Introduction
Apparatus and snow removal equipment have been readied in anticipation of snowfall.   Considerable winter weather during the second half of the month signified the need for exercising great care not only while driving department apparatus, but in travelling to and from the stations for duty.      

Personnel

• Two new personnel, Bill Brodin and Shawn Malec, attended a required medical control authority orientation session early in the month.  This session provides information related to basic EMS care in the region.  They also completed a protocol test for the medical control region. 
• 24-7 staffing at Station 2 began this month.  Full time staff members have received a rotation schedule and designated daily assignments.  Part time staff will continue to schedule themselves to fill slots at Station 1. 
• All personnel are reminded to advise their shift supervisor in the event that they are injured or suffer a mishap while working.  The deparment is required to complete a report to be in compliance with MIOSHA rules. 

Training

• For the month of November there were five training sessions on three topics.  The EMS training topic for the month covered Burn Injures and was instructed by Bryan Ferguson.  The fire training topic for the month was Rapid Intervention Team tasks, which included a lecture and then practical activity.  These sessions were instructed by Jon Marchel.  The third topic was a review of various apparatus operations, particularly the quint.  This was an all day class that included lecture and practical activities, primarily instructed by Chief Dodson.
• Burn Injuries training was held on Wednesday the 5th & Monday the 17th.  With 18 total staff members attending. 
• Rapid Intervention Team overview and practical training sessions were held on Wednesday the 12th & Monday the 24th.  These sessions were attended by a total of 18 staff members.
• Attendance at the apparatus operations review was required of all full time staff members and was held on Friday the 7th for a total of 8 hours of training.  15 staff members attended. 
• Three staff members are attending Company Officer I and II classes two evenings a week through the 22nd of December.  This program has several pre-requisite classes and will provide approximately 45 additional hours of training to each participant that will ultimately contribute back to the department. 

Administration

• To facilitate the entry of both fire and EMS incident reports into Firehouse, all staff are reminded to be sure to obtain a run number for the incident being reported and include this on the paperwork.  Additionally, run paperwork should be secured by a paperclip prior to placement into the box.  To protect the privacy of those we serve, paperwork must be placed in the box so that run information is not visible.
• The Firehouse documentation software has been updated and now includes a requirement that vital signs be obtained for all walk-in patients. 

Apparatus

• The headlight switch on 391 has been replaced.
• A knox box has been installed in 331, however it has not yet been programmed for access.  Arrangements are being made to program it in the near future. 
• The lug nuts on the rear exterior tires on 211 were found to be loose and were unable to be tightened.  This required that the truck be taken out of service for several days.  Corrections were made by Grand Traverse Diesel. 
• The left alley light on 393 was noted to be out.  A new lamp was ordered and it has been replaced. 
• The new ambulance was delivered mid-month.  During the remainder of the month, it will be scheduled for lettering; insurance will be transferred, radio equipment installed and it will be stocked so that it can be inspected by the State of Michigan.  It is anticipated that the unit will be placed in service after being inspected in early December. 
• The rear dump valve on 321 is again not working well.  Andrew Anthony has contacted the manufactuer to ascertain what is needed to fix this recurrent problem.  Until a final solution is determined, users should plan to use the side dumps whenever possible. 

Equipment

• All SCBA bottles have been inspected to ascertain the need for hydrostatic testing.  Several bottles were due for this test.  The required testing was completed and all bottles are back in service.  Several more will be due for testing in March.
• A new water thief has been placed in the appliances compartment on 311.  The foam pick-up has been moved to the rear compartment of the engine.  
• All fire extinguishers from both stations have been inspected.  Those that required hydrostatic testing were taken to Great Lakes Fire and Safety for this work.  All have been returned to their positions on apparatus and at the station. 
• Max’s Service has repaired the clothes washer at Station 1.  Several springs that ensure the tub stays balanced were broken.  A general reminder is provided to everyone to be sure to not overload the machine and to make sure items are evenly distributed in the tub. 
• In a matter of days following the problem with the clothes washer, the commercial washer stopped working.  A number of electrical relays had failed and tripped a breaker switch.  Parts were ordered and the washer was subsequently repaired by the Chief due to the nature of the problem.  As a result of this incident, the weekly automatic testing of the station’s back-up generator has been moved to nighttime, to ensure that the “switching” of the main power to back-up does not provide the opportunity for an electrical overload (which seemed to cause the failure of the relays). 
• Radios were removed from 393, repaired and returned by OTEC.  The front radio had been losing its programming.  Radio heads were removed from 392 and installed in the new ambulance.  All staff members should note that instead of having one radio for county and fire operational frequency use and a radio for HERN use, there is now only one radio in the new ambulance.  To complete a HERN report on the rear radio head, the channel will need to be changed to MUNSON from the main county frequency.  Please be sure to change the radio back to the county frequency after using it for a HERN report. 

Facilities

• A radon test has been completed at Station 2.  Radon levels were found to be acceptable. 
• Station 1 has been decorated with holiday lights both inside and out and Station 2 has beautiful red lights along its eves. 

• Lockers have arrived and been assembled for placement at Station 2.  Lockers have been assigned to each shift for use during individuals’ assigned shifts at Station 2.  There is not enough room for each staff member to maintain a locker beyond his/her scheduled time at this station. 
• Proximity readers (door keypads) have been installed on several doors at the stations.  This means that the doors will unlock when an authorized new Glen Lake Fire ID card is placed near it.  This eliminates the need to punch in a code each time the door is accessed. 
• An emergency phone and signage have been placed at the outside quarters door on Station 2.  The set-up is much like that at Station 1 and includes direct access to 911 dispatch if the crew is not available and a door bell. 
• The grills used for cooking at both stations have been moved indoors for the winter.  Either may still be used, however all are reminded that they must be pulled outside to do so. 
• All crews are reminded to raise the shades in the day rooms at both stations to project to the public that we are open for business daily.  The shades should be raised to a uniform height during business hours. 
• Apparatus bay door #2 at Station 1 has been damaged and should be watched carefully to ensure that it closes properly and also remains in the raised position after opening.  As a reminder to all, please do not move apparatus out of or into the building until after doors have achieved appropriate clearance.  New panels will be installed in December.
• Near the end of the month, an “open house” of Station 2 was provided for both Empire and Glen Arbor township officials and Emergency Services Advisory Commission members.  This offered an opportunity to view the recently completed modifications to the building and speak with the duty crew.  This event is a precursor to a future open house that will be offered to the general public sometime during the summer months. 

Special Events

• The Station 1 crew attended the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Glen Arbor Township hall on the last Friday of the month, throwing the switch to light the tree.  Prior to the big event other shifts participated in ensuring that bulbs were replaced and that the tree was good-to-go for the ceremony. 
• The Station 2 crew attended the Christmas tree lighting in Empire on the 29th. 
• Santa Claus received a ride on 311 for a tour around Glen Arbor and as an escort for his arrival at the Glen Arbor Township Hall on the 29th.  

 
Acknowledgements

• Received an invitation from Tim Barr for the duty crew to attend/get food from the annual pig roast held at Art’s.
• Thanks to Ed And Elaine Ricker for the treats left at Station 1. 

Submitted by:

John A. Dodson
Chief of the Department