ohio state firefighters' association

OHIOFirefighterFirefighterJune 2013

Ohio State Firefighters’ Association

FEATURE DEPARTMENT: Bethel-Tate Fire Department

FEATURE ARTICLE: Making a Comeback: firefighter/paramedic returns to work after life-altering accident

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Subscription/Membership/Advertising

Rodger SansomP.O. Box 400

Mogadore, OH 44260-04001-800-825-OSFA

Non-member subscriptions are available to recognized fire service agencies,government officials, and libraries.

Rates upon request

OHIO FIREFIGHTER is the official publication of The Ohio State Firefighters’ Association. It is

published six times a year to circulate information about the fire service in the State of Ohio

Chairman of the Board

Mark Roberts3496 S. Weymouth RoadMedina, OH 44256-7204

[email protected]

President

Jason Pollitt3747 Bass Road

Williamsburg, OH 45176513-824-9106

[email protected]

1st Vice President

Tim Adams35810 Neff Road

Grafton, OH 44044330-483-4923

[email protected]

2nd Vice President

Mark Resanovich1301 Woodland Drive

Uniontown, OH 44685-9521330-896-0728

[email protected]

Secretary/Treasurer

Rodger SansomP.O. Box 400

Mogadore, OH 44260-0400800-825-OSFA

[email protected]

ChaplainVacant

Legal CounselPorter “Chip” Welch

P.O. Box 657Sunbury, OH 43074

614-774-0390Fax: 740-625-6271

Nat. Volunteer Fire CouncilRoger Bair - Ohio Director2851 Hallock Young Rd.

Warren, OH 44481330-824-2676

Tim Adams - Alternate

[email protected]

PSS - Fire SubcommitteePhil McLean

3356 Revere RoadRichfield, OH 44286-9705

330-659-4507Eric Waltemire – MemberMark Mankins – Member

PSS Representatives EMS:Mark Resanovich - MemberDeanna Harris - Member

- Member

Credentials, Ways & MeansSteve Skeldon

Scott Skeldon - Member

Resolutions – S.E.R.C. Willie Brantingham

P.O. Box 79Winona, OH 44493

330-222-1920

AuditScott McClellan – Term Ex 15

1206 Everbright DrUniontown, OH 44685

330-472-0260Jerry Lupfer – Term Ex 16Roger Bair – Term Ex 14

Budget ReviewRichard Donley - Chairperson

7683 Olde 8 RoadBoston Heights, OH 44236

330-653-5913Paul Tieman - Member

Don Alexander - Member

Conference ChairmanRodger SansomP.O. Box 400

Mogadore, Ohio 44260800-825-OSFA

[email protected]

EducationMike “Pineapple” Raymond

262 Eyman DriveApple Creek, OH 44606

330-201-1059

V.F.I.S. Insurance &Insurance Committee

Joe Stewart69 Foster-Maineville Road

P.O. Box 279Maineville, OH 45039

Darlene Kimball - Co-Chair

Legal Defense Trust FundTim Adams - Chairman - Term Exp 16

35810 Neff RoadGrafton, OH 44044-9260

(330) 483-4923Jason Pollitt - Member - Term Exp 13Scott McClellan - Member - Term Exp 15Jerry Lupfer - Member - Term Exp 14

Rodger Sansom - Comptroller1-800-825-6732

Ohio Rural Fire CouncilHarold SparksP.O. Box 72

Fayettville, OH 45118513-875-3721

Willie Brantingham - Alternate Roger Bair - Alternate

Scholarships & AwardsBecky Mole - Chairperson

35253 Grafton Eastern RoadGrafton, OH 44044

440-308-6192Scott Skeldon - MemberJerry Lupfer - Member

Radio FrequencyScott Skeldon

9689 US Highway 42, NorthPlain City, OH 43064

614-873-8990

NominationsHarold SparksP.O. Box 72

Fayetteville, OH 45118-0072513-875-3721Scott Skeldon

Legislative CommitteeJerry Lupfer - Chairperson7726 Richardson RoadGroveport, OH 43125

614-836-5426

Cliff Mason - MemberMark Roberts - MemberRoger Bair - Member

YouthDaniel Bainum - Chairman Jim Urzykowski - MemberJerald Miller - MemberBrett Bowen - Member

MembershipTim Adams

35810 Neff RoadGrafton, OH 44044

330-483-4923Rick Bromley - North & EastScott McClellan - North & EastPaul Tieman - South & West

WebmasterRodger SansomP.O. Box 400

Mogadore, Ohio 44260800-825-OSFA

[email protected]

Past PresidentsRichard DonleyWilliam ShroyerRaleigh JuilleratGeorge BrownKen LaughlinHarold SparksDane WilliamsRodger SansomJerry LupferRoger Bair

G. Thomas ManningPaul TiemanMark Roberts

June 2013 OSFA NEWS 3

IN THIS ISSUEOfficers Pages ..........................4-11

Recruitment Roundtable ........12-13

NVFC Raises Money for West FFs ....18

FEATURE ARTICLEFirefighter Returns to Work ....20-21

FEATURE DEPARTMENTBethel-Tate Fire Dept....................22

Conference Information ..........25-31

Firefighter Close Calls ............34-35

OFFICERS and COMMITTEES

FEATURE ARTICLE:Sebring firefighter/paramedic returns to work after life-altering accident

visit us onthe web!

4 OSFA NEWS June 2013

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Second Vice President Mark Resanovich and myselfrepresented the OSFA inWashington, D.C., visiting with our representatives andsenators from the state of Ohio.Members of the Ohio FireChiefs Association, Great LakesIAFC, and Ohio Fire Instructorsalso represented Ohio.

During the two days ofmeetings with our two senatorsand 15 representatives, we wereable to discuss several impor-tant issues with them. One ofthe most important issues dis-cussed was the continuation ofthe AFG and SAFER Grants.Not only to continue them, butto keep them at the same fund-ing level of 2012.

We also requested continua-tion of funding for the U.S. FireAdministration and theNational Fire Academy. TheFire Academy has trained morethan 1.4 million students since1975. Again, rather than askingfor increased funding, werequested that the funding tothe USFA be at the 2012 levelof $44 million.

In 2007, volunteer firefight-ers were given an income taxexclusion of $30 per month onthe benefits that they receive.This ran for three years andexpired in 2010.Since then, therehave been severalbills to reinstatethe exclusion butthey have notbeen passed into law.

Senate Bill 501 would reau-thorize this exclusion andincrease it to $50 per month or$600 annually.

The above issues are theones that most affect ourdepartments and us. Now whatcan you do? I encourage youcall, fax, write, or better yetmeet with your senators or rep-resentative about the aboveissues and explain how impor-tant they are to the fire serviceand the residents of Ohio.

– Timothy Adams

Tim Adams

Left to Right: Mark Resanovich - 2nd VP OSFA; Scott Skeldon -

Ohio Rep IAFC-GLD; Congressman Jim Renacci - 16th Dictrict;

Tim Adams - 1st VP OSFA; Porter Welch - 1st VP OFCA

201 Front StreetBerea o44017(440) 891-2378


SECOND VICE PRESIDENTWell, looks like summer has

finally arrived, hopefully thecold weather of the past winterand spring will be a distantmemory. As we move forwardwith the changes of the seasonsso is the environment in the fireservice. In my last article, Italked about the possibility ofthe merging of the EMS Board with the Ohio MedicalTransportation Board. That bill was signed into law and onJuly 1st of 2013 the new boardwill be seated. Our associationwill lose one seat, that seat iscurrently vacant, so it will notbe filled. The current two asso-ciation representatives will beappointed to the new board bythe Governor on July 1st. Withthe merger, the fire service wentfrom eight representatives tosix. Director Mel House of theDivision of EMS with his staff,are putting together a transitionplan for the merger and thenew board. Currently, the newboard will meet for a three dayretreat in August, there will beadjustments to our currentscope along with many newmembers, I am confident thatwe will transition well into thisnew board.

Early in May, Tim Adams,Porter “Chip” Welsh, ScottSkelton and I traveled toWashington D.C. to meet withour Ohio Representatives andSenators to discuss issues thatface the fire service. Our mes-sage was very simple anddirect, we as a fire serviceasked that the Fire Grants andSAFER grants continue to befunded, as they are vital finan-cial streams for our members.We also requested support forSenate Bill 501 which allows fora tax incentive for volunteerfirefighters. In 2010 an old taxcode expired which exemptedthe first $300.00 dollars that avolunteer earned, 501 resumesthat tax code and increases theamount to $600.00. Our repre-sentatives in D.C. were sup-portive of this bill.

Finally, we talked about theAffordable Healthcare Act thatgoes into effect in 2014. Thislaw will impact the fire servicewith regards to part-timeemployees. Many of our servicesuse part-time to supplementmanpower in order to respondduring reduced manpowertimes. The new law has a calcu-lation that may reduce the

capability of the fire service touse such manpower, withoutproviding healthcare or payinga penalty.

Lastly, the annual confer-ence is quickly approaching,and the committee is workingvery hard to bring a quality pro-gram for our members. This isan opportunity to come togeth-er, socialize, educate, train andnetwork. All avenues have beenexplored to reduce cost to theconference so that our mem-bers can enjoy this weekend.The committee is planningmany events and in addition,there will be some hands ontraining. Please check the web-site for the educational oppor-tunities that will be offered.

Be safe, have a good summer,

Mark Resanovich,Second Vice President,Ohio State FirefightersAssociation


In February, the OhioAttorney General’s Office issuedan opinion regarding the criteriato be used when medically evalu-ating firefighters to use respirato-ry protection equipment.

Annual medical certificationto use respiratory protectionequipment is a requirementfound in the Ohio AdministrativeCode, specifically the rulesregarding firefighting found in theBureau of Workers’Compensation sections. There are many private compa-nies, health systems, physiciansgroups and occupational healthpractices that provide respiratorymedical evaluation services.Make certain that whomever yourDepartment utilizes for medicalevaluation purposes that they arefamiliar with this AdministrativeCode section, the physicaldemands of firefighting, and eventhe guidelines provided in theapplicable NFPA sections. If youhave questions or concernsregarding your medical evalua-tion process and/or procedures,discuss them with yourDepartment’s physician or who-ever completes the evaluationsfor your organization.

OPINION NO. 2012-003

The Honorable Jeff AdkinsGallia County ProsecutingAttorney18 Locust Street, Room 1267Gallipolis, Ohio 45631-1267

Dear Prosecutor Adkins:You have requested an opin-

ion regarding the criteria used bya physician to determine whethera fire fighter shall be medicallycertified to use respiratory pro-tection equipment pursuant to10A Ohio Admin. Code 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) (2010-2011Supplement). In your letter youexplain that rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) requires all members offire departments who might berequired to use respiratory equip-ment to be medically certifiedannually. In an attempt to com-ply with the regulations, severalof our volunteer fire departmentshave directed inquiries to ouroffice about the nature of themedical certification and medicalexamination required.

My office’s research of thisissue leads us to the same con-clusion as the inquiring [firefighters] …[n]o appropriatepass/fail criteria exist for themedical certification necessary tocomply with [rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3)].

Accordingly, you ask us toadvise you regarding the exis-tence of medically appropriatepass/fail criteria to be used inmedically certifying fire fightersto use respiratory protectionequipment.1

R.C. 4121.13(B) requires theAdministrator of Workers’Compensation to adopt rulesestablishing reasonable stan-dards for the use of safetydevices and safeguards for theprotection of all employees. Onesuch rule is rule 4123:1-21-02,which addresses protective cloth-ing and equipment for fire fight-ers. The rule requires anemployer to “provide and requirethe use of personal protectiveclothing and equipment … whenemployees are required to workin a hazardous environment thatmay be encountered duringstructural firefighting activitiesand under similar conditionsduring training activities.” Rule4123:1-21-02(A). Protectiveclothing must consist of at least“foot protection; hand protection;body protection; eye, face, andhead protection; and respiratoryprotection.” Rule 4123:1-21-02(B). With respect to respirato-ry protection, the rule declares,in pertinent part: (1) All fire fighters exposed to

hazardous atmospheres fromfires and other emergencies,

Porter “Chip” Welch

LEGAL COUNSEL

MEDICAL CERTIFICATION FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

1 We understand your reference to “pass/fail criteria” to mean a set of measurements, standards, or tests that, individually or in the aggregate, establish objectivelywhether or not a fire fighter shall be medically certified. “Pass/fail criteria” also encompasses the concept of making a determination on a quantitative basis (e.g., establishing a scoring scheme for a fire fighter’s health history that requires a certain number of responses of a certain type to conclude that the fire fighter is or isnot fit to use respiratory protection equipment).


or where the potential forsuch exposure exists, shall beprovided with self-containedbreathing apparatus (“SCBA”)approved by the nationalinstitute for occupational safe-ty and health (NIOSH) and themine safety and health admin-istration (MSHA).

(2) The fire department shalladopt and maintain a respira-tory protection program thataddresses the selection,inspection, safe use, andmaintenance of respiratoryprotection equipment, trainingin its use, and the assuranceof air quality testing.

(3) All members who might berequired to use respiratoryprotection equipment shall bemedically certified by a physi-cian, or by a state of Ohiolicensed health care profes-sional who can perform med-ical evaluations under thesupervision of a physician, onan annual basis. Medical cer-tification can be obtained by amedical examination, or byusing the medical question-naire as referenced in CFR1910.134 Appendix C.

Rule 4123:1-21-02(P).Other than the reference to

the medical questionnaire, therule does not enumerate orexplain the criteria a physician orlicensed health care professionalshall use to determine whether afire fighter shall be medically cer-tified to use respiratory protec-tion equipment. The Bureau ofWorkers’ Compensation hasinformed us that rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) was intended to referencethe criteria for medical evaluationimplemented by the OccupationalSafety and Health Administration(OSHA) in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134,Appendix C (2011).2

The OSHA questionnaire, 29C.F.R. § 1910.134, Appendix C(2011), is meant to elicit anextensive inventory of a fire fight-er’s health history. Part A of thequestionnaire is to be completedby the fire fighter, regardless ofthe type of respiratory equipmenthe will use. Section 1 of Part Aasks the fire fighter to furnishdemographic information andinformation about the type of res-pirator the fire fighter will use.Section 2 of Part A asks the firefighter to answer questions abouthis medical history and habitswith respect to tobacco use,seizures, diabetes, allergic reac-tions that may interfere withbreathing, claustrophobia, or anydifficulty smelling odors. Thequestionnaire also asks about the

fire fighter’s history of lung orpulmonary problems, includingasbestosis, asthma, chronicbronchitis, emphysema, pneumo-nia, tuberculosis, silicosis, pneu-mothorax (collapsed lung), lungcancer, broken ribs, lung or chestarea injuries or surgeries, or anyother lung problem. The ques-tionnaire further asks whetherthe fire fighter has any symptomsof lung or pulmonary illness, byinquiring whether under certaincircumstances he experiencesshortness of breath, coughing,wheezing, or chest pain.

Similarly, the questionnaireinquires of the fire fighter’s histo-ry of cardiovascular or heartproblems or history of cardiovas-cular or heart symptoms, whichinclude heart attack, stroke,angina, heart failure, swelling inthe feet or legs that is not relatedto walking, heart arrhythmia,high blood pressure, pain ortightness in the chest, irregularheart beating, and heartburnunrelated to eating. The ques-tionnaire then asks whether thefire fighter takes any medicationfor pulmonary or cardiovascularconditions or seizures.

Whether the fire fighter hasexperienced any problems whilewearing a respirator in

Continued on next page...

2 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e) (2011) “specifies the minimum requirements for medical evaluation that employers must implement to determine the employee’s ability touse a respirator.” With respect to the medical evaluation procedure, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e)(2) (2011) states as follows: (i) The employer shall identify a physician orother licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains thesame information as the medical questionnaire. (ii) The medical evaluation shall obtain the information requested by the questionnaire in Sections 1 and 2, part Aof appendix C of this section.

If the medical examination indicates a follow-up examination is needed, or if an employee responds positively to any of questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, PartA of Appendix C, the employer is required to ensure that a follow-up medical examination is provided for the employee. 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e)(3)(i) (2011). If thephysician conducts a follow-up medical examination, he shall include “any medical tests, consultations, or diagnostic procedures that the [physician] deems neces-sary to make a final determination.” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e)(3)(ii) (2011). 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e)(6) (2011) provides in pertinent part:In determining the employee’s ability to use the respirator, the employer shall: (i) Obtain a written recommendation regarding the employee’s ability to use the respi-rator from the [physician]. The recommendation shall provide only the following information: (A) Any limitations on respirator use related to the medical condition ofthe employee, or relating to the workplace conditions in which the respirator will be used, including whether or not the employee is medically able to use the respi-rator; (B) The need, if any, for follow-up medical evaluations; and (C) A statement that the [physician] has provided the employee with a copy of the [physician’s]written recommendation.

It is evident that the provisions of 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e) (2011) are more specific than rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) insofar as 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e) (2011)expressly requires that the physician’s medical examination obtain the same information as the questionnaire. Nevertheless, the determination of whether a firefighter is medically able to use the respirator under 29 C.F.R. §1910.134(e) (2011) involves the exercise of the physician’s discretion based on his sound profession-al judgment. Thus, although it may seem that the more detailed provisions of 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e) (2011) establish a more stringent standard than rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3), as will be discussed below, both regulations rely on the professional judgment of the certifying physician for the ultimate determination of whether thefire fighter shall be medically certified to use respiratory protectionequipment.

Moreover, while rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) permits the use of the questionnaire in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134, Appendix C (2011), rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) does not incor-porate by reference or adopt the procedure for medical evaluation required by 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134(e) (2011). Therefore, our advice in this matter must be predicat-ed upon the language and requirements of rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3).


...Continued from previous page

the past, including eye or skinirritation, anxiety, weakness orfatigue, or any other issues thatinterfered with wearing a respira-tor is the next area of inquiry.The questionnaire then lists sixquestions that must be answeredif the fire fighter wears a full-facepiece respirator or a selfcon-tained breathing apparatus.Those questions consider the firefighter’s history of eye or visionproblems, ear or hearing prob-lems, back problems, and mus-culoskeletal problems.

The physician or health careprofessional may include otherquestions that are not includedin the questionnaire or mayinclude the questions listed inPart B of the questionnaire at hisdiscretion. The questions in PartB concern the fire fighter’s histo-ry of working in certain condi-tions. For example, Part B askswhether the fire fighter hasworked in high altitudes andwhether he experienced dizziness,shortness of breath, or poundingin his chest while working in thatcondition. The questionnairealso asks whether the fire fighterhas ever been exposed to haz-ardous chemicals, either airborneor by skin contact. The fire fight-er is asked whether he has everworked with asbestos, silica,tungsten/cobalt, beryllium, alu-minum, coal, iron, or tin, or in adusty environment, or whetherhe has been exposed to any otherhazardous materials. The firefighter’s prior occupations, otheremployment, hobbies, militaryservice and exposure to biologi-cal or chemical agents, service ona HAZMAT team, and any othermedication he has taken mayalso be considered. The ques-

tionnaire also asks about theequipment or protective clothingused with the respirators, the fre-quency and duration of the use ofthe respirator, the level of exer-tion required for the work per-formed, the conditions underwhich the fire fighter will work,and whether he will be exposedto any hazardous conditions ortoxic substances while wearingthe respirator. The questionnairealso inquires of any specialresponsibilities the fire fighterhas while wearing the respiratorthat may affect the safety of oth-ers.3

It is apparent, therefore, thatthe OSHA questionnaire providesguidance about the type of infor-mation that is relevant to aphysician’s determination ofwhether a fire fighter shall becertified to use respiratory pro-tection equipment. While the rel-evant factors identified arenumerous and diverse, the ques-tionnaire does not indicate whichfactors are determinative. Rather,the physician or licensed healthcare professional considers allthe relevant factors and uses hisbest professional judgment toreach a conclusion about a firefighter’s fitness to use respiratoryequipment. The weight attributa-ble to the individual factors, orwhether one or a cluster of fac-tors is dispositive of whether thefire fighter shall be certified touse the equipment, is a matterleft to the professional judgmentof the physician who undertakesthe certification assessment.

The information a physicianrelies upon to complete the certi-fication assessment may beobtained from the fire fighterthrough the use of the question-naire, through the physician’sexamination of the fire fighter, or

through the use of both process-es. For example, prior to reach-ing a conclusion about the firefighter’s fitness, the physicianmay elect to rely exclusively uponthe questionnaire completed bythe fire fighter. In such a cir-cumstance, the fire fighter willcomplete the questionnaire andsubmit his responses to thephysician. It is then the respon-sibility of the physician, inreliance upon his experience andeducation, to evaluate the physi-cal health and condition of thefirefighter to determine whetherthe fire fighter shall be medically certified. Alternatively, the physi-cian may choose to orally admin-ister the questionnaire to elicitinformation from the fire fighter.After listening to and consideringthe fire fighter’s responses to thequestions, the physician willdetermine the fire fighter’s fitnessto use respiratory protectionequipment. Finally, the physi-cian may elect not to use thequestionnaire and instead con-duct a physical examination ofthe fire fighter. The physician willgather relevant data through themeans he determines are neces-sary based on his education,experience, and professionaljudgment. Once the data aregathered, he will use his profes-sional judgment to reach a con-clusion about the fire fighter’s fit-ness to use respiratory protectionequipment.4

For a basic illustration ofthese methodologies, we considerhow a physician would gatherinformation concerning the firefighter’s blood pressure. Thephysician may read the fire fight-er’s responses to the questionsabout blood pressure on thequestionnaire, ask the fire fighterabout his blood pressure, or

3 The above references to the questionnaire are to 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134, Appendix C (2011).

4 Although rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) does not state that the medical examination shall elicit the same information as the questionnaire, it is our understanding thatthe Bureau of Workers’ Compensation reads the rule to require that, in a medical examination, a physician shall elicit the same information as the questionnaire.


measure the fire fighter’s bloodpressure using a sphygmo-manometer (or blood pressuremeter). Each of these threemethods is acceptable under rule4123:1-21-02(P)(3).

Accordingly, we conclude thatrule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) does notrequire the use of pass/fail crite-ria to determine whether a firefighter shall be medically certi-fied. In order to assess a firefighter’s fitness, the physicianmust consider the fire fighter’soverall health, the environment inwhich the fire fighter will use theequipment, and the specific typeof respiratory protection equip-ment being used. This evaluativeprocess does not lend itself torigid quantitative measurements.Rather, the determination isbased upon a totality of factorsthat are evaluated by a physicianusing his education, experience,and professional judgment. Thepresence of certain physicalhealth factors in a fire fighter orthe requirement to work undercertain environmental conditionsmay have a more detrimentaleffect on the health or perform-ance of some fire fighters. Thosesame factors and conditions mayhave a less adverse effect on thehealth or performance of otherfire fighters depending upon theirparticular physical condition.

By concluding that the deter-mination of whether a fire fightershall be medically certified under

rule 4123:1-21-02(P)(3) is basedupon the physician’s use of hiseducation, experience, and pro-fessional judgment instead ofupon a set of pass/fail criteria,we are neither suggesting norcondoning the use of less strin-gent standards to evaluate a firefighter’s fitness to use respiratoryprotection equipment. As is thecase with every evaluation of apatient by a physician, in theexercise of the physician’s profes-sional judgment, the patient’shealth must be of utmost con-cern to the physician. SeeAmerican Medical AssociationCode of Medical Ethics, Principlesof Medical Ethics, VIII, (June2001) http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/ physician-resources/medical-ethics/codemedical-ethics/princi-ples-medical-ethics.page? (“[a]physician shall, while caring for apatient, regard responsibility tothe patient as paramount”). Seealso American MedicalAssociation Code of MedicalEthics, Opinion 10.015 (June2001), http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physicianre-sources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/opinion10015.page?# (“[w]ithinthe patient-physician relation-ship, a physician is ethicallyrequired to use sound medicaljudgment, holding the best inter-ests of the patient as para-mount”).

ConclusionIn sum, it is my opinion, and

you are hereby advised thatunder 10A Ohio Admin. Code4123:1-21-02(P)(3) (2010-2011Supplement), a physician orlicensed health care professionaluses his education, experience,and professional judgment todetermine whether a fire fightershall be medically certified to userespiratory protection equipment.This determination is made byevaluating a fire fighter’s healthand physical condition by meansof a medical examination of thefire fighter or the fire fighter’sresponses to the OccupationalSafety and Health Administrationquestionnaire found in 29 C.F.R.§ 1910.134, Appendix C (2011).

This article is provided solely forinformational purposes. This article is not, nor should it be construed as, legal advice. If youhave specific issues, questions,and/or concerns, contact competent legal counsel.

atwell'S Police and Fire equiPment

207 cheStnut StreetPaineSville oh 44077

(440) 354-5593


Dues continue to come infor 2013. We have mailedmembership cards and certifi-cates to those of you that havepaid as of April 1st. If youhaven’t paid as of yet, pleasetry to get your payment in assoon as possible. Remember,your dues must be in goodstanding to have a vote at theconference and, if you are amember, keep your LegalDefense Trust Fund member-ship active. There are 50departments and individualsthat have not paid this year.

Thank you to those thathave brought your LegalDefense Trust Fund member-ship up-to-date and sent in newrosters. It is important to havea current roster on file with myoffice so that we know who iscovered by the fund. A newroster should be sent each timeyour roster changes. Failure tohave a current roster on filemight delay payment from thetrust fund should it be needed.I have listed those who needtheir roster updated in thisissue.

Since last September, wehave added 340 individualmembers, including seven newdepartments to the Trust Fundwhich brings our membershiptotal to over 12.357 members.The trust fund is currentlyfunded at over $370,000 and

continues to grow significantlyeach monthly.

We have only two countiesregistered to vote at the quar-terly executive board meetings.All county representatives musthave their credentials renewedprior to the July board meetingin the even numbered year.

Each county is permitted tohave a county representativeattend the quarterly executiveboard meeting with voting privi-leges. This gives your county achance to vote on the decisionsthat will be made affecting thefire service at the state level.There are also legislative, EMSboard and fire training updatesdiscussed at each meeting.Registration forms are availableon the website and may behand carried to the board meet-ings.

We have started a featureddepartment section in eachmagazine. Departments areselected at random and will benotified by mail when selected.Recently, selected departmentshave not been returning theirquestionnaires. So I amappealing to everyone. If youwould like to have your depart-ment featured, please let meknow and I will get the informa-tion to you. This is your chanceto showcase you department.

Your officers continue towork hard to represent the fireservice in Ohio. We need yourinput to express your feelingson issues that could have aprofound affect on the way wedo business in the future.Without your input, we have touse our best judgment on whatwill do the most good for thebiggest number of members.

There are several avenuesavailable for you to expressyour opinions. The presidentand secretary/treasurer havetoll free numbers for you tomake contact with us. Via thewebsite, all officers have emailso that we may be reached elec-tronically. Quarterly meetingsare held in January, April, Julyand October at The Country Innand Suites, Columbus East andanyone is welcome to attend.Please help us help you.

The conference committeecontinues to work hard to pro-vide a quality conference, thisyear in Boston Heights. Theconference is set to be heldAugust 8 – 11. More informa-tion and registration forms areavailable in this publicationand on our website, www.ohiofirefight-ers.org. Please get your regis-trations in as soon as possibleso that the committee is notworking up to the last minute.

Plans are now in progressfor the 2014 conference thatwill be held in Medina County.Watch the magazine and thewebsite for more information asit becomes available.

Finally, remember thatsevere storm weather is uponus and we need to take the nec-essary precautions to protectourselves as well as the citizensand property we serve. Severeweather brings about many per-ils that can endanger us and weneed to take the necessarysteps to make sure we are safe.

Rodger Sansom

SECRETARY / TREASURER


STATE FIRE MARSHAL

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division ofState Fire Marshal does its part to keep Ohio’scommunities safe by lending a helping hand toOhio’s fire departments through a fire traininggrant, a volunteer fire department equipment grantand a revolving loan fund which can be used formajor purchases.

“These unique programs allow fire departmentsacross the state to provide better training, upgradefirefighting equipment and modernize working con-ditions,” said State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers.“Our communities are the winners when firefighterscan provide a higher level of service thanks to thesegrants and the loan fund program.”

Over $1 million in grant money has been awardedto 94 departments already this year. These fundsare designed to offset the cost of equipment pur-chases to local governments. For smaller depart-ments whose equipment may be in disrepair, thesefunds could make the difference between life anddeath for emergency personnel.

Marshal Flowers noted an important change to thegrant process recently encourages collaborationbetween multiple government agencies, fulfillingGovernor John R. Kasich’s vision of shared serviceswithin the state.

“There is now an exciting opportunity for local gov-ernments to work together to apply for and secureequipment grant funds,” Marshal Flowers said.“This will allow communities to share fire protection in a more effective way.”

Local fire departments chosen for the grants wereselected based on a variety of criteria, including thefire department’s annual budget, annual number offire incidents and the resident population served bythe department.

The safety of fire service personnel is of the utmostimportance to Marshal Flowers. Working in con-junction with Governor Kasich, Ohio Department ofCommerce Director Andre Porter and the state

legislature, he is continuing to push to make morefunds available in the budget for programs such asthese.

“These firefighters must have the protective equip-ment they need to perform their jobs,” said MarshalFlowers. “We want to make sure that each respon-der will be able to serve fully and return home safe-ly at the end of an emergency. These grants helpenable that.”

A list of previous fire training grant, volunteer firedepartment equipment grant and revolving loanfund recipients can be found at the Division ofState Fire Marshal’s web site:http://www.com.ohio.gov/Grants.aspx

Grant and loan application packages for FY 2014will be available later this year on the Division of State Fire Marshal’s web site:http://www.com.ohio.gov/Fire. Please contact Kimberly Hodnett at 614-752-7122 with any questions about the application process.

MONEY FOR TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT MAKES OHIO COMMUNITIES SAFER


Wilson provided several tips fordepartments applying for aSAFER grant. These include:1. Support from the department’s

leadership is critical. The recruit-ment and retention programmust have the support of theleadership to be successful.

2. Don’t assume you know what isbest for retention and recruit-ment without talking to yourmembers. Get input from mem-bers as well as those who haveleft and those thinking of joining.

3. The planning process for SAFERgrants should be year-round.Don’t wait until the grant periodopens to start the planningprocess.

4. Have a dedicated coordinator forthe grant that will see it throughthe entire process from the appli-cation to the evaluation.

5. Be creative. The SAFER grant hasa lot of room to think outside thebox. Figure out what will work foryour department, and don’t beafraid to explore new ideas.

6. Read the SAFER funding oppor-tunity announcement very care-fully before applying as changesare made from year to year.

7. The Grants Office staff is avail-able to provide assistance andanswer questions for depart-ments.

Jenaway gave tips that appliedmore generally to all recruitmentand retention initiatives. Theseinclude:1. Recruitment and retention are

local problems. There is no silverbullet that will work for everydepartment. Continually look atthe needs and challenges in yourdepartment and how to addressthem. Figure out what works andwhat doesn’t work. Think outsidethe box to solve problems.

2. Recruitment is nonstop andchanging. Make it easy and con-ducive to today’s world instead oflooking back to what has workedin the past.

3. Know what your incentives need

to be. Keep asking your personnelas needs change over time.

4. There needs to be a leader orchampion for recruitment andretention initiatives or they willfail. It is important to have some-one who will be the driving forcebehind recruitment and retentioninitiatives. You could possiblylook to the community to help,such as asking a local HR profes-sional to donate their services todevelop and implement recruit-ment initiatives.

Jacobowitz provided an overviewof the successful Recruit NY cam-paign that he helped develop in hisstate. FASNY worked with publicrelations experts to come up withthe program, which assists depart-ments in holding open houses dur-ing National Volunteer Week andFire Prevention Week. FASNY pro-vides customizable materials todepartments and motivates them toparticipate. Approximate 600departments signed up this year.Outreach to the media and commu-nity is critical to make these eventsa success. Recruit New York can beadapted to any state.

Other suggestions that came upduring the Q&A portion of theroundtable are:• Utilize social media. Get collegestudents to help.

• Broaden your base of thought asto who in the community you wantto reach. For instance, maybe offer

recruitment and retention roundtaBle: tiPS For addreSSing challengeS

A Recruitment and Retention Roundtable was held during the 2013 National Volunteer Fire Council

(NVFC) spring board meeting to provide tips, suggestions, and ideas to the board on how to meet local

recruitment and retention challenges. Chair of the NVFC Recruitment and Retention Committee Roger Bair

moderated the discussion. Panelists included David Jacobowitz, NY Director to the NVFC and Immediate

Past President of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY); Margaret Wilson, Director of

the SAFER Grant Program at the Department of Homeland Security; and Dr. William Jenaway, Vice

President of VFIS and Chief of the King of Prussia (PA) Fire Department.

Left to right: David Jacobowitz, Margaret Wilson, William Jenaway, and Roger Bair


a stipend to attract younger peoplewho might otherwise take a mini-mum wage job to earn extramoney. Consider live-in programs.Translate materials into other lan-guages. Think outside the box.

• What works is different for eachdepartment, but examples of pop-ular SAFER grant applicationsinclude stipends, renovatingdepartments (TVs, fitness equip-ment, accommodating live-in pro-

grams, etc.), LOSAPs, and tuitionreimbursement.

• Don’t reinvent the wheel. Materialsalready developed through aSAFER grant can be adapted toother departments. Call theGrants Office to find out if certainmaterials already exist.

• Look to the community to help.For instance, a marketing volun-teer can help develop a marketingplan, or an IT volunteer can help

with technical issues. Ask localbusinesses if they can provide vol-unteers. Service clubs are alsogreat connections as they are look-ing for ways to help.

• Departments can set up intern-ships for high school or collegestudents to get them involved. Thedepartment gets non-operationalhelp, and the student gets schoolcredit as well as life and job expe-rience.

Fire Corps in Ohio is being noticed at a nationallevel for their efforts in supporting the fire service.The Loveland-Symmes Emergency Services Unit wasnot only named the Ohio Program of the Year, but theyalso were the identified as the runner-up for theNational Fire Corps Award of Excellence. In addition,Ohio Fire Corps State Advocate Candice McDonaldwas named National Advocate of the Year. The DeputyDirector of the National Volunteer Fire Council, SarahLee, had the honor of presenting awards to both recipients.

Loveland-Symmes Emergency Services Unit’s FireCorps program contributed over 1,500 volunteer hoursin just one year. The financial savings impact the FireCorps program has in one year is $29,569.29(Independent Sector's Value of Volunteer Time). TheseFire Corps volunteers provide additional manpower tofacilitate traffic control, rehab, customer service, andmuch more. Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder describestheir program as “Fire Corps on steroids”.

Candice McDonald earned her award from helpingto build the capacity of the fire service. In addition toher work in Ohio, she has traveled to Texas,Washington D.C., Oregon, and Colorado to providetrainings on topics such as marketing, ethics in thefire service, and how to use youth to spread the mes-sage of fire prevention. She is also scheduled as aspeaker at the Cumberland Valley Firemen’sAssociation’s Annual Convention this August.

On a state level, Ohio Fire Corps held their secondstate conference in March and brought speakers fromall over the country. Multiple awards were also madeduring the conference. The Sebring Fire Department(Mahoning County) and the Stark Fire DepartmentRehab Unit (Stark County) were both presented with aMadi D. Award and accompanying mini-grant. TheMadi D. Awards, named after Ohio’s Fire Corps YouthAdvocate Madi Definbaugh, were specific to depart-ments in Stark, Columbiana, and Mahoning Counties.Mini-grants were made possible by a generous dona-

tion from an active firefighter/paramedic. Winnerswere selected based on their ability to mobilize com-munity members to support the fire service. Recentlyretired Winona Fire Chief, Willie Brantingham wasalso named Ohio Fire Corps Volunteer of the Year.

Chief Brantingham was recognized for his fortyplus years in the fire service and support of FireCorps. In addition to being the chief of the WinonaVolunteer Fire Department, Brantingham has servedon numerous state boards representing the fire serv-ice. He also currently serves as the Ohio Fire CorpsRegional State Advocate to assist with spreading themessage of using community members to support thefire service.

The Sebring Fire Department Association’s yearlydedication to the Fireman’s Festival made them aneasy pick for this award. The Fireman’s Festival bringstogether fire departments from all over Ohio for theannual Fireman’s Festival Parade. In addition to theparade, families can enjoy food prepared by the fire-men and their families. Rides at the festival are alwaysa huge hit among area children. This fundraisingevent requires days of dedication by volunteers andtheir families to make it successful.

The Stark Fire Department Rehab Unit (FDRU) is avolunteer fire company comprised of retired and cur-rent firefighters volunteering their time to providerehab services to all fire departments in Stark Countyand surrounding communities. FDRU provides themanpower to departments at no cost.

Fire Corps is a partner program under the CitizenCorps and is administered by the National VolunteerFire Council. Members of the Fire Corps AdvisoryCouncil represent every major fire service organizationin the nation. They provide valuable input, criticalfeedback, and supplementary ideas as to the directionof the program. For more information about FireCorps contact Candice McDonald at [email protected] or visit www.firecorps.org.

three honored at ohio Fire corPS conFerence


ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCESREFORMS TO PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS PROGRAM

On Wednesday, May 15th, Attorney General Eric Holder announced a series of reforms to the PublicSafety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program. The changes are a result of a comprehensive review of the program conducted by the Attorney General's office.

The changes include moving to a paperless, online application process, consolidation of the legalreview process within the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and continued outreach to stakeholderorganizations.

"I applaud Attorney General Holder on making these necessary changes to the PSOB Program," saidBill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. "The PSOB Program is animportant program that provides critical assistance to the families of fallen and disabled public safety offi-cers. It is imperative that we ensure the program operates effectively and expediently. CFSI will continueto work with DOJ and the excellent staff at the PSOB office to make sure these reforms are implementedand the program continues to operate efficiently."

Attorney General Holder's announcement:

Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting AssistantAttorney General for the Office of Justice Programs MaryLou Leary announced several improvements to thePublic Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program followingthe completion of a comprehensive review of the programordered by the Attorney General in May 2012.

In the coming months, the PSOB office will move toan entirely paperless electronic case management sys-tem that will allow claimants to file and monitor theprogress of their claims online, in order to improve effi-ciency, increase timeliness and reduce duplication in itsclaims administration process. The PSOB claimsprocess will also be streamlined, consolidating legal andother functions within the Bureau of Justice Assistance(BJA) and eliminating duplicative documentationrequirements. As part of the department’s ongoingefforts to improve the PSOB, BJA will continue to con-vene its series of stakeholder listening sessions in orderto ensure transparency and a positive dialogue betweenthe PSOB Office and its public safety partners in thefield.

“These fundamental improvements to the PublicSafety Officers’ Benefits Program will help us cutthrough red tape – and ensure that fallen or injured offi-cers and their families can get the benefits they need ina timely manner,” said Attorney General Holder. “Theseimprovements are representative of the value that I, thewomen and men of the Justice Department, and ourentire country, must always place on the work of our lawenforcement officers. And it’s emblematic of our commit-ment to standing with all who bravely serve our nation,especially in the toughest of times.”

“Over the past five years, the PSOB Office has pro-vided more than $426 million in benefits to fallen policeofficers, firefighters and other first responders, process-ing more than 2,857 claims,” said Acting AssistantAttorney General Leary. “But we can do even better.

These improvements will allow BJA to process cases andserve claimants even more efficiently. We are committedto ensuring that fallen public safety officers and theirfamilies get the benefits to which they are entitled underthe law in a timely and transparent manner.”

Enacted in 1976, the Public Safety Officers’ BenefitsAct allows the Justice Department to recognize the ulti-mate sacrifice of law enforcement officers, firefightersand other first responders killed in the line of duty byproviding a federal benefit to their eligible survivors.BJA’s PSOB Office administers the Death, Disability andEducational Assistance Programs; these benefits assistfamilies who may be struggling with finances in theaftermath of tragedy, as well as officers catastrophicallyinjured in the line of duty and spouses and childrenseeking educational assistance to attend institutions ofhigher education. The PSOB Office considers it an honorto assist families and agencies of America’s fallen lawenforcement heroes throughout the review of their PSOBcases.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed byActing Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, pro-vides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capac-ity to prevent and control crime, administer justice andassist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau ofJustice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; theNational Institute of Justice; the Office of JuvenileJustice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office forVictims of Crime; and the Office of Sex OffenderSentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, andTracking. For more information about OJP please visit:http://www.ojp.gov. To read the Attorney General’sspeech at the 25th Annual National Law EnforcementOfficers Memorial Candlelight Vigil, please visit:http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/ag/speeches/2013/ag-speech-130513.html.


MC 3000 Digital Deskset Intent-to-Cancel NoticeOVERVIEW Motorola announces the cancellation of the MC 3000 Digital Deskset on August 30, 2013. TheMC 3000 deskset is used to support the following Motorola Solutions, Inc. product solutions or applications.

• ASTRO XTL 5000 W9 Consolette • CDM 1550 • MCS 2000

MODELS/ OPTIONS CANCELLATION ROLLOUTThe following models numbers will be canceled and no longer available for order after August 30, 2013.This product is part of the Government Services Administration (GSA) contract.

Model Description Cancellation DateL3223AC MC 3000 Digital Deskset August 30, 2013L3223AS MC 3000 Digital Deskset W/O August 30, 2013

PS for Australia

REPLACEMENT PRODUCTThe MCD 5000 will replace the MC 3000 and is available for order today. See the table below for replace-ment model numbers.

Model Description Replaces ModelF2380 MCD 5000 L3223

CUSTOMER CANCELLATION IMPACTMotorola introduced the MCD 5000, a new IP Deskset that will replace the MC 3000. The radiosand control stations that interfaced to the MC 3000 can all be controlled by the MCD 5000 IP deskset. Inaddition, the APX7500 Consolette will be supported by the MCD 5000 IP deskset.

SERVICE IMPLICATIONSAftermarket Product support will be available for the MC 3000 via commercially reasonable efforts untilOctober 31, 2020 through the Customer Fulfillment Centers (CFC).

CONTACT INFORMATIONFor questions regarding the MC 3000 Digital Deskset cancellation contact:Motorola Solutions Customer Fulfillment CenterIn the US, call 1-800-422-4210 • In Canada, call 1-800-543-3222In Latin America, Asia, Middle East, and Europe, call 1-847-538-8023 • Federal Inquiries, call 1-800-826-1913


Adamsville Comm. F.D./Emer. Squad Muskingum Adamsville 2/15/2012 35Antrim Community Vol. Fire Dept Guernsey Kimbolton 12/19/2005 25B. M. O. P. Fire Dept, Inc. Clermont Amelia 1/29/2008 40Berlin Twp. Fire Department Mahoning Berlin Center 8/8/2009 27Boston Heights Fire Department Summit Hudson 7/30/2012 25Brookside Fire Department Belmont Bridgeport 7/19/2012 17Burghill Vernon Vol. Fire Department Trumbull Kinsman 3/21/2011 38Burton Vol. Fire & Rescue Department Geauga Burton 3/20/2012 46Byesville Fire Department Guernsey Byesville 1/18/2009 22Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department Columbiana Calcutta 1/21/2012 27Carlisle Twp. Fire Dept. Lorain LaGrange 12/29/2010 34Chesapeake - Union Fire Department Lawrence Chesapeake 1/28/2012 22Clinton Fire Department Summit Clinton 2/8/2012 22Clyde Fire Department Sandusky Clyde 1/22/2010 34Coitsville Fire Department Mahoning Lowellville 4/27/2010 20Colerain Fire Department Belmont Colerain 5/5/2011 36Conneaut Fire Dept 3 & 4 Ashtabula Conneaut 10/30/2007 60Crooksville Fire Department Perry Crooksville 2/16/2011 40Eaton Twp. Fire & Rescue Lorain Grafton 12/30/2011 34Fairfield Twp. Fire Department Butler Hamilton 12/30/2011 75Fairlawn Fire Department Summit Fairlawn 2/29/2012 55Felicity Franklin EMS Clermont Felicity 1/14/2011 30Fowler Fire Department Trumbull Fowler 1/24/2012 40Goshen Twp. Fire & EMS Clermont Goshen 2/8/2012 59Granger Twp. Fire Department Medina Medina 8/24/2012 35Great Trail Fire District Carroll Malvern 5/7/2012 36Green Fire Department Summit Green 1/24/2012 61Green Springs Vol. Fire Department Seneca Green Springs 3/19/2012 40Hambden Vol. Fire Department Geauga Chardon 1/7/2012 40Hamilton Twp. Fire Department Franklin Columbus 7/25/2012 40Hayesville - Vermillion Fire Dept Ashland Hayesville 12/23/2010 25Hillsboro Fire & Rescue Highland Hillsboro 7/24/2008 27Holiday Campland Vol. Fire Dept Ashtabula Andover 2/8/2009 58Homeworth Vol. Fire Co. Inc. Columbiana Homeworth 12/31/2010 30Howland Twp Vol. Fire Dept, Inc Trumbull Warren 1/28/2012 61Lafayette Twp Vol. Fire Department Medina Medina 4/26/2010 50Laura Fire Company. Inc. Miami Laura 12/28/2009 25Licking Twp. Emerg. Squad & F.D. Muskingum Nashport 1/28/2008 22Lockland Fire Dept & Life Squad Hamilton Lockland 3/12/2012 35Lodi Fire Department Medina Lodi 1/10/2011 45Lordstown Fire Department Trumbull Lordstown 3/20/2012 50Lynchburg Area Joint Fire & Ambulance Highland Lynchburg 4/12/2012 52Marblehead Vol. Fire Department Ottawa Marblehead 1/4/2012 27

Maynard Community Vol. Fire Dept. Belmont Maynard 3/15/2009 9Miami Twp Fire & EMS Clermont Milford 7/26/2012 100Mifflin Community Volunteer Fire Dept. Ashland Ashland 1/7/2012 25Mingo Junction Fire & EMS Jefferson Mingo Junction 10/25/2012 26Monroe Twp. Fire & EMS Clermont New Richmond 1/17/2011 55Mt. Healthy Fire Department Hamilton Mt. Healthy 1/28/2012 43Negley Vol. Fire Department Columbiana Negley 1/24/2012 30Newton Twp. Fire Department Licking St. Louisville 1/17/2007 40North College Hill Fire Department Hamilton Cincinnati 3/26/2012 37North Kingsville Volunteer Fire Dept. Ashtabula North Kingsville 4/30/2012 43Northfield Village Fire Department Summit Northfield 2/7/2008 22Norton Fire Department Summit Norton 2/24/2012 41Orwell Volunteer Fire Department Ashtabula Orwell 1/13/2010 31Pleasant Hill Vol. Fire Department Jefferson Steubenville 1/5/2006 46Pottery Addition Volunteer Fire Dept. Jefferson Steubenville 1/24/2012 22Prairie Twp. Fire Department Franklin Columbus 5/10/2011 77Rayland Volunteer Fire Department Jefferson Rayland 3/11/2011 15Richland Twp. Fire Department Fairfield Rushville 2/9/2011 32Ripley Fire Department Brown Ripley 1/20/2012 30Rome Volunteer Fire Department Lawrence Proctorville 1/2/2012 30Russellville Fire Department Brown Russellville 5/13/2012 16Scio Vol. Fire Dept Harrison Scio 1/14/2011 31Scott Twp. Fire Department Adams Peebles 1/8/2012 32Seville-Guilford Fire Association Medina Seville 1/29/2011 47Sheffield Twp. Fire Department Lorain Lorain 4/1/2012 28Sheffield Vol. Fire Department Ashtabula Kingsville 1/29/2011 26Smith Twp. Volunteer Fire Department Belmont Jacobsburg 8/26/2012 35Spencer Community Fire District Medina Spencer 3/3/2011 32Springdale Fire Department Hamilton Springdale 1/1/1998 17Springfield Township Fire Department Lucas Holland 4/1/2012 90Springfield Twp Fire Department Summit Akron 5/26/2011 39Springfield Twp. Fire Department Hamilton Hamilton 4/30/2012 90Strasburg Volunteer Fire Department Tuscarawas Strasburg 3/8/2009 37Struthers Fire Department Mahoning Struthers 5/27/2011 11Sugarcreek Fire Department Tuscarawas Sugarcreek 1/25/2012 30Sunset Heights Volunteer Fire Dept. Belmont Bridgeport 1/9/2012 24Sycamore Twp. Fire Department Hamilton Cincinnati 1/26/2012 36Thurston-Walnut Twp. Fire Dept. Fairfield Thurston 12/30/2011 42Violet Twp. Fire Department Fairfield Pickerington 2/8/2012 85Wakeman Fire District Huron Wakeman 2/24/2012 30Warren Twp. Fire Department Trumbull Leavittsburg 4/12/2012 61Waynesburg Fire Department Stark Waynesburg 3/21/2011 20Worthington Division of Fire Franklin Worthington 3/28/2012 59

DEPARTMENT COUNTY CITY LAST ROSTER MEMBERS DEPARTMENT COUNTY CITY LAST ROSTER MEMBERS

legal deFenSe truSt Fund roSterS needed!The following is a list of departments that have not updated their Legal Defense Trust Fund Rosters as requested for

2013. This list is current as of March 15th, when it was sent in for printing. If your department is listed, please makesure that your roster gets updated as soon as possible so that the Trustees will know who is covered by the trust fund.

It is important to note that the trustees of the fund have authorized the Comptroller to charge a $750 administrativefee if there is not a current roster on file and these funds are needed.

Please mail your updated department roster to: LDTF Comptroller, P.O. Box 400, Mogadore, OH 44260-0400. Thankyou for your cooperation.

LDTF Roster Data

weStern reServe harley davidSon

8567 tyler roadmentor oh 44060

(440) 974-6900


Arcanum Fire Department Arcanum Darke 2013Augusta Twp. Vol. Fire Department Augusta Carroll 2013Boston Heights Fire Department Hudson Summit 2013Brecksville Fire Department Brecksville Cuyahoga 2013Brookside Fire Department Bridgeport Belmont 2013Camden - Somers Twp. Fire & Rescue Camden Preble 2013Cleveland Fire Department Cleveland Cuyahoga 2013Clyde Fire Department Clyde Sandusky 2013Conneaut Fire Dept 3 & 4 Conneaut Ashtabula 2012, 2013Eastlake Fire Department Eastlake Lake 2013Felicity Franklin EMS Felicity Clermont 2013Franklin Division of Fire Franklin Warren 2013Goshen Twp. Fire & EMS Goshen Clermont 2013Hillsboro Fire & Rescue Hillsboro Highland 2012, 2013Holiday Campland Vol. Fire Department Andover Ashtabula 2013Lafayette Twp Vol. Fire Department Medina Medina 2012, 2013Laura Fire Company. Inc. Laura Miami 2012, 2012

Licking Twp. Emerg. Squad & F.D. Nashport Muskingum 2013Minerva Park Volunteer Fire Department Columbus Franklin 2013Mingo Junction Fire & EMS Mingo Junction Jefferson 2013Monroe Twp. Fire & EMS New Richmond Clermont 2012, 2013New Carlisle Fire Department New Carlisle Clark 2013North Kingsville Volunteer Fire Dept. North Kingsville Ashtabula 2013Pepper Pike Fire Department Pepper Pike Cuyahoga 2013Pleasant Hill Vol. Fire Department Steubenville Jefferson 2013Plymouth Vol. Fire Department Ashtabula Ashtabula 2012, 2013Rayland Volunteer Fire Department Rayland Jefferson 2012, 2013Spencer Community Fire District Spencer Medina 2012, 2013Springdale Fire Department Springdale Hamilton 2012, 2013St. Albans Twp. Firefighters' Association Alexandria Licking 2012, 2013Strasburg Volunteer Fire Department Strasburg Tuscarawas 2012, 2013Struthers Fire Department Struthers Mahoning 2012, 2013Sycamore Twp. Fire Department Cincinnati Hamilton 2013

DEPARTMENT MAILING CITY COUNTY YEAR DEPARTMENT MAILING CITY COUNTY YEAR

memBerShiP dueS not Paid For 2013The following is a list of departments that have not paid their dues payments for 2013. This list is current as of March15th, when it was sent in for printing. If your department is listed, please make sure that the dues get paid as soon aspossible to avoid having your department getting moved to the inactive list. Thank you for your cooperation.

Not Paid For 2013

XTS 5000 P25 PORTABLE RADIOS Intent-to-Cancel NoticeOVERVIEW The purpose of this notification is to inform ASTRO 25 subscriber owners of a cancellation ofthe XTS 5000 portable radio models. It is recommended that last time purchases be considered at thistime to cover anticipated or planned customer expansion and lifetime spare units.

• XTS 5000 Last Order Entry: October 31, 2013• XTS 5000 Last Customer Scheduled Ship Date: November 30, 2013• XTS 5000 Last Field Service 5 Years Support to Conclude: December 31, 2018

*There are no accessories being cancelled with this Intent to Cancel.

MODELS/ OPTIONS CANCELLATION ROLLOUT Affected XTS 5000 Models

H18KEC9PW5AN VHF (136-174) 1-6 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL I PORTABLE

H18KEF9PW6AN VHF (136-174) 1-6 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL II PORTABLE

H18KEH9PW7AN VHF (136-174) 1-6 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL III PORTABLE

H18QDC9PW5AN UHFR1 (380-470) 1-5 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL I PORTABLE

H18QDF9PW6AN UHFR1 (380-470) 1-5 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL II PORTABLE

H18QDH9PW7AN UHFR1 (380-470) 1-5 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL III PORTABLE

H18SDC9PW5AN UHFR2 (450-520) 1-5 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL I PORTABLE

H18SDF9PW6AN UHFR2 (450-520) 1-5 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL II PORTABLE

H18SDH9PW7AN UHFR2 (450-520) 1-5 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL III PORTABLE

H18UCC9PW5AN 7/800 (764-870) 1-3 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL I PORTABLE

H18UCF9PW6AN 7/800 (764-870) 1-3 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL II PORTABLE

H18UCH9PW7AN 7/800 (764-870) 1-3 Watt XTS 5000 MODEL III PORTABLE

REPLACEMENT PRODUCTThe APX 7000 will replace the XTS 5000 and is currently available for order. This premier portable isequipped with leading technology for the most demanding conditions and is ideal for agencies requiringmultiband interoperability and future expandability. Another alternative replacement solution to the XTS5000 is the APX 6000, which is also currently available for order. The APX 6000 is the smallest, full-fea-tured single-band P25 Phase 2 capable portable radio with advanced voice and data technology.

Motorola Solutions, Inc. 1301 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, Illinois 60196 U.S.A. www.motorolasolutions.com


During the National Volunteer Fire Council’s(NVFC) 2013 spring board meeting in Alexandria onMay 10-11, the NVFC Board of Directors joinedtogether to help the survivors and families of theWest, TX, explosion that claimed the lives of 12 fire-fighters last month.

Board members Ron Roy (WA) and Kevin Quinn (RI) initiated a hatdrive to collect donations forWest. A shirt was also auc-tioned off during the NVFCFoundation Auction with pro-ceeds going to West. In total,the board raised $2,500. TheState Firemen’s and FireMarshals’ Association of Texasis working on a long-term planto help the West Volunteer FireDepartment, which will beshared with the NVFC boardonce finalized so further assis-tance can be provided.

NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, who attendedthe memorial service at Baylor University alongwith NVFC board members David Jacobowitz (NY),Pat Hlavaty (TX), and Dallas Renfrew (TX), spokeabout his trip to West and commended the strongshow of support from President Barrack Obama,Texas Governor Rick Perry, the community of West,and others throughout the nation.

“We have a dangerous joband sometimes not everyonedoes go home. The impactthat has on a department isdifficult to describe,” saidStittleburg. “Our hearts goout to the folks in West andall the departments thatwere affected. We know whatyou are going through.”

nvFc Board raises money for Families of west Firefighters

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)announced the 2013 Fire Prevention Week theme:“Prevent Kitchen Fires.” NFPA selected this themeto encourage greater care when cooking and anawareness of kitchen fire dangers. As cooking is thenumber one cause of home fires and home fireinjuries, NFPA will use the week of October 6-12 topromote safe kitchen habits with stoves,microwaves, and other appliances. Remainingattentive while cooking and managing how closechildren and pets are to anything hot will help keepfamilies safe.

“On average, firefighters respond to more than 400kitchen fires every day” says Lorraine Carli, VicePresident of Communications for NFPA. “By makingkitchen fire safety the theme for 2013 FirePrevention Week, we can raise the awareness of theleading cause of fires, unattended cooking, andprovide life saving safety tips to improve the safetyof everyone in the home.”

The 2013 Fire Prevention Week campaign materialsprominently feature Sparky the Fire Dog®, NFPA’smascot. Sparky’s Wish List is an online registry

where fire departments request much needed edu-cational materials and individuals or businessespurchase items for them. Nearly 700 fire depart-ments have registered.

NFPA is providing important kitchen safety tips tohomeowners that align with the Fire PreventionWeek theme:• When you fry, grill, or broil food, stay in thekitchen.

• Maintain a kid- and pet-free zone at least 3 feetaway from the stove.

• Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.• Keep a lid and oven mitt nearby when you’recooking to use in case of a grease fire. If you havea grease fire, slide a lid over the pan. Turn off theburner and leave the pan covered until it is com-pletely cool.

Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more informa-tion and safety tips. View a video of Sparky the FireDog® and Ken Willette, NFPA’s Division Manager ofPublic Fire Protection, announce the theme for FirePrevention Week 2013

nFPa announces theme of Fire Preventionweek 2013: Prevent Kitchen Fires


Name: __________________________________________

Department:____________________________________

Address:_______________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Dept. Email:____________________________________

Department Phone:______________________________

Fill out the information above andmail it to the OSFA at:

Ohio State Firefighters’ AssociationP.O. Box 400, Mogadore, OH 44260,(330) 388-4307

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?Let us know – so we can keep you informed!

XTL 5000 P25 MOBILE RADIOS Intent-to-Cancel NoticeOVERVIEW The purpose of this notification is to inform ASTRO 25 subscriber owners of the cancellationof the XTL 5000 mobile radio on November 30, 2013. It is recommended that last time purchases be con-sidered at this time to cover anticipated or planned customer expansion and lifetime spare units.

• XTL 5000 Last Order Entry: October 31, 2013• XTL 5000 Last Customer Scheduled Ship Date: November 30, 2013• XTL 5000 Last Field Service 5 Years Support to Conclude: December 31, 2018

Note: There are no accessories being cancelled with this Intent to Cancel Notice.

MODELS/ OPTIONS CANCELLATION Listed below are the XTL 5000 models

M20QSS9PW1AN UHFR1 (380-470) 10-40 Watt XTL 5000 MOBILE

M20QTS9PW1AN UHFR1 (380-470) 25-110 Watt XTL 5000 MOBILE

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everything changesIt was Sept. 16, and to help raisemoney for a scholarship, Schroederdecided to participate in the JustinRyan Memorial Run with fellowmembers of the V-Twin CruisersMotorcycle Club. Riding near theback of the pack, Schroeder wasenjoying a sunny 75-degree daywith perfect, clear skies. After adetour at a covered bridge and aquick stop for gas, the group set offto finish their ride, when a normaltrip through an intersectionchanged his life forever.

As Schroeder described, a car waswaiting to turn left when a distract-ed driver came up behind them andswerved left of center. "I don't knowwhether she was texting," he said. "Idon't know whether she was gawk-ing at the bikes or what, but shecame up and couldn't stop in time,so she hit her brakes and swervedto miss the car and instead of hit-ting the car she came over into thebikes."

Schroeder was thrown 30 feet, theforce of which severely damaged hisleft leg. "At first, I didn't even know Iwas hurt when I hit the ground," hesaid. "I tried to get up and my footwas gone, it was mangled. It lookedlike something from a war moviethat had gotten blown up."

Having a medical background,Schroeder was aware of the dangerhe was in. He recalls asking the copat the scene to get a medical heli-copter and worrying about the bloodloss and the possibility of "bleedingout." He watched the monitors inthe ambulance, trying to determineif he is going into shock and tellingthe paramedics he needed fluids.Even though he was aware of every-thing that was going on, he said thefear kicked in as he was taken to St.Elizabeth Medical Center inYoungstown. "I knew I was OK, but Istill looked up at this lady and Iasked her, 'Am I going to die?'" herecalled.

Schroeder underwent surgery, leav-ing him a below-the-knee amputee.He spent 12 days in the hospital,where he had his family at his sideand friends sleeping on the floor.Just two days after he was dis-charged, his wife, Holly, gave birthto the couple's second child.

Fighting BackThough the accident wasn't hisfault, Schroeder said he felt guilty —that he let his family down. "Thefirst thing you think is remorse. Youthink of everybody that meanssomething to you," he said. "I wasthat person that my family leanedon. My mother, my wife, my kids,everybody came to me, and I wentfrom being this strong person towhat am I now? I'm in a hospitalbed without a foot."

Schroeder said the biggest challengewas the mental aspect, going frombeing the strong provider to havingto rely on people and fightingthrough depression. After weaninghimself off the depression and painmedications that he knew he wasrelying on to mask his feelings andhis reality, Schroeder turned a cor-ner.

He worked with Hanger Prostheticsand Orthotics in Boardman, who fithim with a new leg. He also found afriend in physical therapist JoshGraybeal from Ohio Sports andSpine Institute, who continues topush him.

Putting on and taking off his pros-thetic has become part of his rou-tine, and each day gets a little easieras he continues progressing.

maKing a comeBacK: SeBring FireFighter/Paramedic

returnS to worK aFter liFe-altering accident

Story by Shannon Harsh of The Alliance Review / Photos by Kevin Graff

As Sebring resident Barry "B.J." Schroeder Jr. knows all too well, everything can change in the blink of

an eye. For Schroeder, that blink came in the form of an accident that cost him part of his leg. But as

many amputees have told him since, "There's nothing you can't do now that you didn't do before — you

just have to do it differently."

With the support of those around him, Schroeder has worked his way back to doing not only the nor-

mal everyday duties most of us take for granted, but serving his community and helping others through

his job as a firefighter and paramedic.

FEATURE ARTICLE


Schroeder said he has made greatstrides in the past three months,but it wasn't until recently that hefinally felt ready and comfortableenough to watch both of his littlegirls, 4-year-old Caidee and 7-month-old Caylee, on his own. "Twoor three weeks ago, for the firsttime, both my kids feel asleep in myarms and I picked them up and car-ried them to bed," he recalled. "Youjust sit there beside them and youcry because you realize that youweren't doing that."

It was also within the past coupleweeks that he was released to workfull time. After taking on a tempo-rary stint as a dispatcher for hisemployer, Lane LifeTRANS, a com-pany that he said has shown himtremendous support, he is finallyback to working as a paramedic.

While he was restricted from physi-cal work and lifting, Schroeder saidhe never really left his job as a fire-fighter/paramedic with the SebringFire Department. "I would still comearound if they needed me. I calledmyself the last responder," he saidwith a laugh.

importance of SupportSchroeder noted getting back towhere he is has been a group effort."It takes everything to get back. Ittakes my friends, it takes my family,it takes my community, it takes mymedical professionals, my physicaltherapist, my doctors, my leg guy,"he said. "It takes all of them to getback, and if it wasn't for them, Iwouldn't be here."

At times like these, Schroeder said,a person finds out who his truefriends are. While some people can'thandle it and walk away, he saidothers refuse to give up on you andpick you up each time you fall.

There are a lot of people who havemade a difference in his recovery,but Schroeder said it is his wife andgirls who have prevented him fromgiving up. He said his wife probablyhad it harder than him, watching

him go through everything and tak-ing care of their children. "I pushedher away at first," he admitted. "Iwas determined to do everything onmy own. The guilt was there. It wasjust tough, but she's always beenthere no matter what. No matterwhat kind of attitude I had, no mat-ter how depressed I was, no matterhow I was treating her, no matterwhere I was mentally, she was thesame person."

Schroeder said in the end he onlyhad two choices — to stay in thechair or get up and work through it."Just having the two little ones lookat you is what pushes you through.It makes you want to get up out ofyour chair," he said. "But you can'tdo that without the help from oth-ers. It's impossible."

For that reason, Schroeder said, hehopes those injured in the recentBoston bombing have a similar sup-port system.

Hearing about victims losing limbsin the tragedy struck a chord with

Schroeder,having beenthrough ithimself. "Ipray to Godthe peoplein Bostonhave thehelp that Igot becausewithout ityou don'tcome back,"he said.

moving ForwardNow back to the job he loves,Schroeder said he strives to do hiswork the only way he knows how —with excellence, confidence, passionand, most of all, to make a differ-ence.

He continues physical therapy withGraybeal and hopes to be ready todo the Hero Rush, a physicallydemanding race and obstaclecourse, in July.

Despite his injury, Schroeder hasn'tlet it stop him from riding. Just twoweeks after he was released fromthe hospital, he said, he purchaseda new motorcycle, which was fittedwith a special heel toe shifter inplace of a traditional clutch pedal.He admitted it was difficult to startriding again, but he didn't want theaccident to change how he lives hislife.

"A year from now, I might not beriding a motorcycle, but that's goingto be my choice," he explained. "Idon't want the accident to changemy life or change my opinion onanything. I want to get back towhere I was — and I'm close — andthen any changes I make will be onmy terms, not because some ladywasn't paying attention and hit me."

a new PerspectiveGoing through difficult times oftenchanges your perspective on life. ForSchroeder, he said the ordealallowed him to refocus on what ismost important.

Though he was never an absenteefather, he said his focus was onworking and being the providerbefore his accident. Between his job,averaging 65 hours a week, andspending free time riding his motor-cycle, he said he now realizes hewas, at times, neglecting his family.

Schroeder said he believes the acci-dent was God's way of remindinghim there are more importantthings in life than what he wasdoing. "He slowed me down. He putme in a chair, and now I look for-ward to going home and being withmy kids," Schroeder said.

He added that the accident hasgiven him a second outlook on life."I look at life completely different.I'm a different person because of myaccident," he admitted. "I used tolive for these big plans, and setgoals for three or four years fromnow. It's still a goal, but I've learnedto cherish every single day that youhave now because tomorrow is notguaranteed."


FEATURE DEPARTMENT

Bethel-tate Fire dePt.

Bethel-tateFire dept.

established in 1900members: volunteer:10 • Part-Paid:32 • Full time:12

combination Fire and emSFires Per year: 492 • emS Per year: 1,297other calls Per year: 13

officer names and rankrichard Stowell ................chiefBob Krekeler ....................asst. chiefdavid long ........................asst, chiefchris cooper ....................captainJerry e. welch ..................lieutenantSean o’neil........................lieutenant

equipmentPumpers: 3 • ladders: 1 • rescue: 1 • medic/ambulance: 3 other: (1) 4 seat gator, (2) Brush units,(2) Support units, (1) Fire rescue Boat, (1)2000 gal. tanker, (1) Fire Safety trailer, (1) haz-mat trailer, (1) Staff car

The Bethel-Tate Fire Department is located in Clermont County. They provide fire andEMS coverage to the Village of Bethel and Tate Township. The District covers 48 square miles, whichincludes a portion of East Fork State Park. The department runs out of one station which is locatedat 149 North East Street in Bethel, Ohio. The department is dispatched by the Clermont CountyCommunications Center and is designated as station 2 within the county. The staff of the depart-ment is made up of 54 members that include full-time, part-time and volunteers. Staffing is provided24 hours a day by 5 firefighter paramedic/emt’s. Additional support is provided by part-time andvolunteers who respond to assist on fire and EMS details. In addition to providing fire and EMS cov-erage, the department is a chartered training school. They teach 36 hour, firefighter 1 and 2, fireinspector, fire instructor. The school also teaches haz-mat as well as other courses in specializedrescue. The department also provides public education in CPR and first aid. The department beganin 1900 by town officials who saw the need to provide fire protection. The first piece of fire equip-ment purchase was a hand pumper. In 1926, the town purchased a 1926 Dodge Deluge pumperwhich was purchased from the Sutphen Corporation. This was the first piece of motorized fire equip-ment in Clermont County. Today the employees of the department deal with fire suppression, EMS,auto accidents, water rescues, wildland fires and many other technical rescues within the districtand surrounding communities. In 2012, the department answered 1,802 fire and EMS details. Thedepartment can be reached at 513-734-4444 or by email at www.tatetownship.org.

engine 2, tower 2, medic 2


The National Fire Protection Association releasedan updated report on the Total Cost of Fire in theUnited States. It can be seen from the report thatthe total cost of fire in 2010, adjusted for inflation,is 38 percent higher than in 1980, while its propor-tion of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) hasdeclined by roughly one-third.

However, both the total cost of fire and total cost aspercentage of GDP have been roughly steady for thepast several years. The total cost of fire for 2010 isestimated at $328 billion, or roughly 2.2 percent ofU.S. GDP.

The complete total cost of fire is defined as the sumof economic loss (e.g. property damage, businessinterruption), human loss (e.g. lives lost, medicaltreatment, pain and suffering), and the cost of provisions to prevent or mitigate the cost of fire(e.g. fire departments, insurance, and fire protection equipment and construction).

Other key findings from the report:• Although the core total cost of fire has increasedby 45 percent since 1980 to total $108.4 billion,the economic loss due to fire decreased by 29 percent, totalling $14.8 billion.

• The total cost of direct property damages, reported or unreported, was $13.2 billion. Thisfigure represents 89 percent of the economic loss.The other 11 percent represents indirect losses,such as business interruption.

• Building construction expenses needed solely forthe purposes of fire safety and fire protection considerations totalled $31.7 billion.

• Human losses were estimated at $31.9 billion.

For a fact sheet on the total cost of fire, please visitwww.nfpa.org/TotalCost.

total cost of Fire up 38% from 1980 NFPA report details $328 billion impact of fire


76th annual conference

ohio State Firefighters’ association2013 annual conference

august 8th- 11th, 2013clarion inn and Suites, hudson, ohio

the following section containsregistration and other important

conference information!


ohio State Firefighters’ association76th annual conference

august 8th- 11th, 2013clarion inn and Suites, hudson (Boston heights) oh

March 1, 2013

Dear Emergency Services Supporter:

On August 8th – 11th, 2013, the Ohio State Firefighter’s annual conference will beheld at the Clarion Inn & Suites in Hudson (Boston Heights) Ohio.

Vendor space is available for one day only on Friday, August 9th. Set up is August9th from 7a.m. to 11 a.m. Space is limited and we anticipate to sell out quickly,therefore, do not wait to register. A registration form has been enclosed. The day willend with a “Get Acquainted / Vendors Reception” in the vendor’s area that willinclude a cash bar (free beer and snacks) with live music.

The membership attending is a mix of fire chiefs, officers, firefighters and EMT’s. This is your chance to expose and sell your products to a large number of fire departments in Ohio. Advertisements for the conference magazine are on sale and ifyou are interested, please call for forms. A separate check does not have to be writtenfor this and you can send all the forms back together. (If you can not be an exhibitor,please consider advertising or donating a door prize).

You can obtain hotel accommodations by calling the Clarion Inn & Suites, at (330)653-9191 or toll free direct, 888-403-0031. Tell them your stay is for the OhioFirefighter’s Conference to receive the special rates. The hotel rate is $89 plus 15%tax per night and includes a free hot breakfast buffet. (Do Not use the “800” ClarionReservation #)

If you have any questions or I can assist you, please call me at (330) 472-0260 (leave voicemail if no answer).

Look forward to seeing you,

Scott McClellan

Scott McClellanOhio State Firefighter’s Association


Keynote Speaker – dennis l. rubinFriday, august 9th at 10am

Dennis L. Rubin is the principal partner in the fire protection-consultingfirm D. L. Rubin & Associates. The firm provides training, course devel-opment and independent review of policy and procedures for all types offire-rescue agencies. Rubin is currently working on several significantprojects to include leadership, operational and supervisory training pro-grams for various clients.

Chief Rubin’s experience in fire and rescue service spans more than 35years. He has served as a fire fighter, company officer; command levelofficer; and fire chief in several major cities including Dothan, Alabama,Norfolk, Virginia, Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, DC. In 1994, Rubinserved as the President of the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia.Rubin was the host Fire Chief for the 1999 Southeastern Fire ChiefsAssociation conference held in Dothan, Alabama. He served on severalcommittees with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, including a

two-year term as the Health and Safety Committee Chair. Chief Rubin was the host FireChief for the “Wingspread IV and V” conferences held in 1996 and 2006.

Chief Rubin’s educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science Degree in FireAdministration from the University of Maryland and Associates in Applied Science Degreein Fire Science Management from the Northern Virginia Community College. Chief Rubinis a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officers Program (EFOP).Rubin is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM); and a certified Incident Safety Officer aswell has obtained the Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) and Chief Medical OfficerDesignation (CMO) presented by the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Rubin’s teaching credentials are significant. They include a field instructorship with theUniversity of Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute and Associate Instructorships with theVirginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and Rio Salado CommunityCollege in Mesa, Arizona. Rubin has been an adjunct faculty member of the National FireAcademy since 1983. At the National Fire Academy he instructed, as well as developed,many courses. Rubin is a popular speaker and lecturer at the local, state, national andinternational levels.

Rubin is the author of several non-fiction books. The first release is entitled Rube’sRules for Survival, currently it is out of print, but will be available soon. Next, is Rube’s Rules for Leadership it’s available from iTunes. Watch for Chief Rubin’s thirdbook DC Fire to be released in late 2012 by Fire Engineering Books. Rubin contributesto several fire-rescue service publications and has written more than 160 technical arti-cles related to fire department operations,administration, training, and safety.

Chief Rubin lives in Northern Virginia. He has three grown children Dennis II, Andrea,and Ashley; He has a grandson named Luke.

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.DennisRubin.com


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4832 richmond road, #100

warrenSville htS.oh 44128

(440) 349-9000

aBBingtonmanagement

5920 venture dr., #200duBlin oh 43017

(614) 789-9868


AMBULANCE DRIVER CITED FOLLOWING CRASH

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 by Amber GillenwaterCHESHIRE — The ohio State Highway Patrol hascited a Meigs County EMS first responder for travel-ing left of center following a three-vehicle crash thatoccurred on Saturday evening in Cheshire.

According to the responding trooper with the Gallia-Meigs Post of the highway patrol, Alfred Lyons, 49,Pomeroy, was the driver of a Meigs CountyEmergency Medical Services ambulance and hasbeen cited as the at-fault driver.

Reportedly, the EMS unit, transporting patient JohnAnderson, 72, of Racine, was traveling southboundon ohio 7 when, at approximately 7:35 p.m., thedriver traveled left of center and struck a MercuryMarquis that was traveling northbound, head-on,near the intersection of ohio 554.

Anderson was reportedly not in a life or death situa-tion at the time of the crash, according to the troop-er, and was being transported from his home toHolzer Medical Center in Gallipolis by the EMS unit.

The driver of the Mercury Marquis, Charles Kearns,75, of Mason, W.Va., as well as his passenger,Eleanor Kearns, 76, Mason, W.Va., were both takento Holzer Medical Center by Meigs County EMS withmoderate injuries.

A Honda minivan that was also traveling north-bound directly behind the Mercury Marquis wasalso struck in the crash.

The driver of that vehicle, Michelle Folmer, 35,Pomeroy, had possible injuries and was taken toHolzer Medical Center by Meigs County EMS,according to the highway patrol.

The trooper further reported that Teresa Johnson,49, Racine, the passenger in the ambulance and thedriver’s fellow first responder, traveled to PleasantValley Hospital after the accident with possibleinjuries.

Lyons, who also had possible injuries, also traveled to Pleasant Valley Hospital as is procedure,according to the trooper.

Reportedly, ohio 7 was closed for 45 minutes to anhour while crews responded to the crash. �

OHIO FIRE CAPTAIN RELEASED FROM THEHOSPITAL AFTER BEING STRUCK

Friday, April 5, 2013 Dayton Fire Capt. BarryCron was speaking to a victim of a crash on U.S.35 before daybreak Tuesday as snow fell. Momentslater, another vehicle lost control on the roadwayand struck the first truck, which slammed intoCapt. Cron. Dayton Police Officer Jason Ward andtwo firefighters carried Cron away from the pileup."He raised his arm at one point, but he never saidanything to me," --said Ward- "I knew he was stillin danger. At any moment another car could havecrashed on him." Capt. Cron was released fromMiami Valley Hospital Wednesday night. The crashcreated a pileup that involved 12 vehicles. Snowand ice led to multiple crashes throughout theregion Tuesday. �

PRIVATE AMBULANCE DAMAGED INKETTERING CRASH

Thursday, April 4, 2013 Police here are determin-ing who was at fault when a private medical serviceambulance was struck by another vehicle at WestDorothy Lane and Woodman Drive.

Kettering police and rescue crews responded latethis afternoon to the intersection and found aCommunity EMS ambulance had been struck anddamaged by a pickup truck.

No one was injured in the crash, but a patient whowas being transported in the ambulance was off-loaded and taken to Kettering Medical Center by aKettering life squad, said police Lt. Craig Moore.

Moore said the ambulance was turning from WestDorothy onto Woodman when it was struck by thepickup that was headed south on Woodman. Thepickup had the green light, but the westboundambulance’s sirens and lights were running and itstopped at the red light before entering the inter-section, Moore said.

The crash will be under review to determine if oneof the driver’s will be cited. �

FIRE APPARATUS STRIKES CYCLIST

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 A man on a bicyclewas seriously injured when he was struck earlyWednesday morning by a city fire truck, said Sgt.Leo T. Shirkey of the ohio Highway Patrol.

FIREFIGHTER NEWS


The fire truck was not heading to an emergency.It was heading to Station 4 at Cleveland Avenueand 25th Street NW, returning from a crash onFulton Road and Interstate 77, Shirkey said.

The crash occurred at 2:56 a.m. at that intersection.

Canton fire truck No. 9 was heading east on Fultonand, with the light green, turned north onto 25thStreet, Shirkey said.

A man riding a bike west on Fulton failed to stopfor a red light and was struck by the truck, he said.

Investigators said he not have identification on him but they were later able to locate and notifymembers of his family.

The bicyclist was later identified as Shawn Dockery,51, of the 6200 block of Groton Street NW inJackson Township. �

THIEF CRASHES STOLEN FD TANKER

Saturday, May 11, 2013 A volunteer fire depart-ment in rural Ross County is minus a fire truckafter an early-morning joy ride ended in a crashthat destroyed the tanker truck and criticallyinjured the suspected thief.

A man broke into the Harrison Township fire sta-tion, jumped aboard a 2003 Kenworth tanker truckand took off down Charleston Pike east ofChillicothe with the lights flashing and the sirenwailing, authorities said.

The thief didn’t get far. The westbound fire truckran off the road about 12:08 a.m., hit a guardrailand overturned, throwing the man from the vehicle,according to the Chillicothe post of the StateHighway Patrol.

The man did not have any identification in his pos-session and has not yet been identified, said Lt.J.M. Moore, commander of the Chillicothe post.

The man was flown to Wexner Medical Center atOhio State University in Columbus, where heremained unconscious and in critical condition thismorning, Moore said.

The Ross County sheriff’s office reported that a surveillance video showed a man breaking a win-dow to enter the fire station and then raising anoverhead door and driving away in the fire truck.

Charges will be filed once the man is identified,deputies said. The man seen on the video matchesthe description of the man in the hospital, theysaid.

Harrison Township Fire Chief Bryon Thornton saidthe truck is a total loss. "It's in pieces. What usedto be a 10-foot-tall truck is four-feet." The 2,200-gallon tanker truck, which is insured, will cost$190,000 to $250,000 to replace, he said.

The thief unsuccessfully tried at first to steal thedepartment's pumper truck, the chief said. Thethief also backed the tanker through the kitchenwall before departing the fire station "with it all litup," Thornton said.

The department's volunteer emergency-medicaltechnicians worked to treat and stabilize theinjured theft suspect before anyone even worriedabout the crushed tanker laying nearby, Thornton said.

“It's kind of ironic. Someone comes into yourhouse, steals your stuff, destroys your truck andwe saved his life. You have to take care of himfirst," the chief said. �

PARAMEDIC INJURED IN AMBULANCE CRASH

Sunday, May 12, 2013 A paramedic on an emergency run was among those hurt in a crashbetween an ambulance and a car. It happened a little before noon Monday at the corner of Alexisand Lewis

Investigators say the ambulance had its lights andsirens on and was making its way around stoppedtraffic to turn from Lewis to Alexis.

We're told one driver apparently didn't see or hearthe ambulance and drove into its passenger side.

The driver of the car and a paramedic in the ambulance were treated for minor injuries.

The crash slowed traffic for some time in the area.The driver of the car was cited. �

All articles are courtesy of www.firefighterclosecalls.com

Reproduction of these articles without express written consent is prohibited.


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(440) 826-0004


9150 South hillS Blvd.Broadview htS. oh 44147

(440) 717-3905

elyria licenSeBureau

605 cheStnut commonSelyria oh 44035

(440) 322-0723


amFm, inc.

38373 Pelton roadwilloughBy oh 44094

(440) 953-4545

BuFFalo wild wingSgrille & Bar

4550 glendale-milFord rdBlue aSh oh 45242

(513) 563-9484


cincinnati SuB-ZeroProductS

12011 moSteller roadSharonville oh 45241

(513) 326-5300


the galaxyreStaurant

201 ParK centre drivewadSworth oh 44281

(330) 334-3663

winSton'S Place

4209 eaSt 131St Streetcleveland oh 44105

(216) 956-8567

the indian muSeum

25 PuBlic SquarewilloughBy oh 44094

(440) 951-3813


SPONSORSDupli-Systems

8260 Dow CircleStrongsville OH 44136

(440) 234-9415

Redwing Shoes1369 S. Cleveland-Massillon Rd.

Copley OH 44321(330) 666-7410

M.Neff Design Group14855 Broadway AvenueGarfield Hts. OH 44125

(216) 663-8820

Dublin Village Tavern27 South High StreetDublin OH 43017(614) 766-6250

Convenient Food Mart12520 Lorain AvenueCleveland OH 44111

(216) 941-4952

The Media Cellar38123 West Spaulding Street

Willoughby OH 44094(440) 918-1301

Safety Auto Service36071 Lakeshore Blvd.Eastlake OH 44095

(440) 951-2000

Hercules Fastners, Inc.5310 West 161st StreetBrook Park OH 44142

(216) 267-7320

Haberek Plumbing & Heating5180 West 164th StreetBrook Park OH 44142

(216) 433-7774

TMW Systems, Inc.21111 Chagrin Blvd.Beachwood OH 44122

(330) 831-6606

Kohr, Royer & Griffith Realtors1480 Dublin Road

Columbus OH 43215(614) 228-2471

gano tavern10024 cincinnati dayton PiKe

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demetrio'S reStaurant7851 Broadview roadSeven hillS oh 44134

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dicK medical SuPPly670 marion road

columBuS oh 43207(614) 444-2300

rouSh hardware373 weSt Bridge Street

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Patty'S Pour houSe922 eaSt 222nd Street

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ADVERTISING INDEX (alphabetical listing)

A & D Antique Auto Parts 001517 ................................42

A White Pond Paradise Salon & Day Spa 001535 ..........16

Abbington Management 001429 ....................................33

American Electric Power 001454....................................38

AMFM, Inc. 001561........................................................38

Ampex Metal Products 001522 ......................................19

Atwell's Police and Fire Equipment 001543 ....................9

Avery Dennison 001317 ................................................33

Bellefaire JCB 001569....................................................40

Buffalo Wild Wings Grille & Bar 001439 ........................38

Butlet Tech ................................................................23

Career Choices Unlimited 001533..................................42

Christopher's Computers 001325 ..................................41

Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products 001565 ..........................39

Clark Reliance Corporation 001556 ..............................33

Convenient Food Mart 001541 ......................................41

Cresco Real Estate 001548 ............................................38

Demetrio's Restaurant 001308 ......................................41

Desco Equipment Company 001547 ..............................41

Dick Medical Supply 001327 ........................................41

Dublin Village Tavern 001545........................................41

Dupli-Systems 001559 ..................................................41

Electronic Merchant Systems 001552............................36

Elyria License Bureau 001312 ......................................37

Envantage, Inc. 001567 ................................................39

Feintool Equipment Corporation 001550 ......................39

Gano Tavern 001309......................................................41

Haberek Plumbing & Heating 001307............................41

Hayes Eadie, Inc. 001554 ..............................................11

Headsweats 001319 ......................................................39

Hercules Fastners, Inc. 001301 ....................................41

Infinity Construction 001538 ..........................................5

Kase Equipment 001305................................................39

Kohr, Royer & Griffith Realtors 001321 ........................41

Loan Smart 001315 ......................................................40

Longstreet Auto Body & Sales 001558 ..........................42

Lube Stop - Corporate Office 001551 ..............................4

M.Neff Design Group 001530 ........................................41

McCormick & Reinmuth Insurance 001532 ..................42

Microplex Printware Corporation 001311 ......................40

Montrose Westside Auto Campus 001540......................41

Motorola, Inc. 001451 ....................................................37

Patty's Pour House 001537 ............................................41

Prater Engineering Associates 001534 ..........................40

Redwing Shoes 001560 ..................................................41

Replica Engraving 001318 ............................................42

Restorx/MD 001539 ......................................................24

Rockside Road Surgery Center 001426..........................15

Roush Hardware 001544 ..............................................41

Royal Flush Plumbing 001304 ......................................40

Safety Auto Service 001574............................................41

Select Sires 001566........................................................39

Solar Testing Laboratories, Inc. 001310........................40

Spitzer Chevrolet 001546 ..............................................38

Stinnett, Padrutt & Aranyosi 001536 ............................39

Subway 001555 ............................................................42

SWS Environmental Services 001531 ............................39

The Galaxy Restaurant 001563......................................40

The Indian Museum 001573 ..........................................40

The Media Cellar 001575 ..............................................41

TMW Systems, Inc. 001316............................................41

Vertex Computer Systems 001562 ................................40

Wallmart - Strongsville 001329 ......................................36

Western Reserve Harley Davidson 001331 ....................16

Weston, Inc. 001570 ......................................................33

Winston's Place 001549 ................................................40

Wood Specialists 001303................................................42

Woodland Mulch & Landscaping Center 001313 ..........41

Longstreet Auto Body & Sales472 Richmond Road

Richmond Hts. OH 44143(440) 449-3334

Subway97 East Main Street

West Jefferson OH 43162(614) 879-9993

A & D Antique Auto Parts12955 York Delta Drive

North Royalton OH 44133(440) 237-9300

Career Choices Unlimited6877 North High Street, #202

Worthington OH 43085(614) 430-0927

Wood Specialists9485 Pine Cone DriveMentor OH 44060(440) 639-9797

Replica Engraving3483 West 140th StreetCleveland OH 44111

(216) 252-2204

McCormick & ReinmuthInsurance

6649 North High Street, #202Worthington OH 43085

(614) 888-4540

PATRONS

SYMBOLS THATAMERICAN HEROESRECOGNIZE

The Maltese Cross represents the idealsof saving lives and property. It serves asa proud symbol of fire servicethroughout the country. Anotherrecognized symbol is VFIS. Today, over15,000 fire and emergency serviceorganizations throughout North Americahave entrusted VFIS with their healthand welfare. A symbol recognized forover 40 years.

VFIS ... providing Insurance, Benefits,Education, Training & Consulting toAmerica’s heroes since 1969.

VFIS OF OHIOP.O. Box 279

Maineville, OH 45039(800) 733-0159 • www.vfisoh.com

P.O. Box 400Mogadore, OH 44260-0400

Prsrt StdU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit 351Akron, OH

OHIOFirefighterFirefighter

OHIOFirefighterFirefighter

Our goal is to inform and educate every Ohio State Firefighter by publishingone of the most informative professional magazines available.

To make all this happen, we ask for your input and participation in the development ofour content articles. If you know of a close call experience in your unit, and would care to tell the professional community, we would like to hear from you. Please include anycaptioned photos along with your story. You may send your experience and photos to us as email, or mailed on CD. We would like to hear about your department profile. Photosof your equipment, and any relevant experiences you would like to share.

SEND ARTICLES AND EMAIL PHOTOS TO: [email protected]

OR BY MAIL TO:OSFA Magazine • c/o RBA, Inc.

487 College Street • Wadsworth, OH 44281

ohio state firefighters' association

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