The First Responder is a Certified EMS-First Responder from the Virginia Department of Emergency Services {VDES}. The First Responder {FR} has taken a 40-hour course through a certified Instructor from the VDES. The course was taken at the Fire Hall, Mountain Empire Community College, Scott County Life Saving Crew, etc. Once the FR has taken the course, he/she must also pass a written exam and a practical exam given by VDES. Some testing is accomplished at MECC, SVCC, SCLSC, etc. Once the FR has been Certified, he/she receives their FR CARD from the VDES. The FR must also take a CPR/AED/First Aid to be certified in that area through the American Heart Association. This testing can be received through an AHA Instructor.

The FR at Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., {FBVFD} is also working to become a Firefighter. He/she will receive hands-on and academic learning through the Department’s Training Officer {TO}. The FR will also keep current in the skills that he/she has learned through the TO or the Rescue Sergeant.

The FR is a representative of FBVFD; therefore, the FR shall be reasonably neat in appearance while going on FR calls. It is understood that the FR is a Volunteer, and may have come from a job that made the FR "messy" in appearance; the FR should make every effort to present themselves in a professional way to the Patient{s} of the First Responder Section of the Department, when on a FR call.

The FR should act in a professional manner. The FR should not smoke while on an FR call. The FR should treat the Patient as he/she wishes to be treated.

The FR shall drive in a professional manner. The FR shall be currently qualified through EVOC classes. These classes are taught by VDFP or our Insurance Carrier. The FR should respond the calls in an expedient manner without breaking any traffic laws. The FR will always show "due regard" for other Firefighters, other drivers, and Patients.

The Rescue Sergeant, or Sergeant, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the First Responder Vehicle. The Sergeant is responsible for the organization of the paperwork associated with our EMS License. The Sergeant is responsible for the upkeep of the First Responder Vehicle, the Equipment found inside the Vehicle, and the continuing training of the First Responders and EVOC Certified Drivers.

The Sergeant is to maintain contact with the 1^st Captain. This will ensure the collaboration of the Firefighters and the First Responders. The 1^st Captain will help with the day-to-day running of the FR Section of the Department, the paperwork, the upkeep of the vehicle{s}, equipment, and training. {see Chapter 14}

The Sergeant will present monthly reports at Board Meetings to the Directors and Chief Officer of the Department, when available. The 1^st Captain will be the back-up to the Directors, when the Sergeant is not available. The Report will give information from each FR Call; i.e., date and time, the nature of the call {without giving out sensitive Patient information}, the FRs that went on the Call, and the outcome {disposition of the Patient / hand-over to EMS, etc.}of the Call.

The Sergeant will maintain a list of Equipment that is to be stocked in the First Responder Vehicle{s}. The Sergeant will make a check after each run, or soon afterwards, of the supplies used during the run. The Sergeant will attempt to restock the supplies, and/or, contact the 1^st Captain for ordering.:

The following is the current supply/equipment list from Virginia Department of EMS, last updated in February, 2003.

NOTE: If vehicle is licensed as emergency vehicle with primary purpose other than EMS, items not required!

NOTE: USE OF CELLULAR PHONE DOES NOT SATISFY THESE REQUIREMENTS!

‡Taken from Virginia EMS Compliance Manual References, last Updated 2/13/2003, Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services

The Sergeant will maintain a locked cabinet for the appropriate EMS paperwork, background checks, equipment logs, etc. All Patient records shall be kept under lock-and-key, with key available to the Chief Officer, 1^st Captain, and Rescue Sergeant. A list of this paperwork follows:

The Operation Medical Doctor, or OMD, has been asked to sponsor FBVFD as an EMS-First Responder Organization. The OMD, Dr. Greg Marcum, is currently an ER Doctor at Welmont-Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport. Our OMD oversees the FR Section of the Department to see that Patient Care is as it is supposed to be: excellent.

The following is an information packet sent to the OMD:

We will train EMS-First Responders/EMT as EVDT Certified Drivers. EVDT is "Emergency Vehicle Driver Training" and is available through our Insurance Carrier.  EVOC is "Emergency Vehicle Operators Course" and is available through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. Training is available to all new members. We currently have six EMTs running as Firefighter/First Responders. Most a regular Department Members, but two are Associate Members of the Department.

A mutual aid agreement shall be on file from Scott County Life Saving Crew, Nickelsville Rescue Squad, and Duffield Fire & Rescue. The following is a copy of the agreement between FBVFD and SCLSC:

and

It is understood that all services agreed upon are dependent on the availability of proper equipment and personnel.

This agreement will remain in effect from the date of the signature by both agencies until modified by mutual actions or revoked by the action of either agency.

Jim Currier, 1^st Captain Name__________, Rank________

Signature:____________________ Signature:____________________

We were donated an Automatic External Defibrillator through SCLSC. It has run out of it's service time and can no longer be repaired.  Fort Blackmore VFD was able to obtain a new AED through a grant coordinated by Melissa Farmer with Scott County E-911.  It currently is in service inside our First Responder [711].

We had been members of VaVRS; however, with recent changes in the Association, we decided to drop our Associate membership and go our own route.

Blood Borne Pathogens are bacteria or viruses found in human blood. Examples of these pathogens are HIV and Hep-B. There are many other pathogens that can be found in human blood. If exposed to these pathogens, the First Responder or Firefighter may contract the disease.  Our department members are encouraged to get their Heb-B series of shots to help run the First Responder calls; also, as firefighters, to help them if they are accidentally exposed to blood products while on the fire scene.

Current VDES/VDH Protocols will be adhered to as much as possible during an Exposure Incident.

A Exposure Incident is when a Firefighter or First Responder is exposed to a blood-borne pathogen while on-scene, reporting to the scene, returning from the scene, or at the Fire Station. Any member of the Department that is exposed to blood, either through direct or indirect contact with "contaminated" blood should contact the Incident Commander {IC}, Exposure Control Officer, Rescue Sergeant, or Chief Officer immediately. The steps, or procedures are listed here:

The current Exposure Officer if the 1^st Captain. The Exposure officer is to be contacted when any Firefighter or First Responder is exposed to a blood-borne pathogen. The current procedures for exposure to pathogens shall be followed as soon as possible. This may involve taking the exposed FR or Firefighter to the ER for treatment. Or, the FR may report to their private physician within a short period of time after the exposure. The Sergeant and/or 1^st Captain will record and document the Exposure using current VDES/VDH Protocols, and the FBVFD SOGs.

FBVFD Infection Control Officer : Stephanie Perry; previous ICO Jim Currier

Our Board of Directors directed me to pursue our EMS Agency License and to get our First Responder Ambulance ready to roll. Therefore, I had appointed myself as our Infection Control Officer. Stephanie Perry took over that job.

Jim Currier

Assistant Chief/Treas.

276 995 2228 RES

276 995 2035 HALL

276 995 1156 FAX

First Responders shall always show "due regard" to Patients, other drivers on the road, and Firefighters. The FR Drivers should handle and drive their FR Vehicle with utmost care. The FRs shall not be negligent in anything they do with Patients, or their Driving.

FRs must arrive on-scene in a professional manner and begin treatment, based on the FRs’ current level of training and certification.

The 1^st Captain of the Department {or the Line Officer assigned by the Chief}is to maintain contact with the Rescue Sergeant. This will ensure the collaboration of the First Responders and the Firefighters. The 1^st Captain will help with the day-to-day running of the FR Section of the Department, the paperwork, the upkeep of the vehicle{s}, equipment, and training.

The 1^st Captain will communicate with the Chief of the Department and the Board of Directors, when the Sergeant is not available.

Patient Care should be "Job One". Our Department’s FRs should treat Patients the way they, themselves, wish to be treated. We will be dealing with Patients as FRs; therefore, we must treat Patients better than we treat ourselves.

Open line of communications with the OMD

12 August, 200

Virginia Department of Emergency Medical Services

109 Governor Street

Suite UB-55

Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Sirs:

Our Department and our OMD have provided a mechanism for direct access of communication between each other. This is for the discussion of patient care, patient care protocols, operations of EMS equipment, and training issues.

This plan is addressed by Department policy. A copy of this Plan will go to the state along with our OMD Agreement.

Our open line of communication with our OMD will be by telephone. If our department needs to speak to our OMD, we will call the Emergency Room at Welmont-Holston Valley Hospital. We will ask to speak to our OMD, Dr. Marcum, and open our line of communication with him. Dr. Marcum has a list of our phone numbers in order to contact two of our Line Officers and our Rescue Sergeant.

Sincerely,

First Responder : Additions to SOPs [continued]

12 August, 2006

Virginia Department of Emergency Medical Services

109 Governor Street

Suite UB-55

Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Sirs:

Our Department and our OMD have provided a mechanism for direct access of communication between each other. This is for the discussion of patient care, patient care protocols, operations of EMS equipment, and training issues.

This plan is addressed by Department policy. A copy of this Plan will go to the state along with our OMD Agreement.

Our open line of communication with our OMD will be by telephone. If our department needs to speak to our OMD, we will call the Emergency Room at Welmont-Holston Valley Hospital. We will ask to speak to our OMD, Dr. Marcum, and open our line of communication him. Dr. Marcum has a list of our phone numbers in order to contact two of our Line Officers and our Rescue Sergeant.

Sincerely,

Work In Progress

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