Class 13-16 Week #4

Week #4:  Joint Operations – presented by the Sandwich Fire Department.  

This week's class on Joint Operations was led by Deputy Fire Chief JJBurke. He described how the PD and the FD work collaboratively throughout town, something that not every town on the Cape is able to accomplish. He praised the establishment of the new Joint Dispatch System, which has streamlined operations and made huge improvements in the speed and efficiency of response times. He discussed examples of various joint operations, including school evacuations and drive-thru flu clinics. The class was given a brief quiz on the significance of hydrant colors (they represent water pressure and capacity); and the reason for the Dalmatian being the "official" fire dog (Dalmatians are traditionally deaf, but they could "hear" the vibrations of the fire signal bell in old-time fire houses). Two of the paramedics then demonstrated the use of the new Lucas machine, which is an automatic CPR/AED machine. It provides automatic, continuous chest compressions, calibrated to the particular individual, thus freeing up an EMT to handle other aspects of a medical emergency. Each ambulance in Sandwich has a Lucas machine. Captain Scott Ames then demonstrated the hydraulic stretcher lift, which allows emergency personnel to automatically raise or lower a stretcher and slide it into or out of the ambulance with just the push of a button. According to Captain Ames, this piece of equipment has prevented FD personnel from injuring their backs when lifting patients into and out of the ambulance.        Donna Leiss, Contributing Editor

Next week's class: Officer Survival, Use of Force and Defensive Tactics

Photos courtesy of  Pauline Fortin, John Leiss and Bob Nichols