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Emergency Incident Response Diversion

 

While out at lunch at a local water park, I happened to assist a patient that hit his head pretty hard will having fun.  While talking with him, he kept stating that he didn’t want to be a bother while I, due to his symptoms, urged him to let me get EMS enroute to check him out.  Then he said something that prompted me to write this newsletter… “I don’t want to take up valuable resources when someone may be having an actual emergency.”

I want to introduce all of you to a term we use called “Diversion.”  When a 911 call comes in to communications, our amazing dispatchers take the information and “triage” the call.  This means they take in all the info and identify what level of response is required.  These can range from “Service Call” which is a non-emergency, low priority call to a “Priority One” life threatening emergency.

How “Diversions” work is that, if an emergency vehicle is dispatched to a lower level priority and a higher level one comes in in the same area, the responding units will “divert” to the higher level emergency.  This way, the incident that needs the most immediate help will get it in a timely manner.  Then the dispatchers will send another unit to the incident that the previous apparatus was “diverted” from.  It may sound a little confusing but it works!

So, the next time you have a situation that you may need 911, don’t think you’re taking personnel and equipment from other emergencies.  Remember that we have policies in place to make sure that everyone gets the service they need, in the priority order that’s required.

 

Be Safe!

 

 

 

 

Fire Safety Info

Situational Awareness

 

More and more, I see folks walking, skating, biking and driving, starring at their cell phones, with ear buds in both ears.  This is just asking for trouble!  They have no idea what’s going on around them and they can’t hear if someone is trying to warn them about something or if someone is creeping up on them.  This completely negates the process of situational awareness.

Situational awareness is the ability to perceive, understand, and effectively respond to one’s situation. It involves comprehending a given circumstance, gathering relevant information, analyzing it, and making informed decisions to successfully address any potential risks, hazards, or events that might occur.  This definitely is not occurring in the instances I described above!

A perfect example:  last weekend, while at an airport, a cart with heavy beer kegs was heading towards a person with their face in their phone and earbuds plugged in both ears.  Multiple people, including myself, tried to warn this person of the danger but they were completely disconnected from reality.  I finally pulled the person out of the cart’s path and they actually got mad because I touched them, until another bystander explained the situation.

What if this was a car at an intersection?  A commuter train downtown?  What about a mugger on the trail?  Most of these dangerous situations can be avoided by staying alert and actively practicing situational awareness.

The world is dangerous enough…we should all be as connected with our surroundings as possible to prevent ourselves injury or, worse, assault and battery!

Be Safe!

 

Volunteer Information

Community Leaders Wanted

Are you the person that stops to help someone change a tire?  Help someone reach something on the top shelf at HEB? Hold a door open for someone carrying packages?  Go out of your way to help someone that you’ve never met before?  If so, you are just the type of person we are looking for!

We are the Jollyville Volunteer Fire Department and we’re looking for people who want to do something to help their community.  If you are an outgoing, intelligent person who is willing to make the required time commitment, and want to be a major contributor to your community, call or come by the station and we will discuss your possible future as a community servant.

The basic requirements are:

Ability to attend Monday night trainings each month

Willing to go the extra mile for your neighbor

Call (512-258-1038), check out the website (www.jvfd.org) or just come on by the station (9218 Anderson Mill Road) and we will see if you’ve got what it takes to be a “Community Leader.”

 

Employment Information

Hiring Info

 

Jollyville Fire Department does not have a process open at this time.

Please check our website and the TCFP website for any future opportunities.