Don't Risk It! Podcast

An ambulance and crew performing a long-distance transport of a psychiatric patient may not be the most efficient use of an ESO's resources.  As an alternative, non-emergent psychiatric transport vehicles can be a safe and efficient way to transfer these individuals, requiring lower operating costs and less manpower.  In This episode, Deputy Chief Jerry Schramm, B.S, EMT-P, Director of Operations...

VFIS University offers quality online education and training courses for emergency responders. In this episode, Maria Lichty, ETC Distance Learning Coordinator, reviews some recent changes to the VFIS University learning management system, including enhancements and new features to come. Learn more at www.vfisu.com .

While leasing out apparatus bays, social halls, meeting spaces and pavilions can be a good source of revenue for an Emergency Services Organization, rental exposures, such as alcohol, vandalism, and slips, trips and falls also present some significant liability risks. In this episode, the Client Risk Solutions team discusses rental exposures and agreements and offers suggestions for ESOs consideri...

Elevator rescues are not uncommon occurrences in fire response and can pose significant challenges to rescuers if they have no basic training. In this episode, Sam Clark of Clark Fire and Rescue Training addresses some of the challenges and risks of elevator rescues, from the modernization of elevator technology to deficits in this type of training. Contact Sam at  ftig75@gmail.com for more inform...

Each year, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors a national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. Thousands attend the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Join us for this episode, featuring Foundation Chairman of the Board, Troy Markel, who reflects on what this event means to him and how we can all mak...

First responders see victims when they're at their worst and don't typically know the outcome. Who helps the responder process and manage the emotional trauma they see every day? In this episode, Jimmy Fannin, Emergency Services Chaplain and Chief Chaplain for Chaplains Corp of Lancaster County, talks about managing incident stress to help responders avoid PTSD and some of the hurdles in creating...

What are the different types of physical damage insurance for emergency vehicles? Which may be best suited for your organization? In this episode we are discussing the concept of "Agreed Value" and how it applies to the VFIS client base. Peter Feid, Sales Executive with VFIS, and Mike Baker, Director of Client Risk Solutions for VFIS, join the program to clear up some confusion about this type of...

Community paramedicine is coming back to the forefront as ESOs are seeing the benefits of doing business a different way. In this episode, we talk with Emergency Services Industry Specialist Dave Bradley and Industry Specialist Blair Tyndall of VFIS Client Risk Solutions about community paramedicine and the various models they've seen throughout the country. We also touch on some of the challenges...

Water can be powerful and relentless. Although low in volume, water-related emergencies are high risk. Todd Stahl, President of WhiteCap Rescue Training, joins us along with Bryan Duquin of VFIS to talk about water rescue training and some best practices to help keep rescuers and victims as safe as possible. Don't underestimate the power of moving water. Responders must continue to train in all co...

Fundraising events are not just a way to raise money for an emergency services organization. They also provide visibility in the community.  Bryan Duquin and Blair Tyndall of VFIS Client Risk Solutions join us to discuss some creative ways organizations can engage in fundraising and some things to consider when your agency chooses to go this route, including fidelity best practices for handling mo...

Evolutions in vehicle construction and safety, changes in procedures for PPE, emergency lighting, securing portable equipment and new training needs (to name a few), have altered the landscape of emergency response over the years. In this roundtable discussion, we hear from members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team as they reflect on changes They've observed in the industry over the course of...

Who is responsible for making HR decisions in your organization?  In this episode, we talk about the ever-changing field of Human Resources and how it applies to emergency services. Glatfelter's Suzanne McConkey, Vice President of Human Resources, and Sara Spangler, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Engagement, join us to provide their insight and offer some best practices for organizations who ma...

Intentional or unintentional, wrongdoing or a mistake made within an ESO makes for a bold headline. The vast majority of emergency responders set out to do the right thing; but that doesn't necessarily mean the same thing as being compliant. In this episode, we're joined by VFIS Education Specialist Justin Eberly who offers clarification and guidance on operational requirements for emergency servi...

Be at the top of your game by following your organization's policies and procedures.  Dave Bradley and the VFIS team look back on what they wish they knew when serving as responders — including the importance of having an increased focus on driver training, burnout and fatigue in the workforce, best practices for documentation, developing a strong safety culture and risk resources and training ava...

Volunteer recruitment and retention are among the top issues facing volunteer Fire and EMS organizations. In this episode with Rick Gurba, VFIS Director of Education and Training, we talk about the difference between these two separate functions and discuss a unique way to address these issues within emergency service organizations.

"Keep your brand in your voice" as this is the identity of your department. Jenny Bragiel, Communications Specialist with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue., joins us to talk about social media and how to improve your department's brand and digital presence to recruit and retain new members. She walks us through how to leverage social media to reach out to other groups/organizations, build bonds with...

There is no such thing as safe ice. Although a low-volume occurrence, water and ice rescue is a high-risk situation and it's easy for a rescuer to become part of the problem and not the solution. In this episode, we interview Todd Stahl, President and Lead Instructor of WhiteCap Water Rescue, to discuss how to effectively train for these conditions.

Be ahead of the game when preparing your property for seasonal changes in temperature. In this roundtable discussion with members of the Client Risk Solutions team, we talk about some best practices for winterizing stations and support facilities, as well as things to inspect after a major storm. Visit  https://www.vfis.com/Property-Management for additional resources on this topic.

The Fire Service industry has undergone dramatic changes in the past decade - from training, station design, mental and physical health and wellness of responders, to command structure, accountability and more. In this group discussion with the VFIS team, we take on several topics and industry trends regarding safety and risk reduction. Our hope is to spark ideas of how to positively affect your d...

In this episode, we revisit with VFIS Emergency Services Specialist Blair Tyndall and discuss employment practices and the challenges mid-level managers face. Blair has presented the Risk Control for Mid-Level Management program to departments across the country and joins us to share some of the things he's learned while teaching the course and offer some advice to potentially assist your organiza...

"It's easy to focus on the negatives of an incident, but the positives are what you continue to build on." Fire Chief Todd Gauldin with Stokesdale Fire Department in N.C. talks to us about an incident his department experienced, the post-accident investigation process they used, and the lessons they learned. Reach out to Chief Gauldin via the Stokesdale Fire Department website for more details abo...

Parked vehicles, utility poles, other emergency vehicles, the station itself - striking fixed objects is a common type of loss in fire and EMS services. But, these types of losses are largely avoidable. In this roundtable discussion with members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team we discuss this issue and how crews can help reduce the rate of incidents through written response guidelines, trai...

The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Fatigue impacts personal health as well as a responder's ability to perform key functions including patient care, incident command and vehicle operations...

The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Fatigue impacts personal health as well as a responder's ability to perform key functions including patient care, incident command and vehicle operations...

The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this summer, but we will be back soon with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day. Critical incident stress can have a lasting effect on emergency responders; yet, the stigma surrounding mental illness often interferes with seeking help...