ESO Insurance Group

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One thing that the fire service isn’t always great at is record keeping and good documentation of specifics associated with calls and other events. One fail point in particular is documentation of members’ exposures to the potential of carcinogens and other potentially harmful concerns. And, of course, today we should be particularly concerned about potential exposures to COVID-19.

Maintaining records of exposures, or potential exposures, doesn’t have to be time consuming or difficult. Your NFIRS reporting software will allow to document exposures. You can also use a separate exposure form and list the members that were on that call and MAY have been exposed to something that could lead to a health problem later in time.

Good documentation is more necessary than ever. If it isn’t written down it never happened. We’ve all heard that a million times. Start writing it down! Insurance companies, Workers’ Compensation providers, the Department of Justice’s PSOB, and others will have a much more difficult time denying a claim if you have documentation that can help connect the dots to a member’s potential exposure and a relatable health issue.

There are apps available and many forms that you can find online. Here’s a link to an exposure form:
http://16lo3h33km9w3q8o12211jxa-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Exposure-Tracking-Form-EF.pdf

And here is a link to an app:

https://i-psdi.org/nfors-fire-exposure.html

The Department if Justice has said that a COVID-19 death may be compensable under the PSOB, BUT every call needs to have an exposure form completed, not just EMS runs.

Here is the link to the DOJ’s statement on PSOB and COVID-19:
https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/psob-program-covid19-update-3-2020.pdf

Please take the extra few minutes to improve this valuable record keeping for the sake of your members.

Please be safe and please be well!

16lo3h33km9w3q8o12211jxa-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

Outstanding article!

Mounting an Intelligent Interior Attack - Fire Engineering The faster you get water on the seat of the fire, the better things get for everyone on the fireground, writes Pete Van Dorpe.

It's not a sign of weakness to say that you may need some help. Among other resources, please use and share the IAFC/VCOS Yellow Ribbon Report: "Under the Helmet: Performing An Internal Size-Up, A Proactive Approach To Ensuring Mental Wellness."https://sites.iafc.org/files/1VCOS/VCOSYellowRibbonFinal.pdf

I wish my head could forget the things my eyes have seen - PTSD in First Responders. The Gods were not happy with me.  I had handed in my notice with my previous Fire Department after going through a nasty divorce and becoming a single father of my five year old son.  The new department offered much better pay and the all important Kelly day needed to take care of