Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1062.000 1996-1998 Oi DOMI?1IC YAGONG Phone: (308) 961-8538 Councdmember Fax: (308)969-32_91 r~ os Hr COU\TY COU\CIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Stheet Hilo, Hawaii 96720 MEMORANDUM DATE: October 29, 1998 TO: Chairman James Y. Arakaki Hawai'i County Council FROM: Dominic Yagong, Councilmember Hawai'i County Council RE: Transferring Lifeguard Service from Department of Parks and Recreation to the Fire Department Attached you will find a letter from Julie Tulang Director of Parks and Recreation regarding the above mentioned subject. This is previously or purely in the discussion stage and I will be agendizing this subject in the near future in the Public Works and Parks Committee meeting. I would sincerely appreciate your comments or concerns to the idea and this will serve as a beginning base in considering the suggestion. I will be agendizing this subject on the January 5, 1999 Public Works and Parks Committee agenda. I would sincerely appreciate your comments at your earliest convenience. Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to your response. Warmest Aloha, o Dominic Yagong, CounMemer Hawai'i County Council DY:la <:u rs. ~•_-L+~"'~// --woo-0 rs% COUNTY OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION 25 Aupuni Street, Rm 210 Hilo, Hawaii %720 Phone (808) 961-8311 Fax (808) 961-8411 MEMORANDUM October 23, 1998 TO: Councilman Dominic Yagong FROM: Julie Tulang, Dire o~tion Dept. of Parks & Recr / SUBJECT: Letter from Robert Wilkins Concerning Lifeguard Services Upon an initial statement of interest from Councilman Joe Reynolds, about 10 months ago, to move the Beach Lifeguards service to the Fire Department, I did some investigation. This past May, on a visit to Los Angeles, I met with the supervising lifeguard and another staff lifeguard who deals with trauma debriefing. I discussed the idea with the Mayor and Fire Chief informally. The Mayor is concerned with the potential higher cost of supervision under the management of the Fire Department as compared to P&R. On the question of merit, without addressing cost, the move is sound. Pros: 1. Fire and Water Safety Officers have a common mission: public safety. 2. Training and in-service updates are very similar in the basic certifications, and Fire would offer WSOs the option of level one EMT training and certfication. 3. Fire offers Critical Incident Stress Debriefings for any work related trauma. 4. Safety equipment would be on a more consistent replacement and update plan. With P&R, safety equipment has to be weighed against the bigger mission of parks maintenance. 5. Equipment use and training would follow a consistent Fire adopted protocol. 6. Incident command for any emergency would be clear and not cross from one agency to another. 7. More direct supervision and support daily. 8. It would enhance the WSO's position to be affiliated with Fire as opposed to Parks and Recreation. Memo to Councilman Dominic Yagong Page 2 October 23, 1998 Cons: 1. Operations will cost more and finances are very limited at this time. Conceptually, I support the idea and can see the merits for our community, the visitor who goes to the beach, and the staff. I have attached my report of my visit with the L.A. Lifeguard Services for your review. I'll be happy to address any other questions you might have. Att. xc: M. Marshall va?:`.°`.". ae8, George Yoshida y, Director Stephen K. Yarnashiro • Juliette M. •Ilulang Mavor Deputy Director aA~r~ OF" 1W d j%jau 2i£tY21tt DEPARTMENT OF PARIS AND RECREATION 25 Aupuni Street, Room 210 ° Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 (808)961-831I June 1, 1998 TO: George Yoshida, Director FROM: Julie Tulang, Deputy Director o SUBJECT: May 21, 1998, Visit with LA Lifeguard Services Met with: 1. Randy DeGregori, Acting Chief Lifeguard 2. Mike Grazer, Lifeguard Operation Admin. Captain Two issues discussed: 1. Trauma Debriefing. 2. Organization Under Fire Department. First issue discussed were the "pros" and "cons" of being attached to the Fire Department. A. Organization: Randy gave a brief history of all the agencies lifeguard services have been attached to. 1. Parks and Recreation. 2. Department of Beaches and Harbors. 3. Fire Department as of 1994. The Fire Department has been the most successful and effective placement. "Pros": 1. They are able to still preserve the culture and operations of lifeguards as a profession. Visit With LA Lifeguard Services Page 2 2. They are able to cross-train with Fire easier; i.e., hazard training, defibulator, incident command system, etc. 3. Both departments are safety oriented, easier to justify types of equipment, training, etc. 4. Better understanding of equipment replacement system. 5. Vehicle and equipment repair is done faster - safety. 6. Both share the same main mission - public safety. "Cons": 1. Loss of autonomy. 2. More layers to the Department Head. B. Trauma Debriefing: Mike Frazer explained his personal interest in developing their program. He started an informal program and went for training after a work trauma (drowning) he experienced on the job. The program is called Critical Incident Stress Debriefings. It was interesting to learn that the formal program has been in place from 1993, and was not supported by the Chief Lifeguard initially. To put the system in place, the team leader would have to attend a 3-day training session and include a mental health social worker, RN, or psychologist. The system will allow for several or all F/T WSO to be trained. It was suggested to look into a contract for on-call services from the mental health profession for the team. Although this information on trauma debriefing may be part of the L/G training manual, it seems the prior universal behavior was this is part of the hazards of the job. It is only in the recent five years that programs have been formalized in the lifeguard services. However, the Fire Department has this support program in place and also has a chaplain "on call". The chaplain will also provide support counselling for the lifeguards and their families. Mike Frazer would be more than willing to assist Cox in the development and training program. He also has a resource who would be very helpful. Visit With LA Lifeguard Services Page 3 C. Other Issues Discussed: Staffing. They are a more seasonal, weather driven service. 1. All L/G hired must have a telephone or pager so they can be reached (at the L/G's expense). 2. All L/G (part-time) provide their availability to the scheduling captain by the week or prior to the scheduling period. 3. If two guards at station - they suggest staggering the shift and have double coverage at the busy period. 4. These L/G would not go on a break even if they had one; more P/T lifeguards are hired for the summer, July through Labor Day. 5. They rarely use wave runners - usually for big events - Masters Swim. 6. Their service is far more extensive - dive teams, boat teams, EMT services in remote areas, swift water, inland flooding team, etc. D. Junior Lifeguard Program: 1. A Director is hired for 9 months to develop, register, promote program. 2. Instructors are the seasonal hires with 3 years experience and 40 hours of training. 3. The Sr. Lifeguard Program is completely self-sufficient. Cost - $250.00 for 6 weeks, 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. 4. County provides the upper Administration/Supervision cost. E. Certification: 1. Lifeguard service does all the re-certification for all staff. 2. L/Gs are responsible for their own drivers license and to let supervisors know if it has expired/taken away. 3. All certificates and EMT-1 are done by the L/G services. Visit With LA Lifeguard Services Page 4 4. Lifeguards are assigned to beaches based on their individual ability and competence. They must all pass minimum testing. There seems to be a recognition of the different levels of ability, depending on the beach; and, it was best to assign L/G to the beach they would perform best. F. Summary: I would conclude that it would be in the best interest to public safety to move the Beach Service section from Parks and Recreation to the Fire Department. Justification: 1. Both service have the same mission "Public Safety". 2. When it comes to equipment there is not a question on priorities - safety equipment is safety equipment and not being challanged against maintenance equipment or recreational equipment. 3. Training and training goals would be common - for public safety and service for the public. 4. The Para-military organization would adhere to a strict code of conduct and operations. 5. Uniforms would not be a question but part of the assigned "gear". This was a very fruitful two hour visit with the L.A. Lifeguard Services. Other conclusions drawn from the visit indicate the need to look at the staffing needs and schedule again. We are possibly over-staffed in our zeal to provide the breaks for lifeguards. Two per station, that break each other and allow for training is more than adequate. I have been generous with a 45 minute training period each day. L.A. lifeguard services provides or allows, at the discretion of the lifeguard, either 20 to 30 minutes when possible - and they are encouraged to train. However, not in their uniforms. I am convinced that the Hawaii County Water Safety Officers are as professional and proud of the "culture and tradition" of being identified as a Lifeguard. The two men I spoke with were excellent representatives of the LA Lifeguard Service, Fire Department and the profession. They represented a sincere interest and caring for their staff that was evident when tears filled Randy's eyes as he shared a visit with LA Lifeguard Services Page 5 personal witnessing of the Fire Chaplan's responsive to an injured lifeguard, his wife and the station partner who did the "same". This experience sealed the need and effectiveness of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Program, and the former Chief Lifeguard had to agree. I recommend that we go forward with a two pronged approach: 1) to develop the "Critical Incident Stress Debriefing" team training; and 2) start the process to move the CoH Beach Service to the Fire Department. 2892J