Virginia Significant Accident Fatality Examination

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Virginia Significant Accident Fatality
Examination

• VaSAFE

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VaSAFE VPFF October 2, 2002

• Jimmy Carter , President Virginia Fire Chiefs
  Association
• Lori Hardin, Virginia Medical Examiner
  Investigator (Norfolk Region)
• Jack Lillenthal, Suffolk Local President
• Eric Reddeck, Chairman, Hampton Roads Fire
  Safety Officials Committee

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VaSAFE

• How is your department going to respond
• Significant Accident
• Line Of Duty Death

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VaSAFE

• Who is going to contact the Firefighters Family
  ?
• How are you going to contact the Firefighters
  Family ?

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VaSAFE

• How are you going to respond to the needs of
  Firefighters at the scene of
• Significant Injury
• Line of Duty Death
• Multi-Deaths and Injuries

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VaSAFE

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VaSAFE

• VaSAFE model is Fairfax County
• Significant Injury Investigation Manual was
  written by Fairfax County Safety Officer Steve
  Weissman who worked for a year doing research,
  and having plan reviewed by safety leaders across
  America.

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VaSAFE

• Hampton Roads Fire Safety Officials Committee
  has been working on a Virginia plan for over
  two years.
• HRFSOC Members VFCA , VPFF, VDOT, Virginia State
  Police, Virginia Medical Examiners
  Office,Virginia Police Chiefs, National Fallen
  Firefighters Foundation.

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VaSAFE

• VaSAFE is Virginias Plan for managing the
  loss of a Firefighter.
• VaSAFE can be used as a guide for the loss of
  Fire, Law Enforcement, Rescue and other
  government employees.

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VaSAFE

• Multi-Agency
• Memorandum of Understanding
• Fire
• Law Enforcement
• Rescue
• Virginia Department of Transportation

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VaSAFE

• Memorandum of Understanding
• A request for assistance from the Injured
  Jurisdiction must be made before a response.

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VaSAFE

• Memorandum of Understanding
• Request from the injured Jurisdiction must be
  made before a response

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VaSAFE

• Memorandum of Understanding
• The Unified Command System will be used
  without any agency losing or abdicating
  authority, responsibility or accountability.

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VaSAFE

• The Fire Chief and Local IAFF President are not
  recommended to be part of VaSAFE team.
• The Fire Chief and local President s duties
  are to provide support for their personnel.

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VaSAFE

• The Team Leader will contact the other Points
  of Contact
• Points of Contact are usually Operation Chief
  or Division Chiefs Office

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VaSAFE

• VaSAFE Team a regional response.
• Responding to the fire scene
• Assisting in command and operations
• relieving fire ground crews
• Investigation of Fire
• Providing support of fellow firefighters

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VaSAFE

• VaSAFE Team a regional response.
• Placing Fire and Rescue units in stations
• Law Enforcement Support
• Hospital Support
• Public Information Officer
• VPFF/ VFCA Support

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VaSAFE

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VaSAFE

• Investigation of a Line of Duty Death or
  serious injury of a member of the Fire Service
  is one of the most difficult and important
  activities that we must conduct.

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VaSAFE

• This difficulty is compounded by the fact that
  the investigation must usually be conducted
  under extremely stressful circumstances and often
  under pressure for the rapid release of
  information

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VaSAFE

• A Hurricane is easier to manage than A
  Significant Injury or Line of Duty Death of
  one of your Firefighters.

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1981 David A. Cosner
• 1981 Larry W. Marks
• 1981 William B. Travis Naval Air Station,
  Norfolk
• 1982 Micheal D. Goff Petersburg
• 1982 Hunter E. Gurley

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1982 William M. Miller Arlington
• 1982 John R. Small Jr. Virginia Beach
• 1983 William J. Mahoney Portsmouth Naval
  Shipyard
• 1984 Calvin C. Garrett
• 1984 Michael G. Sims

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1985 John W. Askew JR
• 1985 Robert G. Cassell Roanoke
• 1985 Harvey H. Helms Sr Roanoke
• 1985 George H. Knight Danville
• 1985 Frederick G. Legrys

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1985 Thomas Phelps
• 1986 Michael Brian Bassett
• 1986 Jerrold W. Branch Sr
• 1987 Neal W. Conwell
• 1987 Danny Wayne Morris

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1988 Robert L. Hoeflein Naval, Little Creek
• 1989 Jay Mark Miller
• 1989 James E. Quesenberry
• 1989 Matthew B. Smith
• 1990 Robert T. Crutchfield III Danville

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1990 Vernon Dennis Deshazor Danville
• 1990 Mark E. Polan
• 1990 Floyd M. Price
• 1990 Walter J. Scruggs Jr. Fairfax County
• 1991 Larry H. Brooks Portsmouth

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1991 Lynn E. Maricle
• 1992 Gwyn L. Ellis
• 1993 Samuel Isaac Boyce
• 1993 David M. Dunkerley
• 1993 Walter E. Silvertson Jr Newport News

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1994 Steve A. Colona
• 1994 Anthony Covas
• 1995 Christopher M. garneau
• 1995 Carter Martin
• 1996 Corey Clifton Morgan

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1996 John R. Hudgins Jr. Chesapeake
• 1996 Frank Eric Young Chesapeake
• 1997 William S. Bradnar III
• 1997 John F. Lincoln
• 1999 Bradley Curtis McNeer Chesterfield
• 2000 Kenneth T. Miller

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 1981-2001
• 1996 John Robert Hudgins Jr Chesapeake
• 1996 Frank Eric Young Chesapeake
• 1997 John F. Lincoln Jr
• 1999 Bradley Curtis McNeer
• 2000 Kenneth T. Miller

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Fallen Firefighters 2002-2007
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007

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VaSAFE

• On July 13, 2000 in Virginia Beach a line of
  Duty Death Seminar included Virginia Fire Chiefs,
  IAFF Local Presidents, IAFF Safety and Health
  Director Rich Duffy
• A Panel of Leaders whos department had
  suffered a Line of Duty Death. Openly responded
  to a form on lessons learned

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• It is essential that we maintain a level of Calm
  during any investigation, while also conducting
  every day business.

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Locals must have, Protocols
• ( Funeral, Memorial Services)

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• The Family Matters most
• (Not the Chief or Union)

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• The Family must be contacted Immediately!

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• What does the family want ?

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Most of the time the family doesnt know!

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Make finite plans with family!

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Dont do something you are not trained to do- do
  what you do best.

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• A Fatality paralyzes the department regionalism
  will help get task done.
• No matter how much you think you can handle it
  you Cant.
• Lets be there for one another!

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• You are not prepared for the event, or what will
  follow.
• You will be overwhelmed.
• The department comes unplugged!

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Open an EOC in the event of a Fatality
  decision-makers MUST be brought together.

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• During a critical incident stress
  de-briefing-focus not only on those close to the
  incident, but remember the families and those who
  will be carrying on the next shift, as well as
  other stations.

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Designate one location as a department gathering
  place (food, beverage, counselors etc)
• Strife in the department WILL intensify during a
  high profile event.
• Marital problems WILL intensify during a high
  profile event.

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Mutual aid is essential!

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VaSAFE

• Designate a person other than the PIO to keep
  your department informed.
• Death benefit procedures are a nightmare!
• Family is not familiar with benefit structure.
• Designate someone to advocate on their behalf. (
  Fire dept. friend,)

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• There must be a open ,honest and objective
  assessment of the accident.
• You will most likely never forget IT.
• There will be issues that leave scares.
• It may be weeks before you have an opportunity
  to grieve.

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Mentor someone!!
• ASK FOR HELP- do not be shy- you will need it.
• Dont forget the Clergy.
• OURS is an extended Family.
• Pool Regional, State National resources

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Spiritual assistance- form a regional chaplain
  group.
• Many people feel more comfortable talking to
  chaplains than stress debriefs.
• Dont forget the dispatchers! They are capable of
  handling a huge volume of calls.
• Take advantage of offers for help!

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VaSAFE LODD Minutes

• Be prepared for an outpouring of financial
  donations.
• Have a financial plan!
• Charitable funds can be taxed
• How should funds be distributed?
• How do you equitably and fairly distribute money?

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VaSAFETable Of Content

• INTRODUCTION
• OVERVIEW
• OBJECTIVE
• INVESTIGATION TEAM
• INVESTIGATION PROCESS
• NOTIFICATIONS
• ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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VaSAFETable Of Contents

• NOTIFICATIONS
• ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
• PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOCUMENTION
• RESEARCH DOCUMENTS
• OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE
• RESOURCES

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VaSAFETable of Contents

• Public Safety Officers Benefits Program
• Virginia Medical Examiners Procedure
• Summary of Benefits
• Virginia Labor Department Contact list
• Virginia State Police Contact List
• Honor Guard Manual

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VaSAFE

• Virginia Line of Duty Act
• Form for Disability Benefits
• Form for Death Benefits

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VaSAFE

• National Fallen Firefighter Foundation has a
  section Benefits for Survivors
• Federal Civilian Firefighters benefits
• Virginia state benefits
• Public Safety Officers Benefit Program
• http//www.firehero.org

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VaSAFE

• What should your department do today to prepare
  for a LODD?
• Take a digital Photo of all your personnel
• Update Firefighters contact information Home
  address phone, wife or mothers name their cell
  phone number.

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VaSAFE

• HAND-OUTS - NFFF
• Taking Care Of Our Own A Resource Guide.
• Notifying The Family
• Remembering Americas Fire Heroes

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Hampton Roads Highway Management Committee

• HAND -OUT
• Hampton Roads Highway Incident Management Plan
• Hampton Roads Highway Incident Management Video.
• HRHIM used in Virginia, USA Canada