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Due to the increased use of capnography in the EMS community over the past decade, having an understanding of this tool has become even more important. Capnography is the measurement of carbon dioxide concentrations in exhaled air and is meant to provide valuable information that can help EMS professionals save lives.

TargetSolutions’ “EMS Capnography” training course for EMS continuing education is comprised of 11 learning modules and a 10-question exam. The 60-minute course, which discusses capnography, the use of capnograms in the EMS industry, and a variety of conditions that benefit from a capnographic reading, has recently undergone enhancements for updated content and multimedia.

Objectives of this course include:

• Recognizing the relevance of end-tidal CO₂ as a prognostic tool
• Explaining how to use capnography as a means for determining end-tidal CO₂ detection and how to interpret the different levels
• Analyzing the reasons for using capnography
• Discussing the basics of carbon dioxide, how it functions in the body, and the causes for increased and decreased end-tidal CO₂ levels

For more information on this course or other courses in TargetSolutions’ EMS training catalog, please contact us today at (800) 840-8048.

Before becoming an account manager at TargetSolutions, Brandy Krantz worked in the same role for CentreLearn. Formerly a dental receptionist, Brandy initially decided to pursue a new career path in customer service and work with those who serve in public safety. She is now in her sixth year with the organization and is based remotely out of Pennsylvania.

“I love how TargetSolutions is very family-oriented; it’s a really cool team to work on and we have a great mission working with fire departments and other public safety agencies,” said Brandy. “I love my job! Who wouldn’t love working with every day heroes?”

Learn more about Brandy, a mother of twins, in this recent Q-and-A:

What is your favorite past time?

My oldest son (11) is the quarterback on his football team. I love being a football mom and cheering on his team at their games. On the off season, I enjoy getting together with my family around a camp fire.

What is your favorite food?

Is wine a food? (ha ha). Pasta or dill pickles

What is the last book you read?

Jenny McCarthy’s “Belly Laughs” (I was pregnant with my twin boys)

What was the last movie you saw that you enjoyed?

Bad Moms

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Ireland

What is your favorite sports team?

Eagles!

Dogs or cats?

Dogs all the way! I have a gorgeous golden retriever (Maximus).

What board game are you best at?

Definitely not Chutes and Ladders! I would say Trouble!

Favorite Quote?

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde

Most fun place you’ve traveled?

I am not a big traveler, but I did go to Las Vegas to get married so I would say Vegas!

If you were stuck on an island, what three items would you bring?

Wine, a grill, and my husband.

Name one of your passions.

Trying new restaurants.

What is something that not a lot of people know about you?

I secretly enjoy watching cartoons with my son. 😉

Favorite holiday?

Halloween for sure!

A new course exploring the topics of situational awareness, flashover, and unusual fire behavior has been added to AlphaACT FIRE’s online training library. Check out the new course during the weekly AlphaACT FIRE webinar, scheduled every Wednesday at 9 a.m.

AlphaACT® FIRE’s dynamic online courses are built to engage firefighters with real-life experiences. With a complete library of scenario-based training scenarios, AlphaACT FIRE is excited to announce a new course is now available inside TargetSolutions’ online training management system.

The West Hill Road Fire scenario features a structure fire burning into the night, fueled by accompanying severe weather conditions.

With a plethora of resources available and heavy fire involvement, situational awareness is a critical area of importance for this course. Additional focus is attributed to structural collapses along with wind-driven and exposure fires. This scenario is based upon an actual event from 2014.

AlphaACT FIRE’s course library features 24 scenarios, featuring more than 90 learning stages, including the recently featured course of the month based on the Cornerstone Fire scenario.

This course is centered on a suburban home surrounded by a spacious cluster of houses. This event will inspire you to retool your attack strategy with special focus given to grow operations, new construction, and strange fire behavior. This scenario is based upon an actual event from 2012.

Learning objectives of these two courses include:

• Gaining situational awareness of an event
• Compare and contrast with similar events to enhance your understanding of a scenario
• Develop good strategy and tactics as well as what to avoid
• Explore heavy and quickly spreading fire and flashover

For more information on these unique training courses, please contact TargetSolutions today at (800) 840-8046.

Platform managers with access to Record Completions will now have the ability to submit completions of assigned activities for not only themselves but other members of their crew. This new enhancement enables platform managers to document training for larger groups from an activity already assigned to them, rather than having to find the training assignment inside Record Completions.

“It’s huge for a Company Officer to be able to go into his schedule and add users and record training as complete,” said TargetSolutions Product Specialist Tim Riley. “As we all know, the fewer clicks a Company Officer has to make, the happier he will be. Just like when we put the Record Completions link on the home page, this will eliminate unnecessary clicks and save Company Officers time.”

Activities that have been set to allow for record completions will have an “Add Users” function available when accessed from My Assignments or the Schedule. Only administrators and supervisors with access to Record Completions will see this option.

Once an activity has been submitted as complete, it becomes a record for the platform manager submitting the activity, as well as the users that have been added.

Another key benefit is that platform managers will be able to utilize TargetSolutions’ Save & Assign functionality to ensure consistent documentation of the training has been recorded.

“Quite honestly, where this is most important is in the Facility Training documentation,” Riley said. “A Training Officer can now fill in the objectives and the additional information using Save and Assign for this month’s facility training, and it will be the same entry for everyone.”

To learn more about TargetSolutions’ latest enhancement, please click here or contact us at (800) 840-8048.

Platform managers with access to Record Completions will now have the ability to submit completions of assigned activities for not only themselves but other members of their crew.

You are never alone when you use TargetSolutions.

Whether you are a seasoned platform manager of the system or a new user, TargetSolutions’ Client Services team is ready to assist at a moment’s notice. In addition to 24/7 toll-free support and live chat for customers, TargetSolutions offers a robust online help system featuring tips and tricks for utilizing the online training management system.

The web-based portal offers detailed instructions and video tutorials on how to operate the platform. Whether you are an administrator, supervisor, or user, you can bet you will find the answers you need online at http://help.targetsolutions.com.

If a user ever has trouble logging in – or has any other platform-related questions – they can access the interactive live chat feature through the help system and receive the information they need instantaneously. Platform managers can also take advantage of this efficient way to communicate with a TargetSolutions representative, or they can reach out to their dedicated account manager.

At the end of the day, however, the searchable online help portal provides detailed answers to most questions. And it’s just one click away.

“Our help system is packed with frequently asked questions, videos, webinars, and tutorials,” said Client Services Manager Jennifer Jones. “Our representatives are readily available via live chat and by phone to answer user questions.

“Troubleshooting is inevitably going to happen and it’s important that our users feel confident contacting us with any issues that arise during their experience.”

If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ online help system, please contact us at (800) 840-8048 or via e-mail.

“Mock Suspension of Firefighter with Alcohol on His Breath,” is a video inside Community Resources that presents a simulated scenario of a respected fire officer being confronted for alcohol abuse

When a decorated fire officer relapses to the addictions of alcohol abuse, what is the outlook for his or her professional career? That’s what this month’s top video inside Community Resources explores.

A scenario is presented in the video, entitled “Mock Suspension of Firefighter with Alcohol on His Breath,” where a fire lieutenant, who is a highly respected employee, finds himself in trouble with his employer after a relapse with alcohol. The fire captain cites the lieutenant’s storied career with the department as the only thing keeping him in contention for his job – but sternly informs him that to hold onto his position he will need to agree to a series of rigorous demands.

The non-negotiable terms: comply with the EAP requirements, enroll in and pay out of pocket expenses – about $6,000 for the Center for Alcoholic Treatment (CAT) program – get involved with the local AA chapter, and share the experiences with his crew.

With a union representative by his side, the lieutenant is faced with deciding not only much he’s dedicated to saving his job, but his health, as well.

The video, produced by the University of Cincinnati’s Fire Science & Emergency Management program, runs just shy of nine minutes and is available inside Community Resources. Six organizations have used this resource, including Columbia River Fire and Rescue, Corona De Tucson Fire Department, and South Charleston Fire Department.

If you have any questions about the Community Resources application, please contact TargetSolutions today at (800) 840-8048. 

Victims suffering from heat illness require prompt action from first responders, making a knowledgeable skillset in managing heat-related emergencies a must for EMS personnel.

That reality is what makes the recently enhanced EMS Heat Illness and Emergencies training course a trademark lesson in TargetSolutions’ online EMS catalog. The 60-minute continuing education course recently received critical upgrades, including revitalized content, optimized multimedia, and updated interactions.

Featuring 11 learning modules and a 10-question exam, this course explores the full spectrum of heat illness and emergencies. After successfully completing this course, students should be able to:

• Define and identify various types of heat illnesses including heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion
• Understand the basics of temperature regulation and how heat is gained in heat-related illnesses
• Analyze management protocols for each type of heat illness

With more than 1,700 people losing their life each year in the U.S. because of heat stroke – per the Centers for Disease Control – this course is vital for emergency responders.

If you have any questions about TargetSolutions’ online training management system for EMS agencies, please contact us at (800) 840-8046.