Don't Risk It! Podcast

VFIS Risk Control's expertise and commitment to safety have not only saved countless lives but also improved the overall effectiveness of emergency service providers across the country. In this episode, we talk with Randy Hess, former Director of VFIS Risk Control, about the historical impact of Client Risk Solutions on Emergency Services.

From intersection best practices to smart use of privately-owned vehicles, it's important that every vehicle operator understands what is expected from management. In this episode, members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team discuss the importance of having written policies and procedures in place and offer some best practices for developing emergency response guidelines for your ESO.

Lights and Sirens response increases the chances of an emergency vehicle crash by 50% and almost triples the chances of a crash during a patient transport. It's critical to think about how you're responding to the event you're dispatched for. In this episode with members of the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team, we discuss modified response and the use of lights and sirens in your organization.

In addition to significant injury or death, rollover accidents leave the ESO without a vehicle, facing costly repairs and long turnaround times for a replacement. In this episode with members of the VFIS team, we discuss the significance of rollover prevention and some best practices for driver training and policy development.

To maintain the viability of volunteer fire and emergency services there is a definite need to recruit and retain volunteers. Tracie Young-Brungard BS, EMTP, RRC, Recruitment & Retention Administrator for the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner joins the discussion on retention and recruitment of personnel in emergency services, offering suggestions on recruiting and retaining members and providing some supportive legislative materials.

Whether Santa is riding in the hose bed for the holidays, or a citizen or non-member is riding along for clinical experience, when non-members ride in department apparatus, it can take the driver's attention off the road. When a driver is distracted from safe vehicle operation, the risk of injury or damage increases. In this episode, members of the VFIS team discuss important considerations for allowing non-ESO members to ride in department vehicles.

Peer support has been shown to help recognize and reduce presentations of incident stress and pre-PTSD and can be a beneficial route to help first responders avoid PTSD. VFIS' Bryan Duquin and Chief Chaplain Jimmy Fannin of Chaplains Corps of Lancaster County join the program to offer suggestions for providing peer support to ESO members

A good grounding system is designed to keep electrical surges out of your building. A better system also has a failsafe for electricity to bounce out if it does get in. What grounding system do you have in place? Chances are, it's obsolete, even if it has been maintained. In this episode, Tom LaBarge from GroundLinx Technologies, LLC provides some education and best practices when it comes to lightning protection and grounding for emergency service facilities.

Unintentional hose deployment is an embarrassment at best for a fire department but the key concern is for the life and property of others. In this episode, members of the VFIS team discuss the significance of hose securement and provide some best practices to help reduce the exposure.

More information regarding this topic can be found in section 15.10 of the NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus (2016).

In 2020, gunshot wounds were the leading cause of injury and death to children. In this episode, Trauma Prevention Coordinator Shannon DePatto from Penn State Children's Hospital talks about the hospital's efforts to reduce pediatric injuries and trauma, and provides guidance on what emergency service providers need to know about safety when caring for and transporting pediatric patients.