Shakopee Fire Department 2024 Year in Review

FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

AIR MONITORING

Using air quality monitoring instruments, firefighters can test for hazardous environments such as carbon monoxide, natural gas, propane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, chlorine, and oxygen deficient air. Air monitoring is used to determine carbon monoxide or gas levels when alarms sound or odd smells are reported.

FIREFIGHTER HEALTH Shakopee firefighters receive annual health screenings, including blood testing, vision, hearing, resting electrocardiogram, lung capacity, and proper respirator fit.

PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM To assure firefighter safety in every environment, the department continues to utilize a personnel accountability system for which the division officer, operations officer, and incident commander are responsible. The system ensures every firefighter working at an incident scene is accounted for. Also, each firefighter is equipped with a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device. The PASS monitors a firefighter’s activity while they are in a building or hazardous area and sounds an alarm should they become trapped, injured, or lost. The alarm assists other firefighters in locating and removing a distressed firefighter. INCIDENT COMMAND The department employs the nationally recognized Blue Card Incident Command Program for emergency operations. Designed to manage smaller National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 4 and 5 incidents, the Blue Card program simplifies the incident command system by establishing best practices, standardized terminology, clear communication processes, and defined expectations for each ICS role. It provides a foundational ICS framework that can seamlessly integrate into more significant and complex NIMS Type 1-3 incidents. The NIMS system allows for the easy integration of external agencies into the overall emergency operation.

2024 Year in Review | 19