2024 ANNUAL REPORT - Final

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EMERGENCY SERVICES

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Safety Office

The Safety Office remains a cornerstone of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services, championing health, safety, and risk management across the department. In 2024, our office expanded its influence through innovative programs, critical partnerships, and enhanced policies aimed at safeguarding our personnel and the community. The Safety Office's staffing structure, established in 2023, continues to include a Battalion Chief, two Captains, three Lieutenants, and an O2X contractor. This team has been pivotal in implementing programs like peer fitness training, Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT), Work Performance Evaluation (WPE), and Peer Support, ensuring the well-being of all personnel. In addition to responding to 619 emergency incidents for 2024, the Safety Office also maintains other day-to-day responsibilities within the Division. This includes acting as the Division's representative on the county’s risk management team, conducting routine inspections aimed at ensuring a safe workplace, overseeing health and wellness initiatives, and administering the Division’s O2X human performance program. Additionally, the Safety Office fulfills roles such as Certified Managers for the County’s employee drug testing program, representation on various committees, and functioning as the Division’s infection control officer, ensuring compliance with Federal and State laws in monitoring and addressing incidents related to infectious agents. The Safety Office investigated and reported on 91 vehicle collisions, 216 injuries, and 29 instances of property damage, closely comparable to 2023. Of the 216 reported injuries, 107 were documented injuries only with no medical treatment. The remaining injuries resulted in 219.5 shifts (24-hour shifts) of missed time by our personnel. Lost shifts increased by 88 shifts in 2024. Cancer Awareness Month: 10 videos featuring Frederick County personnel discussing their battles with cancer were produced and published, alongside daily informational content on cancer in the fire service. o Cancer Detection Expansion: New screenings, including the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test, Esogard for Barrett’s Esophagus, and voluntary hemoccult testing for personnel age 40 and above, were introduced. o Decontamination Products: Hygenall decontamination products were deployed across stations and apparatus to mitigate exposure to carcinogens. Sunscreen dispensers were installed in high traffic areas to combat skin cancer risks. Rehabilitation Policy Update The NFPA 1584-aligned rehab policy was revised to include contamination reduction areas and specific decontamination methods, plus enhancements to on-scene recovery practices. • O2X Wellness Program o Included renewing our contract with O2X to provide wellness programming, including an 8-hour workshop attended by nearly 50 personnel, sponsored by Cigna Healthcare. o Annual training and certification of nearly 50 Peer Fitness Trainers. • Health and Wellness Initiatives undertaken in 2024: • Cancer Awareness and Screening o

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