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. 

Fire Chief's Briefing for August 1 through August 6, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of August 1 through August 6, 2012.

We responded to 55 emergency calls for service.

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

Fire: 5

EMS/Rescue: 32

Hazardous Condition: 2

Service Call: 4

Good Intent: 3

False Call: 9

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

Wednesday, August 1 at approximately 11:22 am: 

E4 was dispatched on a report of a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. Crew members arrived on scene and utilized their gas monitor to check CO levels in the home. The device indicated a leak in the garage, which was isolated to a gas leak on the home’s water heater. The water heater was turned off and the garage was ventilated. Further checks of the home revealed no further hazards and the homeowner was advised to contact a repair technician. Crew members offered to return and re-evaluate the home after the repairs were completed. E4 cleared the scene and returned to quarters. 

Wednesday, August 1 beginning at approximately 2:49 pm: 

All BFR units were dispatched for numerous grass fires reported along the CSX railroad tracks from Old Hickory Blvd. south to Moores Lane.  Crew members from all units began extinguishing the vegetation and brush fires as they were located. Eventually a representative from CSX arrived on scene and advised Command that a malfunctioning brake on a train had caused sparks which ignited the fires. BFR personnel were able to control all the fires before spreading beyond the immediate area. Once the scene was placed under control and all hazards were mitigated, all units were placed available and returned to quarters.

Wednesday, August 1 at approximately 5:48 pm: 

E4 was dispatched to a report of a kitchen fire. Upon arrival crew members met with the homeowner who stated that they had poured oil into a pan, some of the oil had splashed out, and the gas burner on the stove ignited it. The homeowner turned off the stove which extinguished the fire prior to our arrival.  E4 personnel utilized their TIC to determine that the fire was fully extinguished and had not spread to the wall or cabinets. With no other hazards found, E4 cleared the scene and returned to quarters.

Fire Chief's Briefing for July 26 through July 31, 2012

Here is a summary of Brentwood Fire and Rescue’s emergency responses for the period of July 26 through July 31, 2012.

We responded to 36 emergency calls for service.

These calls can be broken down into the following categories:

EMS/Rescue: 17

Hazardous Condition: 4

Service Call: 3

Good Intent: 6

False Call: 6

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

Thursday, July 26 at approximately 1:12 pm:

E1 was dispatched on a report of injuries from a fall. Upon arrival, crew members found 1 PT who had fallen off a ladder onto concrete. A rapid trauma assessment was performed, which revealed an obvious deformity to the PT’s shoulder. No other injuries were discovered. As E1 began to package the PT for transport, EMS arrived on scene and PT care was transferred. The PT was loaded into the ambulance for emergency transport to an area hospital.

Friday, July 27 at approximately 11:12 pm:

E4 was dispatched on a report of a single vehicle rollover accident. The driver and only occupant of the vehicle was already out and speaking to EMS when E4 arrived on scene. Crew members assisted EMS with packaging the PT for transport as well as treating numerous cuts to the PT’s extremities. A rapid trauma assessment was performed, and signs of a broken nose and possibly broken facial bones were found. The PT stated that they had been texting and lost control of their vehicle, which struck a curb and a tree before rolling over and coming to rest on the passenger side. EMS transported the PT non-emergency to an area hospital for further treatment. E4 remained on scene to provide lighting and assist with clearing debris and other hazards from the roadway.

 

Saturday, July 28 at approximately 12:35 am:

E1 was dispatched on a report of arcing electrical equipment. Crew members arrived on scene to find an automatic grass sprinkler that was spraying into an open electrical box. The box was missing the cover, which would have protected it from the sprinkler. E1’s firefighter was able to turn off the sprinkler head, and the rest of the crew wrapped the open electrical box with caution tape to help secure it. The proper utility company was notified of the need to make repairs. With no other hazards found, E1 cleared the scene and returned to quarters.