VFIS of Texas News

The Texas Forest Service has recently announced the March – April 2008 approvals under HB 3667. HB 3667 was passed by the 77th Texas Legislature to reimburse eligible volunteer fire departments for the purchase of workers’ compensation insurance and death and disability insurance.  To receive the approved funds, departments must provide TFS with a copy of their current policy (or a paid receipt) along with their membership roster.  If your department already has coverage with VFIS of Texas and you need a copy of the policy or a paid receipt, please let us know.  If you do not currently have coverage or want to purchase additional coverage, we can help.  Call us at 800-252-9435.

With spring here, many individuals are making time for spring cleaning, yard work, home repairs, and new exercise regimens, all of which can present a variety of health and safety hazards. Emergency service organizations are often called upon to respond when problems occur, and VFIS offers an excellent opportunity to educate your community about spring safety and earn some solid public relation points with its "Spring is Here!" adaptable press release.

The two-page "Spring is Here!" press release, offering many safety tips for your community, is available for download in Word format at www.vfis.com. We suggest you adapt this press release and place it on your organizational letterhead. You can mail, fax, or e-mail the news release to the health or feature editor at your local newspaper as well as the news producers at television and radio stations in your area. Better yet, call them to find out the appropriate person to receive the release. You may even wish to offer your health and safety officer for interviews.

To download this form and adapt it for your organization, simply visit http://www.vfis.com/resources.htm and check VFIS Safety Flyers.

VFIS Introduces Three New Education & Training/Risk Control Programs

VFIS has developed three new programs to aid emergency service organizations with management and administrative assistance:

• Managing Volunteer and Combination Emergency Service Organizations:  Tips for the Fire Department CEO – This program reviews 17 key areas for fire department management, including budgeting, by-laws, strategic planning, and more.

• Harassment and Discrimination Prevention Training – This CD/DVD training session informs emergency responders that the public expects “the best” from emergency service employees and volunteers.

• Stay Alert So  They Don’t Get Hurt – Public Safety Presentation Kit – A new safety program designed to arm your ESO with an informational presentation for civic and fraternal organizations to heighten the public’s awareness.

All three of these useful resources may be ordered by calling VFIS at 800-233-1957 or by visiting the online store at www.vfis.com.  VFIS clients receive one complimentary copy of each program.

Katrina Testimonial Streams

When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast in the fall of 2005, even emergency service organizations weren’t prepared for the level of destruction they would witness.  Hurricanes are great equalizers – sparing no one or nothing in their path.  Between the two storms, hundreds of fire stations in Mississippi to Texas suffered tremendous damage.  VFIS has a strong commitment to its insureds.  After 37 years in the business, VFIS has come to consider first responders friends rather than just clients.  And in times of crisis, that becomes apparent.

Visit http://www.vfis.com/WhentheUnbelievableOccurs.htm to hear our customers’ perspectives.

Firefighting Raises Heart Attack Risk

A recent MSNBC news article cites a Harvard study that found that firefighting raises heart attack risks, especially on the fire scene.  The study also found that firefighter deaths increase even during less demanding duties.

To read the full article, visit http://www.msnbc.com/id/17695966/

IAFC-VCOS "White Ribbon Report - Keeping the Lights on, the Trucks Running and the Volunteers Responding"

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Volunteer-Combination Officers Section (VCOS) has released its “White Ribbon Report – Keeping the Lights on, the Trucks Running and the Volunteers Responding”.  Similar to the “Red Ribbon Report” and the “Blue Ribbon Report”, it is intended for use by volunteer and combination emergency service organizations to enhance their management and operations.  Developed in response to changes within the American fire and rescue services that have created new needs and challenges, the document not only illustrates the problems and concerns, but offers twelve tools in the Appendix to assist you.  These tools range from sample conduct standards and financial illustrations to training tools and checklists to help you.  It is a must read for chief officers and at 46-pages, it doesn’t take long.  The document may be downloaded at no charge at www.vcos.org.   

NTIMC Proposes National Unified Goal (NUG)

The National Traffic Incident Management Coalition recently released the Proposed National Unified Goal (NUG) for Traffic Incident Management.  The Proposed NUG marks the first time a broad coalition of traffic incident responders have joined together to develop unified policies to address common concerns.

More than 20 national organizations representing the many disciplines that respond to typical traffic incidents are currently in the process of formally adopting the NUG as official policy.  NTIMC member organizations represent emergency communications, emergency medical services, fire, law enforcement, transportation, and towing and recovery.  After formal ratification by member organizations, NUG implementation will be launched with a joint national press conference.

The FHWA’s “TIM Community of Practice” web site is the place to exchange ideas about NTIMC’s National Unified Goal start, or join a discussion at http://www.timexchange.org.  To view the Proposed National Unified Goal, visit http://timcoalition.org.