April 2013 - State Firemen's & Fire Marshals'

ABOUT USSFFMA International / EMS UpdateSFFMA INTERNATIONALIn January, SFFMA International had agreat turnout in McAllen, TX at the 2013SFFMA/TEEX International Conference.It was the first year ever held in the RioGrande Valley. We were hosted by theMcAllen FD, who provided excellenttraining and accommodated the SFFMAmembers with hands on training andinstruction. We would like to thank them forall their hard work and hospitality. Specialrecognition goes out to Chief Balderas,Lt. Rene Alaniz, DC Amado Cano, Capt.James Ferrell, Lt. Rolando Garza, Capt.Juan Gloria, DC Juan Jalomo, and DCJim Schultz from McAllen FD who helpedSFFMA put on this conference to generatefurther interest in the SFFMA InternationalProgram. We would also like to thank ourdedicated instructors Lt. Oscar Alaniz,Juan Caceres, Capt. Juan Gloria, Capt.Comado Martinez, and Lt. Tony Nelsonwho developed the courses for the ourmembers to participate in the training. Wehope to work with them again in the future,as they showed a tremendous amountof initiative and dedication to helping thisconference go well.McAllen, January 2013Although the Annual Conference is held inconjunction with TEEX’s Annual InstructorsMeeting and is held in Texas each year;SFFMA International Committee continuesto campaign outside the U.S and in borderregions of Texas promoting the servicesand events that we offer as an Association.SFFMA International is an importantbranch of the Association, because notonly does it have a growing membershipbase, it is solidifying the value of thestandards and education of the firefightersin Texas.The SFFMA Certification Program isbeing adopted in other countries, makingan SFFMA’s Certification more valuableworldwide, and SFFMA a more renownedorganization. The goal is to create aprogram that is convenient, inexpensive,and easy to follow for those who want topromote training and have a means oftracking progress in their country. It hasbeen a slow process getting this programorganized, as our own Texas CertificationProgram just adopted changes this year.However, the SFFMA Committee cansoon begin to set up the final curriculumand structure for our members to beginreporting training.Lt. Ian R. Moscoso from CloverleafVFD and Chairman of the InternationalCommittee campaigned at coursesorganized by EPA and the Department ofDefense. He provided training and spokeabout the benefits to be part of the SFFMAInternational this year in Presidio, andMcAllen, TX, in addition to the countries ofPanama and Bolivia.Presidio, TXSFFMA will be presenting their newlytranslated International CertificationProgram, courtesy of South Texas College,McAllen, TX during the Cumbre Americanade Bomberos, taking place July 3 rd -6 th . Wewill be promoting SFFMA membership andthe International Certification Program.This is a huge opportunity for the SFFMACertification program’s recognition toexpand to more Latin-American countries,and grow our organization and SFFMAInternational brand. For more informationon SFFMA International like us onFacebook “SFFMA of Texas International”,where we have pictures, and informationabout our annual conference available.SFFMA continues to work with TEEXduring their Annual Spanish School; thisyear is the 47 th Annual School whichbegins July 7 th through July 12 th , 2013.SFFMA will be attending and providingdiscounted materials and merchandise toour International Members. There are morethan 150 students, instructors both federaland state, which participate in this training.The SFFMA database will also beundergoing some upgrades and changes,so this will provide a better network forour international members to becomemore involved, and updated on SFFMAactivities.We hope that this year will bethe start of something very important forour International Members. It is with theirsupport and input that we can organizeand structure a program they can benefitfrom.Thanks to all of them, we willcontinue striving to makeSFFMA International asuccess!EMSHello fellow EMS’ers. Spring is in the air andthat means two things….No more winter!And it’s time for district and state meetings.We have had quite a winter up here in thePanhandle. While we have not had too manysnow days, the days we had packed a meanpunch with blizzard-like conditions severaldays. These are just some of the challengeswe all face on a daily basis.District meetings have already begun. I willbe out as much as possible, along with someof our other committee members, in attemptsto attend some of your meetings. We want tospread the word of EMS and gain new membersto our organization but we desperatelyneed your help. Please invite some EMSproviders to your district meetings to showthem the benefits of joining the SFFMA.Documents explaining our mission as well asthe outstanding benefits offered by our groupare available online or in print. So, if youknow a fire based EMS service or a standaloneEMS service that is not a member,invite them to join our great organization.Speaking of meetings, don’t forget our annualconvention will be held June 21-26 atThe Woodlands. Hotels are filling up fast somake your reservations early. Also, don’t forget,the cost of the registration for the annualconvention can be reimbursed by HB2604.We have some great training lined up atthe convention including an entire track forEMS. We have secured an emergency roomphysician, who is also a certified firefighter/paramedic, to provide some insight on careof the entangled patient. We also havelined up an excellent program on ambulancebilling options and a host of other fantastictopics. This will not be one to miss, sign upearly and stay late, it promises to be a greatconvention.Several great opportunities exist today torecognize some of our own that go aboveand beyond every day. One way is to nominatesomeone for the coveted EMS providerof the Year. This award honors those EMSproviders who exhibit outstanding dedicationand devotion to their chosen profession. Lastyear, Karen Pickard was honored to be therecipient of the very first award of its kind.Place those nominations now. Another wayto honor our finest is to nominate someonefor the State Department of Health ServicesEMS Awards. The nominations forms areavailable online and are due October 4 th .These awards are given out at the TexasEMS Conference which will be held this yearin Ft. Worth in November.As we go about our daily duties, let us notforget those that have preceded us andespecially those that have paid the ultimateprice. Last month, at the state Capitol, wehonored those that laid down their life forthat of another. It is my hope we never needto place another name on that wall. Pleaseinclude safety as a part of your daily duties.Remember to stay safe, wear your seatbelts,protect yourself, have an escape route, fightfrom the black, whatever you need to do……we need you, your family needs you, yourdepartment needs you to come home afterevery call, after every shift.See you in the Woodlands. Stay safe!!Tim Smith, BSN, RN, EMT-PFire Chief/EMS DirectorWest Carlisle Fire/EMSChairman Texas Emergency Medical Services Board10InfoFire Magazine / Vol. 48www.sffma.org