Fire Chief's Briefing for September 6 through September 11, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of September 6 through September 11, 2012. 

We responded to 56 emergency calls for service.

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

Fire: 1

EMS/Rescue: 35

Hazardous Condition: 3

Service Call: 3

Good Intent: 4

False Call: 10

Friday, September 7 at approximately 4:15 pm:

E3 was dispatched on a report of leg pain. Upon arrival, crew members found one PT with an obvious deformity and swelling in their ankle. E3’s paramedic performed a rapid trauma assessment and found no other injuries. EMS arrived on scene and PT care was transferred. Per E3 paramedic’s recommendation, pain medication was administered prior to moving the PT. The injured extremity was splinted before loading the PT into the ambulance for transport to an area hospital.

Saturday, September 8 at approximately 4:04 pm:

E4 was dispatched on a report of a grill fire on the back deck of a home. Upon arrival of E4, crew members met with the homeowner who advised he had extinguished the fire by turning off the grill and using a dry chemical extinguisher. E4 crew turned off the propane bottle attached to the grill and utilized the thermal imaging camera to ensure that no fire had spread. Once it was determined that the fire had been extinguished fully and there was no spread, E4 cleared the scene and returned to quarters.

Sunday, September 9 at approximately 10:58 am: 

E1 was dispatched on a report of one child with their finger trapped in a seat belt buckle. Upon arrival, crew members made contact with the parent and child. The child was in good spirits and not distressed. Crew members attempted several methods of removal without success. It was determined that the buckle would need to be cut away from the child’s finger. When this process was begun, the child became distressed, which made the process much more dangerous. It was determined that the parents would take the child to an area hospital to be sedated prior to further attempts to cut the buckle.

Sunday, September 9 at approximately 12:55 pm: 

E3 was dispatched on a report of an unresponsive person. Upon arrival, crew members found one PT in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, somewhat responsive to physical stimuli. Vital signs were obtained and support care was initiated. EMS arrived on scene, PT care was quickly transferred, and the PT was transported to an area hospital emergency traffic with one Firefighter/EMT on board to assist with further patient care. 

Monday, September 10 at approximately 3:29 pm: 

E3 was alerted of a walk up PT at Fire Station 3. The PT stated that they had had an accident with a circular saw, striking them self in the leg. The result was an approximately four inch laceration with uncontrolled bleeding. The PT had applied a towel and a belt in an attempt to stem the bleeding, but it was not enough. Crew members exposed the wound and applied dressings and direct pressure to successfully control the bleeding. EMS arrived on scene, PT care was transferred, and the PT was transported to an area hospital for further treatment.

Monday, September 10 at approximately 7:39 pm: 

E2 was dispatched on a report of an unresponsive person. Upon arrival, crew members found one PT lying on the floor, pulseless, apneic and unresponsive. CPR was initiated, the cardiac monitor was attached, and the PT was defibrillated. CPR was continued and advanced life support was initiated, to include airway management, bag valve mask ventilations, oxygen therapy, intra-osseous fluids and cardiac resuscitation drugs. EMS arrived on scene, PT care was transferred, and resuscitation efforts were continued. All available tools and skills were utilized to attempt to revive the PT, but were unsuccessful. BFR personnel were released from the scene and returned to quarters.

Save the Date for Public Safety Day 2012

SECOND ANNUAL PUBLIC SAFETY DAY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED

Brentwood – In an effort to better connect the public with the city’s fire and emergency services, the Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department will hold its second annual Public Safety Day festival on Saturday, October 13^th 2012. The free, family-friendly event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Kroger parking lot of the Brentwood Place shopping center, 330 Franklin Road.  

The festival will include children’s activities, static displays of fire and police vehicles, and free car seat checks.  There are also plans to have a residential fire sprinkler exhibition and a live vehicle extrication demonstration featuring tools and equipment from the city’s newest fire engine.  

Open house tours of each of Brentwood’s four fire stations will occur simultaneously with the Kroger parking lot events.

For more information about Public Safety Day, please contact the Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department at 615-370-0170.

Fire Chief's briefing for September 1st through September 5th, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of September 1 through September 5, 2012.

We responded to 39 emergency calls for service.

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

EMS/Rescue: 16

Service Call: 6

Good Intent: 6

False Call: 11

Tuesday, September 4 at approximately 6:18 am:

E4 was dispatched on a report of 1 PT unresponsive. Upon arrival crew members found PT lying in bed, unresponsive, pulseless, and without sufficient respirations. EMS arrived on scene and PT care was transferred. EMS and E4 crew members initiated CPR and performed bag valve mask ventilations. Advanced Life Support interventions were performed, to include Intra-Osseous fluid therapy, cardiac resuscitation drugs, cardiac monitoring and defibrillation. The PT was then prepared for transport, loaded into the ambulance, and transported to an area hospital with one firefighter on board to provide further PT care while enroute.

Tuesday, September 4 at approximately 2:38 pm:

E2 was dispatched on a report of a child locked in a non-running vehicle. Upon arrival crew members were able to quickly utilize their lock out kit to remove the child from the vehicle and move to a shady area for assessment. A rapid trauma assessment revealed that the child was hot to the touch and lethargic. Crew members used chemical ice packs to actively cool the child and return them to normal. EMS was summoned to the scene for further PT care. E2 was released from the scene and returned to quarters.

Tuesday, September 4 at approximately 6:38 pm:

E2 was dispatched on a report of 1 PT possibly dehydrated. Upon arrival, crew members found 1 PT in the driveway of their home. The PT had been participating in a sporting event, and upon arriving home began to act lethargic and show other signs of heat related injuries. Supportive care was initiated, to include oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids. Fluid resuscitation improved the PT’s mental status. Upon arrival of EMS, PT care was transferred before the PT was loaded into the ambulance for non-emergency transport to an area hospital for further care and evaluation.  

Fiscal Year 2011 - 2012 Response Data

 

 

During Fiscal Year 2011 - 2012, Brentwood Fire and Rescue responded to a total of 2,742 emergency calls for service. This represents an increase in call volume of 120 runs over the previous year’s total.

 

The busiest Fire Station is Station 1, located at 5211 Maryland Way. This station houses Ladder 1 and Engine 1 as well as Car 3, the shift commander. These units combined for a total of 1,191 responses.

 

 

 

Located at 1301 Wilson Pike, Station 2 houses two apparatus. Engine 2 and Rescue 1 combined to respond on 684 calls last fiscal year.

 

For the first time since opening its doors in 1992, Station 3 handled over 400 runs. Engine 3 and the Hazardous Materials Trailer responded to 404 calls. Brentwood Fire Station 3 is located at 1750 General George Patton Drive.

 

Station 4 responded to 445 calls last year. Engine 4, Brush 1 and Tanker 1 all call the firehouse located at 1300 Sunset Road home.

 

The busiest times for the Fire Department may surprise you. It isn’t the middle of the night, and it isn’t even a weekend. On average, the busiest day of the week for Brentwood Fire and Rescue last year was Thursday, the busiest time of day was between 5 and 6 pm, and the busiest month of FY 2011 – 2012 was May.

Fire Chief's Briefing for August 19 through August 24, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of August 19 through August 24, 2012.

 

We responded to 45 emergency calls for service.

 

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

Fire: 2

EMS/Rescue: 25

Hazardous Condition: 1

Service Call: 4

Good Intent: 7

False Call: 6

 

Thursday, August 23 at approximately 4:02 pm:

E2 was dispatched on a report of one PT who had fainted. Crew members arrived on scene to find PT lying on the ground exhibiting an altered level of consciousness. No one had witnessed the PT fall, but co-workers reported that the PT had been working with a driveway sealing chemical all day. A rapid assessment was performed, and it was determined that the most likely cause of the PT’s illness was the chemical fumes. The PT was removed from the immediate area of the work. EMS arrived on scene, PT care was transferred, and the PT was transferred to an area hospital for further care.

 

 

Fire Chief's Briefing for August 13 through August 18, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of August 13 through August 18, 2012.

 

We responded to 55 emergency calls for service.

 

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

Fire: 2

EMS/Rescue: 33

Hazardous Condition: 1

Service Call: 12

Good Intent: 3

False Call: 4

 

Here is an overview of significant events from this period’s activities:

 

Wednesday, August 15 at approximately 1:50 am:

E2 was dispatched on a report of a possible heart attack. While enroute E2 was informed that BPD had arrived on scene and found the door locked. The only other occupant of the home was inside performing CPR and was unable to open the door. BPD forced open the door prior to E2’s arrival, clearing the way for crew members to quickly enter the residence.

E2 arrived on scene to find a BPD officer performing CPR on one pulseless and apneic PT. Crew members relieved the officer and continued CPR. After a rapid assessment of the PT, E2’s paramedic began preparing for advanced life support interventions. EMS and an EMS supervisor arrived on scene and joined the efforts to resuscitate the PT. ALS interventions including oxygen therapy via bag valve mask respirations, CPR, advanced airway management devices, IV fluids and resuscitation drugs were administered to the PT.

Despite the combined efforts of all units on scene, the PT was not able to be revived and efforts were ceased. The appropriate authorities were contacted and PT care was transferred. All units cleared the scene and returned to quarters.

 

Wednesday, August 15 at approximately 4:12 pm:

E3 and R1 were dispatched on a report of a single vehicle roll over crash. Reportedly a semi-truck made contact with a low hanging cable which caused other lines to fall and a power outage to one business before severing a section of a wooden utility pole that impacted the passenger side of a passenger vehicle, causing it to roll over and come to rest upside down. The patient was out of the vehicle prior to E3’s arrival and was being treated by a bystander who happened to be a paramedic instructor. E3 established incident command before cancelling R1 as no extrication was required. EMS arrived on scene, PT care was transferred, and the PT was transported non-emergency to an area hospital. E3 remained on scene to assist BPD with traffic control until the roadway could be cleared. Once all hazards were mitigated, E3 returned to quarters.

 

 

Thursday, August 16 at approximately 11:16 am:

C1, C3, E1 and R1 were dispatched to a rollover accident with entrapment. Crews arrived on scene to find one vehicle on its roof with two PTs entrapped but non-critical. R1 was notified to prepare for extrication upon their arrival. After stabilizing the vehicle the hydraulic spreaders and cutters were utilized to remove the driver’s door. A short time later both PTs were removed from the vehicle and placed into the care of waiting EMS units. The two PTs were transported non-emergency to area hospitals for further evaluation. C1 and R1 cleared the scene while E1 and C3 remained to assist with traffic control until all remaining hazards had been mitigated.

 

 

Friday, August 17 at approximately 11:15 am:

E2 was dispatched on a report of a person trapped on a roof. Upon arrival, crew members found one person on the roof of their home. They had climbed a ladder to gain access to the roof but were afraid to try and climb back down. E2’s firefighter ascended the ladder and, once on the roof, was able to talk the individual through climbing back down. Before clearing the scene, the homeowner asked E2’s crew to inspect a different portion of their home that they were afraid may have been damaged in an unrelated matter. After using a ladder to climb up and inspect the area, crew members deemed that there was no damage. With no other hazards to be found, E2 cleared the scene and returned to quarters.

 

Saturday, August 18 at approximately 1:38 pm:

E2 was dispatched on a report of persons trapped in an elevator. Upon arrival, crew members found an elevator containing two people. The doors would not open. The power to the elevator was disconnected and then reconnected in an effort to restart the elevator. When this failed, R1 was requested to respond to the scene. Crew members used the Rabbit Tool (a portable, hand powered hydraulic spreading unit) to spread open the doors and allow the occupants to exit the elevator. Once all occupants were out of the vehicle, E2 and R1 returned to quarters.

 

Saturday, August 18 at approximately 5:13 pm:

E2 contacted dispatch and advised that they had a walk-in medical call at Station 2. Crew members were presented with one PT with an altered level of consciousness. The PT became unresponsive to any stimuli and began to exhibit decreased respiratory effort. A rapid assessment was performed, and the other occupant of the vehicle stated that the PT began to suffer from difficulty breathing and lethargy before passing out while the driver was parking the vehicle at the fire station. Baseline vitals were obtained, to include blood pressure, cardiac monitoring, pulse rate and oxygen levels.

 

Crew members began performing interventions to assist the PT’s breathing, including high flow oxygen and nebulized breathing treatments. IV therapy was established, and the PT was packaged for transport pending arrival of EMS. Once EMS arrived on scene, the PT was loaded into the back of the ambulance. At this time the PT became pulseless and apneic. The PT was intubated and CPR was initiated. Additionally, bag valve mask respirations were performed while resuscitation medications were administered. EMS transported the PT emergency traffic to an area hospital with one firefighter on board to provide continued care. While enroute to the hospital, the PT regained their pulse. While being transferred from the ambulance to the emergency room, the PT regained spontaneous respirations.   

 

 

 

 

 

Beat the Heat, Check the Backseat

 

Never Leave a Child Alone in a Car

Although the weather is becoming cooler, parents need to stay vigilant about the dangers of leaving children alone in cars. This year alone there have been at least 5 separate instances of fatalities in Tennessee.

Temperatures inside vehicles can rapidly climb over those of the outside environment. This can cause a potentially fatal environment inside a vehicle even when outside temperatures are as low as 70 degrees. Never leave an unattended child in a vehicle even with the vehicle’s air conditioning on, as the vehicle may stall or malfunction. Additionally, multiple responses have been required by the fire department due to children being given key fobs to play with while the parents stood outside.

Although many parents think it is unimaginable that they could forget their child in a car, statistics show otherwise. Of US fatalities since 1998, one study reports that 52% were categorized as ‘child "forgotten" by caregiver’ (253 Children), 30% were ‘child playing in unattended vehicle’, 17% of children were ‘intentionally left in vehicle by adult’ (86), and in 1% of cases circumstances were unknown (5). This information and much more can be found here: http://ggweather.com/heat/ .

To help avoid a potentially fatal situation, parents may consider placing their purse or computer bag by the child’s seat whenever they enter their vehicle to ensure that they will always glance in the backseat before leaving. If your child attends daycare regularly, arrangements should be made to contact you on your cell phone if your child does not show up at the facility. Often the parents of children that die are not uncaring, just simply new parents deprived of sleep and/or parents that are starting a new routine. Be especially alert anytime your normal pattern is altered; for example if one parent typically drops the child off but is unable to do to so because of an early morning meeting, setting a cell phone alarm for the other caregiver with a reminder to drop the child off may be a lifesaver.

If you see a child in a car that is unattended, please call 911. Minutes can make the difference between life and death.



Fire Chief's Briefing for August 7 through August 12, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of August 7 through August 12, 2012

We responded to 38 emergency calls for service.

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

Fire: 2

EMS/Rescue: 15

Hazardous Condition: 2

Service Call: 2

Good Intent: 6

False Call: 11

Here is an overview of significant events from this period’s activities:

Wednesday, August 8 at approximately 6:49 am:

All BFR units were dispatched on a reported structure fire at Sonic on Moores Lane.  Franklin Fire Department was also dispatched as the reported incident was located in Brentwood and Franklin’s automatic aid district.  E1 and C3 were the first units on scene and found a structure with smoke being ejected from the buildings exhaust system.  The crew of E1 made entry and assisted in evacuation of the occupants.  E1 crew found light smoke throughout the structure and a small fire that had ignited in a deep fryer.  E1 crew extinguished the fire using a Class K fire extinguisher.  The fryer was then pushed away from the wall and unplugged.  E3 arrived on the scene and assisted E1 crew in ventilating the structure to clear the smoke.  Once all hazards were mitigated the structure was turned over to the occupants.  Command was then terminated and all units returned to quarters. 

Saturday, August 11 at approximately 5:50 pm:

E1, E2 and C3 were dispatched on a smoke investigation near a commercial structure.  Units arrived on scene to find smoke coming from an HVAC unit of a structure.   An occupant of the structure advised BFR personnel that they had been having trouble with a belt in the HVAC unit.  Crews examined the HVAC unit a found a burned belt.  Crews shut off power to the unit and advised the occupant to call a repairman.  With no additional hazards present, command was terminated and all units returned to quarters. 

Saturday, August 11 at approximately 6:29 pm:

E1 was dispatched on a report of a possible vehicle fire.  Upon arrival E1 found a vehicle with smoke coming from one of the rear wheels.  E1 investigated further and found that the wheel was extremely hot and smoke appeared to be coming from the brakes.  E1 crew cooled the wheel slightly and checked for further hazards.  E1 crew advised the driver of the vehicle to have it towed to a repair shop.  With no additional hazards present, E1 cleared the scene and returned to quarters.