Richard Sexton, Training & Exercise Specialist, National Fire Academy
Participants will learn more about the current technologies evolving in the NFA that support training and operations. Real time modeling and realistic scenarios to immerse responders in an environment that is as close to real life as possible. Other uses such as public education and outreach will be discussed. Partnerships with other governmental agencies such as NIST, JPL and Cal Fire will be discussed and resulting products shown.
1:50 PM Afternoon Snacks
2:00 PM Afternoon Break out sessions
Afternoon Snacks Sponsored By:
BFPE
Workshop PM 2 A: Creating Partnerships with Customer Service
The FSRI Auditorium
CRR/Fire Prevention/ Public Education
Tony Rodkey, Countryside Fire Protection District, Illinois
Customer Service is why we are in the Fire Service, to help those in need, really no matter what the emergency or request might be. It is our position to respond, solve problems and be nice. This presentation will demonstrate that by providing the best customer service to all constituents of the community, a foundation for creating resourceful partnerships will be established. The benefits of creating partnerships with excellent customer service will enhance programs in many ways, including but not limited to manpower, marketing, positive press, business opportunities, inter-agency support, new ideas, professional guidance, donations and funding. Partnerships help increase and improve fire safety education and prevention programs. Partnerships are essential to community risk reduction.
Learning Objective 1: The participant will learn techniques and methods for providing excellent customer service.
Learning Objective 2: The participant will learn about many benefits of creating partnerships with customer service.
Learning Objective 3: The participant will be able to identify current partnerships within their organization internally & externally and the importance these relationships.
Workshop PM 2 B: Fireground Contaminant Exposure Control Approaches & Challenges
The Jarboe Room
Health, Safety & Wellness
Jamie McAllister, FireTox, LLC
The presentation will educated the audience on key findings from a recently completed, FEMA-funded study titled "Fireground Contaminant Exposure Control Approaches and Health & Safety Officer Continuing Education". The primary goals of the study were to (1) identify current national and regional approaches used by fire departments in the development, implementation, and management of exposure control policies, (2) train health and safety personnel and leadership on these current approaches, and (3) establish action items to present to the NFPA 1500 committee (and other relevant NFPA standards committees)to address current challenges faced by health and safety officers (HSOs) in the development, implementation, and management of contaminant exposure control policies.
Workshop PM 2 C: CPSC & Emergency Response Community
The NFSA Lunch Room
CRR/Fire Prevention/ Public Education
Lisa Scott, Senior Fire Protection Engineer, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The US CPSC is a small regulatory agency with jurisdiction over a wide variety of consumer products. We have a mission to keep consumers safe from unreasonable risk of death and injury from consumer products. Many people are familiar with CPSC when we publicize product recalls, but CPSC offers many other resources for consumers and first responders. Lisa will share some case studies to illustrate other facets of the CPSC mission and how CPSC and the fire service can be partners in the mission of keeping our communities safe.
3:00 PM Adjournment
In order to receive a certificate for attendance you will receive information at the event on how to complete a survey. Once the survey is complete you will receive the certificate.
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