Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG 31 Patient Thanks Crews After Rattlesnake Bite By Kevin Watler, Communications Specialist, PIO On April 9, Jerome Roddenberry was bitten on the hand by a five-and-a- half foot rattlesnake. On April 21, he met with some of the Polk County Fire Rescue members who started his care. He told firefighters during the reunion that the bite itself didn’t hurt, “but things got bad, fast.” After about ten steps he was no longer able to move, and approximately thirty seconds after the bite he doesn’t remember anything until he woke in the hospital. When fire rescue crews arrived, Roddenberry needed advanced medical care. He was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center so antivenin could be administered. Mr. Roddenberry said he received 32 vials of antivenin at the hospital. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he added. Roddenberry also told the Polk County Fire Rescue members, “You saved my life. You kept me going until I got to the hospital.” LeDuc Presents Call to Arms to CFSI National Board Todd LeDuc, Broward County Assistant Fire Chief and International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) Safety, Health & Survival Section’s Secretary was invited to address the Congressional Fire Service Institute’s National Advisory Council. The National Advisory Council represents thirty-eight of the most influential organizations, that combined are the leadership of the American fire service. This gathering coincided with the 29th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner held at the Washington, DC, Hilton. Approximately 1,500 fire service leaders attended the Symposium and spent that entire week lobbying members of Congress on issues of importance to the fire service. Chief LeDuc was invited on behalf of the IAFC to speak to the national fire service leadership about the need to elevate the priority of every firefighter in America receiving an occupationally-appropriate firefighter physical, to preventatively screen for and identify early potential health issues that may contribute to line of duty deaths and disabilities. Chief LeDuc provided a review of national preventable line of duty death and disability statistics focusing on cardiovascular, occupational cancers and behavioral health needs. Chief LeDuc also covered the findings with Broward County Sheriff Fire Rescue and their joint labor-management implementation of mandatory physicals and the significant findings that were made, including early identification of numerous cancers, numerous cardiac findings and numerous cases of unidentified hypertension. Specifically, the fire service leaders were called up to join forces with assuring the newlypublished Healthcare Providers Guide to Firefighter Physicals, which was funded by an Assistance to Firefighters grant award, was in the hands of each and every one of the Nation’s 1.2 million plus firefighters and their health care providers to assure that the unique occupational health risk to firefighters is known to their health care provider and appropriate medical screenings are conducted. HCFR Accepts the Hillsborough 100 Challenge By Myesha Johnson, Public Education Technician The Hillsborough 100, hosted by the Hillsborough County Soil & Water Conservation District, challenges groups or individuals to take on a conservation project. With a mission to “Conserve Life,” Hillsborough County Fire Rescue partnered with the American Red Cross on April 25 to install smoke alarms at Featherock Mobile Home Park in Valrico. Sixteen Inspectors and two Educators participated from HCFR. In all, 30 volunteers knocked on 521 doors and installed 380 ten-year smoke alarms in 136 homes. Every smoke alarm with a ten-year battery saves 19 nine-volt batteries over its lifespan. In addition to conserving life, 7,220 nine-volt batteries have been prevented from entering landfills and waterways over the next ten years. East Lake Fire Rescue Hires Two Firefighter EMTs By Claudia Faiola, Public Education Officer East Lake Fire Rescue is pleased to announce the addition of two new Firefighters: Jacob Dixon and Roberto Hernandez. The two new hires joined our team on April 3, 2017. Jacob Dixon was a marine mechanic for nine years. He was a volunteer Firefighter EMT for Punta Gorda Fire Rescue for one year. He obtained his Firefighter and EMT Certification at Englewood Fire Academy in 2014. We would like to welcome him and his wife Emily to our department. Roberto Hernandez, our new Firefighter EMT, worked for Martin Health Systems in Port St. Lucie and All County Ambulance for two year as an EMT. He obtained his Firefighter and EMT Certification at River State College Fire Academy in 2015. Welcome to our department, Roberto! Delray Beach Fire Rescue New Apparatus On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, Delray Beach Fire Rescue held a housing ceremony for two new apparatus. The first, a 75’ Pearce aerial, was commissioned as Ladder 111 and will serve at the City’s main fire station. The second, a Horton rescue truck, was commissioned as Rescue 111 and will, likewise, serve at the City’s main fire station. The ceremony consisted of traditional fire service elements including the transfer of water and gear from one suppression unit to the other, a chaplain blessing of the vehicles, washing of the wheel wells, and a ceremonial push into the bay.