MOUNT VERNON — What could best be described as a heated exchange between members of the Knox County Fire Chiefs Association and EMA Director Marie Blubaugh at an association meeting last week may help bring resolution to an issue that several fire chiefs say could jeopardize the safety of emergency personnel.
During a discussion of the new May Day protocol for firefighters, which is being standardized throughout the county, the issue of dispatchers’ roles in the protocol was raised.
A special button on the radios worn by firefighters will set off an emergency beacon. When the emergency button is pressed, that firefighter’s radio will begin 10-second cycles of an open microphone to transmit live audio. When a firefighter becomes injured or trapped, or is in some kind of danger and hits the button, the incident commander will be alerted that someone on his team is in trouble. He will also be able to hear what is happening around that firefighter.
When the beacon is first set, the incident commander then checks on the firefighter who hit the button, to see if it was accidentally pressed, or if the firefighter is in actual trouble. This is called a check-up.
At a fire scene, the incident commander will then learn which firefighter is in trouble, and can decide on the best course of action.
On EMS runs, if a medic runs into trouble and hits the button, after two unanswered checks, law enforcement will be automatically dispatched to help.
This new system is designed to bring help faster, and keep emergency personnel safer.
When the dispatchers’ part in the new system was discussed, Blubaugh said that some of the dispatchers in the county turn down the volume on fire traffic, to listen to law enforcement traffic.
“Then those people should be fired,” said Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy.
Blubaugh explained that she was unable to monitor the dispatchers’ actions 24 hours a day.
“Fire one, and it won’t be a problem,” suggested MVFD Assistant Chief Chris Menapace. “If they can’t do their job, then they should be fired.”
Blubaugh said that the problem was one she inherited from the last administration. Blubaugh was named EMA director in April 2007.
“The last administration?” Menapace asked. “You’ve had plenty of time to get this straightened out.”
Blubaugh invited each of the fire chiefs to sit in the room with the dispatchers, to learn more about what goes on. She said that so far, Fredericktown EMS Chief Rick Lanuzza is the only one who has done so.
“This blows my mind,” Menapace said. “This is unacceptable. Fix it. Period.”
Blubaugh then asked Arlin Bradford from VASU Communications to reset all of the scanners at the dispatch centers, so that they can not be turned down.
Bradford said he would, and asked which channels she wanted adjusted. “All of the fire channels,” Blubaugh answered.
Some of the chiefs said after the meeting that the dispatchers not listening to fire traffic has been an ongoing problem for years, and they are anxious to see it fixed because it could result in the injury or death of firefighters if their May Day beacon goes unheard.
“I find it incomprehensible that the fire departments do not get the same radio communication attention as compared to other emergency services,” said Fredericktown Chief Scott Mast. “We are all equally responsible for the safety and well-being of the public, and therefore should be granted equal communication capabilities.”
