2020-10-14 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes October 14, 2020 Page 5 Commissioner Payesko asked Commander Bertsch to give the new commissioners an overview of the Volunteer Program. Chair Yamada stated that he would like to do it after the new chief is on board Chief Rosario thanked Commander Bertsch for his kind words. They have had a longstanding relationship thorough Ironman as well. ✓ EMS Bureau ➢ Budget: The EMS Bureau is one of their busiest bureaus and accounts for 86% of their call volume. They are working with the Purchasing Department to get the notice to proceed to the vendor so they can starting building a new ambulance to arrive by spring to early summer of next year. ➢ Covid: They have had to make a lot of changes to EMS protocols because of the ventilation and had to go back to old -school inhalers instead of using a nebulizer that produces mist. Everything is done under the direction of their medical director here, the State Department of Health, and the medical profession across the entire country. They now have a disinfectant fogger for all their units. They also have foggers at their 3 base station hospitals — North Hawaii, Kona, and Hilo Medical Center and also at their administrative office. All were purchased with CARES funding. In response to questioning, Deputy Chief Perreira stated that their units are disinfected at the hospital after each call. Sprayers are also at the hospital, so they are disinfecting after every call because they consider every patient as possible positive. Chief Rosario stated that they wipe down with the sprays and use sprayers which are pretty fast. They are looking for a quick response team who can test personnel or targeted areas promptly rather than waiting for a testing site. Five students completed their MICT training and passed their registry. The 49th recruit class completed their EMT class and are out on station assignments. The Community Paramedicine Program has expanded Covid education outreach in the community and continue with home visits for those who continually use their 911 system and ER. Captain Domingo has been promoting public education and training for AHA certifications, Heartsaver CPR, the Heart Safe Community Project. She is also working on getting AED donations for the Police Department. ➢ Auxiliary Services: Due to budget cuts, projects on hold are the volunteer website pages, contract to add Bullard wipe, and Plymovent repairs project to vent vehicle exhaust outside of the station. They hired two new fire dispatchers.