Dustyn Borghi, Author at TargetSolutions

November 5, 2014

Under Construction: The Fire Department Training Program

TargetSolutions sponsored a special webcast presentation on Nov. 4 that delivered valuable insight for fire department leaders on how to build and maintain training systems.

It is critical for fire departments to evaluate their training programs on an ongoing basis. That point was driven home by Des Plaines (Ill.) Fire Department’s Division Chief Forest Reeder on Nov. 4 during a special webcast presentation, “Under Construction: The Fire Department Training Program.”

“Training programs always have to be a work in progress,” Reeder said during the hour-long event delivered by Fire Engineering with sponsorship from TargetSolutions. “It almost has to be written in pencil. It needs to adapt to different things that happen during calls, and different things that come down the pipe in terms of SOPs and procedures.”

A proper training program can be defined as one that doesn’t offer just enough training for members to perform adequately, but quality training that ensures they can’t get it wrong, said Reeder, who has been in the fire service since 1978 and is the Fire Officer I and II coordinator of Illinois Fire Chiefs Association.

Reeder also spoke to the importance of incorporating technology in today’s training and mentioned that every moment is a learning opportunity that should not be taken for granted.

“Make sure training allows members to be a little bit better, a little bit faster, a little bit safer, and a little bit smarter,” he said.

If you would like more information about this webcast, or TargetSolutions’ training system, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

November 4, 2014

Educate Employees on How to Protect Themselves from Infectious Diseases by Properly Donning, Doffing PPE

Company Blog

Community Resources features dozens of valuable items on how to manage PPE. This month’s top resource is a video from Wake County EMS, “Donning and Doffing of Biohazard PPE.”

At a time when the Ebola virus is still making news on a daily basis, it is critical first responders are educated on best practices for donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE). TargetSolutions has provided a link in Community Resources to a 7 minute, 27 second video from Wake County EMS (N.C.) that is highly educational for first responders faced with known or suspected infectious diseases.

Wake County’s video, “Donning and Doffing of Biohazard PPE,” has been selected as TargetSolutions’ Resource of the Month for November. It outlines proper technique for putting on PPE, followed by appropriate steps for removing PPE. The video offers two key points for the removal of infected equipment: Accept help from other assisting responders on the scene and always use slow, methodical movements.

Several accompanying items from Wake County EMS have been uploaded into Community Resources, including procedure guides for doffing and donning PPE. The guides provide step-by-step, detailed instructions to ensure compliance and avoid contamination.

There is also an Infectious Disease Response Plan from Wake County EMS that identifies key steps during EMS response to a patient who is suspected of having an infectious disease, like Ebola.

With TargetSolutions, organizations can deliver these items to employees and track completions. If you would like to view these and other valuable resources, please log in to your organization’s TargetSolutions site and search “Wake County PPE” under the Community Resources tab. If you have any questions about accessing these resources, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

October 28, 2014

How to Utilize Roll-Up Doors During Forcible Entry, Egress During Firefighting Operations

Featured Contributors

Blog by Ed Hadfield

www.firetowntrainingspecialist.com

The commercial roll-up door operation is one of the most important tasks for forcible entry team members. As a progressive, proactive Rapid Intervention Crew company, commercial roll-up doors should be a primary entry/egress addressed on the RIC size-up. Yet, many firefighters nationwide fail to utilize this point of entry/egress because of misconceptions about the time and effort that is needed.

Commercial roll-up doors fall into four simple categories:

1. Rolling Steel

2. Sheet Curtain

3. Sectional

4. Slab

This article addresses the first two: Rolling Steel and Sheet Curtain. These are two of the most common commercial doors found on larger commercial and industrial occupancies nationwide.

Rolling Steel:

Rolling-Steel doors are some of the first commercial roll-up doors to be manufactured. They roll up into a drum above the doorway. The drum itself is a counter balanced device that is manually operated, or operated by a motor device with a manual override. These drums are attached to the upper ledge of the doorway and are extremely heavy. Special safety precautions should be taken based on the type of occupancies involved. Remember, an Un-reinforced Masonry Constructed or URM building will provide a weakened support system for heavy objects such as the commercial roll-up door.

The key to recognizing these types of doors is the design of the door itself. Rolling-Steel doors are interlocking single slats that are dependent upon one another to create a single-door system. Removal of one slat will eliminate the structural integrity of the door system in that area.

Illustrated in the following photos are the approach to removal of the slats to gain access to the interior of the structure through a Rolling-Steel door.

The first cut starts approximately in the middle to two-thirds across the door face. The cut should be at head height. Utilization of enough blade on the rotary saw to cut through the skin of the door is sufficient. Burying the blade will reduce effectiveness, and reduce the number of doors opened without changing blades.

Proper Cutting of Steel Doors for Forcible Entry

The initial cut will continue down to the base of the door itself. Notice the effectiveness of the saw by minimizing the depth of the blade. The outside-man is utilizing only the amount of blade necessary to cut through the door skin.

Once the initial cut is made the outside-man will grasp the door slats with a set of vice-grips, or channel locks to pull the door slats out of the door system. NOTE: On certain doors the slats are interlocked on the outside of the system. If you have difficulty pulling a slat, go to the slat above or below the initial slat pulled and try there. If you continue to have difficulty pulling the slats out of the door, make an additional cut in the face of the door furthest away from the initial cut. This will eliminate those locking devices.

Once the top slats are removed, all slats located below them will fall out of the way and provide ample access to the interior of the structure. NOTE: Be aware that remaining sections of the door will at times roll up quickly into the containment drum located above the door way. The force of the door rolling up so quickly can lead to the drum dislodging from the wall, and falling downward toward working members. Be careful around weakened structures and URMs.

Sheet Curtain Doors:

Due to manufacturing, Sheet Curtain doors are the most widely used in today’s building standards. They are recognizable by the design.

The sheet curtain door is one solid piece of material without break in the face of the door. It rolls up into a counterbalanced drum located above the doorway, and is manually or motor operated. Unlike the Rolling-Steel door, the sheet curtain is more difficult to open, and will require additional cuts at the base of the door.

The first cut is two-thirds to either side of the face of the door. Again, utilize only enough blade that is necessary to cut through the skin of the door. This cut will go to the bottom of the door.

Due to the design of most rotary saws, the bottom cord of angle iron that provides the base stability to the door will not be cut entirely through. The next cut, “The Tee-Pee” cut, will allow access to the bottom cord of the door.

A large enough “Tee-Pee” must be made to allow the entire body of the saw to operate and cut through the bottom cord of the door.

The “Tee-Pee” is pulled outward to allow access to the bottom cord of the door. Depending upon door manufacturing, this bottom cord can either be a substantial piece of angle iron, or a rather minimal piece of aluminum angle brace. Either way, the bottom cord must be cut through to allow the door to be opened effectively.

The final cut is the lateral or face cut that goes from the opposite side of the door to the initial cut within the face of the door. Notice the position of the saw – the cutting operations are going away from the face, and eyes of the firefighter.

Once this cut is established, the door can be opened by pulling outward on the door structure to allow for rapid access and egress into the structure.

NOTE: One final cut may have to be made as a small portion of the door may be hidden in the track. Once this cut is made the door can roll-up into the drum quickly. Be careful.

If you have any questions about commercial roll-up doors, you can reach Hadfield online at www.firetowntrainingspecialist.com.

About the Author

Ed Hadfield has more than 26 years of fire service experience after rising through the ranks from firefighter to division chief. He is a frequent speaker on leadership, sharing his experiences within the fire service and also with corporate and civic leaders throughout the United States. For more on Hadfield, please check online at www.firetowntrainingspecialist.com.

October 27, 2014

A Healthy Workforce Is a Productive Workforce with TargetSolutions’ Wellness Program

Company Blog

Organizations can implement TargetSolutions’ pre-made Wellness Program to promote a healthier lifestyle for employees.

Did you know maintaining a healthy workforce is an important component to your organization’s productivity? Reducing obesity, decreasing smoking, and eliminating health issues can improve deficiencies and cut unnecessary costs.

According to a report by the Institute for HealthCare Consumerism, at least one-fourth of health care costs incurred by working adults could be attributed to changeable health risks, such as tobacco, diet, and lack of exercise.

The same report states that an analysis of 42 published studies on worksite health promotion programs shows for every $1 spent on health programs, organizations realize $5.93 in savings. This is the result of an average of 28 percent reduction in sick days, 26 percent reduction in health costs, and 30 percent reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims.

TargetSolutions features pre-built electronic activities for tracking weight-loss programs and managing weekly health challenges. The platform allows an organization to track results and participation. With the implementation of TargetSolutions’ pre-made Wellness Program, organizations can promote a healthier lifestyle for employees.

If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ pre-made Wellness Program, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

October 23, 2014

Police Officers Will ‘Rise or Fall to the Level of Their Training,’ Says TargetSolutions’ New Law Enforcement Instructor

Company News

Industry Expert Hired as TargetSolutions’ New Law Enforcement Instructor to Bolster Online Law Enforcement Training Catalog

SAN DIEGO – Over the past 30 years, Steve Ramirez has held just about every position possible in law enforcement. After his time in the Marine Corps, Ramirez served as an officer, investigator, commander, police academy director, and master trainer, just to name a few.

Ramirez worked 10 years as a police chief in three states and was a peace officer in four. He’s been an expert witness and instructor in police leadership, policy, use of force, and counter-terrorism. Ramirez is currently serving as an adjunct professor for criminal justice at Texas Tech University, as well as the University of Texas-San Antonio, after working as the director for law enforcement, homeland security and institutional research for campus preparedness, safety and security for the State of Texas.

If there is one thing Ramirez’s three decades of experience have taught him, he says, it’s that training is critical to police officer effectiveness.

“Training has always been important, but in today’s environment, it’s mandatory for police agencies to understand just how critical training is to successful outcomes,” said Ramirez, who has been hired as TargetSolutions’ new law enforcement instructor. “When decisions must be made in matters of life and liberty, officers rise or fall to the level of their training.”

In his new position with TargetSolutions, Ramirez, who has a master’s degree in human resource development from Palm Beach Atlantic University and completed post-graduate studies in both adult education (George Washington University) and criminal justice (Sul Ross State University), will review TargetSolutions’ online police training catalog, which currently features more than 240 law enforcement titles.

He’ll also assist in the writing of new course material and will be leveraged as a resource for insight into how police agencies can maximize TargetSolutions’ internet-based training system.

“I am thrilled that Steve will be joining our team,” said TargetSolutions’ Content Architect Jeremy Lynch. “He shares our values and our focus on education, and he places the same strong emphasis as we do on creating a dynamic user experience. He has shown himself to be an extraordinary educator throughout his law enforcement career and has a proven track record.”

In Ramirez’s mind, this is the perfect time to join TargetSolutions as police agencies’ need for mandatory training is magnified each day.

“There is an opportunity to do great things here at TargetSolutions – not just for TargetSolutions, but for law enforcement,” Ramirez said. “Look at what happened in the press coverage at Ferguson, (Mo.). Too many people are asking, ‘should police be allowed to have all this military gear?’ The real question is if police are trained and led well enough to use that equipment in an appropriate and effective manner. In my view, all too often the answer is no. They are not trained well enough. The key to law enforcement success in the age of terrorism isn’t hardware, it is software. Effective training provides the right software.

“What TargetSolutions brings is not just the ability to meet mandatory training requirements online, but the ability to provide, facilitate, and record training and all of the other compliance activities that are essential to a progressive police department.”

About TargetSolutions

TargetSolutions delivers cutting-edge software applications, engaging online training courses, and world-class customer service. The company was founded in 1999 and today there are more than 2,000 organizations across the country using TargetSolutions’ innovative technology to solve their training challenges. TargetSolutions is headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information, please call 1-800-840-8048 or check online at www.targetsolutions.com.

October 14, 2014

Two Steps for Strategizing What Training Comes Next

Featured Contributors

Strategizing Future Firefighter Training

As a training officer, you have probably lost your share of sleep over what to train on next. You know what is at stake — but how can you be sure you are investing your limited resources in the right places at the right level?

After all, your team needs to be well rounded — from ventilation, to high-rise operations, to medical response, and everything else.

Here are two simple steps to help you in your planning process for future firefighter training:

TWO SIMPLE STEPS

Conduct a ‘needs assessment’ to determine your members’ training needs vs. training wants

Look to the past for training lessons — the past will predict the future

Step No. 1: It is important to make sure you provide the right balance of training at the right frequency on the right topics. Conducting a “needs assessment” will help determine what type of training personnel want vs. what they need. Your goal is to provide training that makes a difference in personnel’s overall performance. One topic might be challenging for one person, but refresher material for another. That’s why an assessment can help lead to training that is comprehensive and appropriate for all levels on your staff.

Step No. 2: It is a safe bet that whatever incidents happened in the past, will happen again in the future. This doesn’t mean the exact same accident or fire will happen at the exact same place — but odds are something similar will happen again. Keeping records of previous incidents can help you make training decisions in the future. When emergencies strike, first responders’ skills come to light, as do their deficiencies. Post-incident reports, which can be tracked and delivered with TargetSolutions, give great insight into upcoming training opportunities.

October 7, 2014

Process Simplified for Uploading Articulate Presentations Into File Center

Company Blog

If you would like to deliver training presentations created with the latest technology from Articulate, you’re going to be happy to hear TargetSolutions fully supports Articulate’s e-Learning software.

TargetSolutions has always been compatible with Articulate, but in the past, platform managers had to upload presentations built with Presenter ’13 and Storyline using TargetSolutions’ large-file upload site. This caused delays that will no longer exist, according to Product Manager Misty Pratt.

TargetSolutions enables organizations to schedule, deliver and track any custom presentation or course that is SCORM 1.2 compliant.

“We wanted to make the process simpler and more seamless for platform managers who want to assign Articulate presentations,” said Pratt. “Now, you can easily upload a presentation into the File Center and assign it to users with Activities Builder.”

The File Center’s upload tool allows clients to upload any web-published presentation created with an Articulate product, including Articulate Presenter ’13, Storyline 1, and Storyline 2. In addition to Articulate presentations, organizations can upload and deliver any presentation or course that is SCORM 1.2 compliant, regardless of the program used for creation, Pratt said.

“TargetSolutions features applications for delivering any type of training presentation or compliance task,” Pratt said. “With TargetSolutions, you can take advantage of third-party content creation tools and then deliver and track those items. By giving platform managers the ability to upload Articulate presentations without the interruption of the large-file site, the process is easier for everyone.”

If you have any questions about this upgrade, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

October 7, 2014

Protect Your Organization by Raising Awareness About HIV, AIDS

Company Blog

TargetSolutions’ HIV/AIDS Awareness course is a self-paced online course that takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The course contains review exercises, case studies, and a multiple choice exam.

October is AIDS Awareness Month and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In fact, each year around 2.7 million people become infected with HIV and 2 million more die from AIDS.

The endemic is a serious public health problem for our society. TargetSolutions features a nine-lesson course that provides vital information to educate personnel on ways to protect themselves from this life-threatening disease, as well as other bloodborne pathogens.

If you have any questions about this course, or TargetSolutions’ online safety training catalog, please contact us at (800) 840-8048.

October 6, 2014

Infographic: How TargetSolutions’ Online Training Addresses Workplace Claims

Company Blog

Is your organization at risk of employees being injured while on the job? Do workers’ compensation and medical costs make a huge dent in your bottom line? Does productivity slip when injuries or illnesses strike?

TargetSolutions features hundreds of online safety training courses built to help organizations educate employees, reduce liability, decrease claims and save money. Check out this new infographic, “How TargetSolutions’ Online Training Addresses Workplace Claims,” to learn the risks and how the industry’s ultimate online training management system helps.

Organizations spend more than $170 billion each year on costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses. TargetSolutions features engaging online safety training courses to educate employees and reduce costly incidents from happening. Please click here to download and print this infographic, “How TargetSolutions’ Online Training Addresses Workplace Claims.”

October 2, 2014

Training Liabilities 2014: Staying Out of the Danger Zone

Company Blog

If you would like to watch the webcast, Training Liabilities 2014: Staying Out of the Danger Zone, please go to Fire Engineering’s website and register to view a recording.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, TargetSolutions sponsored a special webcast by Fire Engineering. The 90-minute presentation, Training Liabilities 2014: Staying Out of the Danger Zone, was delivered by attorney and retired Deputy Fire Chief John Murphy, who offered tips on how to reduce exposure through effective firefighter training.

Murphy, who served 32 years as a career firefighter and now provides legal and consulting services for fire service leadership, drove home how critical it is for training officers to analyze risks in training, understand basic federal laws, incorporate best practices into , and implement an overall philosophy of safety during training.

Murphy defined training liability as any situation in which a fire department’s personnel are subject to litigation for actions or omissions during training instruction.

“Every lawsuit involves an allegation that some firefighter violated some legal standard set forth in a federal or state statute in a common-law doctrine,” said Murphy, who also discussed the importance of accurate recordkeeping in training management. Please click here to watch a recorded version of Murphy’s presentation.

To learn more about TargetSolutions’ unique, one-of-a-kind recordkeeping applications, please click here.

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