Fire Department Connection

Remembering 2 Great Brothers

see pg. 12

Dedicated to Service

08

Three New Programs to be Implemented

more details on pg. 6

January 2013

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Message from the Fire Chief

This past year, the San Antonio Fire Department family lost three firefighters during tragic incidents that occurred off duty. I am sure all of you are aware that since my appointment as Fire Chief in the SAFD I have emphasized the importance of the round-trip ticket home. Everyday, I try to find ways to provide more and improved health, wellness and safety programs to ensure you return home healthy and in good condition. However, the roundtrip ticket home message has two parts. Just like the department focuses on sending you home in the best condition, the message asks for you to come back to work healthy and mentally prepared. Lieutenant Richard Olmo, Engineer Rogelio Martinez and Firefighter Matthew Whitley went home, but never came back. I want to ask you to please implement and extend the round-trip ticket home message every day, all the time. I do not want to lose any more of you. Dont let these tragedies be in vain. Also, think about your families who are always waiting for you. I recently received a letter from the wife of Lieutenant Olmo where she described the hardships her and her two children are going through, especially during the holidays. She and the kids also 2 Our Family Protecting your Family asked me to please remind you to CLICK-IT. They certainly dont want any of your families to go through what they have been going through. For many in the community, a firefighter is considered a hero. However, carrying this title also requires us to be responsible role models, at all times. This means not being reckless and taking safety measures like wearing a seat belt or staying smoke detectors at your home. I would like to share with you that before Whitleys funeral service I was visiting with his family. I was immediately drawn to thiscute little boy standing beside Whitleys dad. I knelt down and asked him his name. He said his name was Carter and he was the nephew of Matthew Whitley. I asked him how old he was and he replied, four.I then asked Carter if he was going to be a firefighter when he grew up, andhe looked at me as if I had asked him the dumbest question ever.CarterPROUDLYresponded, I am a firefighter!His response was one of the most precious things that I have ever heard.So, next time you think you might be doing something careless, think about all of those people who admire you.
Yours in service, Charles N. Hood, Fire Chief

Message from the Fire Chief

Contents

New Tools, More Options

With the challenge to keep up to date with the needs of the citizens, the San Antonio Fire Department EMS Division has added new medications for the treatment of major medical emergencies. These new medications address cardiac issues ranging from heart attacks to abnormal rhythms. In addition, the medications also treat and address behavioral and psychological emergencies. After every paramedic received the appropriate training to make use of the medications, the medicine was placed on every ambulance. There are a total of 12 new medicatione including: Adenosine Treatment of narrow complex SVT. Cardizem - Treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Metoprolol - Treatment of narrow complex tachycardia, hypertension, and tachyarrhythmias. Procainamide Treatment of ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Norepinephrine - Hypotension NOT related to blood loss/hypovolemia. Dopamine - Severe hypotension/ shock not related to hypovolemia. Nitroglycerin drip - Treatment for myocardial ischemia (not infusion), Congestive heart failure (reduces work for the heart). Zyprexa - Acute agitation related to schizophrenia or acute mania.

Six of the medications are mainly used for cardiac arrest; however, they can also be used to treat other conditions. The addition of new medications allows paramedics in the field to broaden their therapeutic treatment range. Now we can treat pre-hospital emergencies with more tools, said Christopher Velasquez, Paramedic. The supplementation of new medication now gives paramedics the advantage to have more options when treating a patient.

For example, instead of using electricity as a first line therapy for a patient suffering from an abnormally high heart rate, medication like Adenosine can be administered to correct the problem. It has given us more tools to perform our job adequately. We can actually stop something from happening, rather than just treating the condition, Paramedic Rene (Bug) Guerra said.

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Celebrity of the Month Celebrity of the Month

Battalion Chief Richard Giusti started his career as a firefighter in the Air Force serving nine years active duty and fourteen as reservist. In the Air Force Reserves he served as an instructor at Goodfellow Air Force Base Louise Garland Fire Academy teaching Hazmat and Technical Rescue to Department of Defense personnel. In 1995 he left the Air Force to join the San Antonio Fire Department where he started his second career as a firefighter. Giusti didnt mind starting over because of the experience he gleaned in a major metropolitan fire department like San Antonio I was able to learn more about structure fires because of practical experience learned through the frequency of the runs we made, said Giusti; since in the military he mostly dealt with aircraft in-flight emergencies. Giusti started his career in SAFD on Ladder 9 and then went on to join the Technical Rescue team at the ranks of Engineer and Captain. As a Lieutenant he was assigned to Platform 32 in the Medical Center. After promoting to Battalion Chief he was assigned to supervise Special Operations for three years until he transferred to Battalion 1. As a Company Officer and Battalion Chief, Giusti enjoyed teaching the different skills associated with Fire Operations, especially those associated with Technical Rescue. The biggest kick I get is when I see the lights turn on and someone Im teaching is able to apply what Ive taught, Giusti said. He remembers with nostalgia, as a Battalion Chief, going around the stations and talking to the different crews and building a rapport with them. That is the best part of the job and I do miss the camaraderie of the guys, especially when weve made a good stop on a fire, added Giusti. However, Giusti has been inspired to continue his education, focusing on areas of Disaster Management and Homeland Security. Giusti has achieved his Bachelors degree in Disaster and Emergency Management and is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Homeland Security through the Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) in Monterey California. The Homeland Security program is sponsored by DHS and Giusti had to compete against others around the nation to receive the scholarship. The program is a mixture of distance learning and inresidence. Every three months I fly out to NPS for two weeks for the inresidence part of the program. I feel very fortunate to have been selected to participate in this prestigious program, Giusti said. A course policy paper written by Giusti has lead to the SAFDs integration into the Southwest Texas Fusion Center. This new venture into intelligence and Fusion Center participation for the fire service is exciting because of the possibilities associated with leveraging information and technology to keep our people safe and provide better situational awareness. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, the catastrophic events of Sept. 11, 2001 exposed short comings in the intelligence community. A primary concern was the lack of communication that resulted in information silos in particular agencies and at the different levels of government. A primary reason for this was the lack of integration between intelligence agencies and the different levels of government because at the time, there was no collaborative mechanism to share and analyze information at a more strategic level. The 9/11 Commission Report gave the following recommendations:

(DNI). This person is responsible for the supervision and coordination of information that includes CIA, FBI, Military Intelligence, and Intelligence at the local, state and federal levels of government. To establish Fusion Centers in every 2.state to coordinate the collection

creation of the position of 1. The Director of National Intelligence

Giustis Assignment

and distribution of information at the different levels of government and between agencies. In addition to a multidiscipline/partnership approach to glean and disseminate information. Currently in Texas there are seven Fusion Centers. San Antonios Fusion Center was established in Nov. 2011 by the San Antonio Police Department. However, just recently, Battalion Chief Richard Giusti was assigned to this special assignment. His functions have four different objectives: To alert the firefighters and emergency responders of any dangerous situation around their work area in order to keep them safe and aware.

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STORY CONT. NEXT PAGE

GIUSTI CONTINUES Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR). To alert and report suspicious activities and behaviors that responders may come across so that they are prepared. To identify trends from fire departments across our region, state, and at the national level. To complete threat assessments of critical infrastructures to ensure emergency responders have the correct information. Looking at emerging trends as well as current event situations can give public safety organizations a head start when planning for the worst, Giusti said. The main function of the center is to take care of San Antonio and then disseminate the information at a regional, state, national and international level. Giusti is the only SAFD member in the Fusion Center, however in the near future training opportunities will be available for those that are interested. A website will also soon be available. Ultimately, my goal is to provide real time information to the firefighters to keep firefighters safe by maintaining situational awareness, Giusti said.

In 2007 the San Antonio Fire Department adopted a new inspection program which was established in response to citizen complaints of inconsistency.

BEFORE the new program, the

Interested in becoming an SAFD Inspector?

department would adhere to the minimum state requirements. The firefighters interested in becoming inspectors would train with different SAFD inspectors out in the field. Firefighters were given one year to take the State test.

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NOW the implementation of the

program has allowed the SAFD inspections division to be recognized statewide and become the leader in recently adopted codes in Texas.

Those interested in becoming inspectors have to first take the State exam and get State Certification. Once they are certified by the State, they receive training by the Fire Prevention training officer Lt. Andrew Almazan. During this time the inspectors are given hands-on-training while learning various aspects of the fire code. They receive additional study materials and then get tested by the training officer on this material. At various stages of the training they are required to pass evaluation tests covering the code subjects that have been taught in order to be allowed to inspect within the Department. The additional training provided by the SAFD lasts approximately six-months. The new Inspection Program requires all inspectors to know both the International Fire Code book and various National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code books.

To keep up to date and be familiarized with recently adopted codes, every inspector in Fire Prevention has to complete 20 hours of continuing education annually.

It is very challenging. It takes about 3-4 years to get comfortable and you can not stop reading. It is an ongoing learning process, Engineer Christopher Sutherland said. This new program allows consistency since all information and teachings are being disseminated by the training officer. Additionally, the program provides more organization within the division and creates a common understanding of all codes, especially since every three years codes are updated. Most importantly, the program provides inspectors with more knowledge to better serve the citizens. The more knowledgeable you are about your job, the better job you would do, said Chief Earl Crayton, Fire Marshal.

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Y0U GOT TO WANT IT

It is time to put the excuses aside and start working out! Luckily, for all San Antonio Fire Department employees, the Fire Fitness Program (FFP) is here to support them. Many call the FFP a one stop shop because it provides a wide array of programs and options. Most importantly, it can design a unique program for each individuals goals, desires, and needs. The Fire Fitness Program can be tailored to everyones needs and desires, Chief of Training Joe Jones said. This being said, there are no excuses not to get in shape. Injured? Not getting any younger? Dont have time? Dont know what to do? These are no longer valid excuses! FFP Coordinator Andy Fields understands that injuries as a first responder are very common. Yet, he encourages those who are or become injured not to stop their physical activity. The fitness program is so flexible it can design a program for those injured. However, it is imperative to disclose the details of the injury and the doctors recommendations in order for the coordinator to plan an adequate program for the individual. Time passes and people get older. Pains here and there start appearing because of age and to a point, the idea of working out might even seem scary. Then again, for SAFD personnel, this should not be an issue because the FFP is prepared to work with any physical limitations. In fact, the SAFD personal trainers received training from the IAFF on how to work with injured firefighters. We modify to their abilities. We adapt to your individual necessities through scaling and modifying, Fields said. Not having enough time to work out during a day can be a great issue. Fortunately, the FFP recognizes this issue and is able to create fitness programs that can be as short as ten minutes a day. For example, Fields mentions that time might be a big issue for paramedics. Fields recommends that paramedics should do low intensity work-outs on their first day off . The second day off should be a medium intensity work-out. The third day off should be a longer and higher intensity work out. Not knowing how to work-out, believe it or not, can be a predicament. Nonetheless, the FFP has recognized the problem and in the hope of addressing this dilemma, they have created a variety of ways to make their services available. The following are different ways to have access to these great services:

***Pictures by Albert Pedroza and Capt. Fields

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STORY CONT. NEXT PAGE

YOU GOT TO WANT IT CONTINUES Contact the Fire Fitness Coordinator by e-mail at andy. fields@sanantonio.gov, andy@ safdcrossfit.com or by phone at (210)355-8508. The work out of the day (WOD) can be found on Facebook.com\ SAFDCrossFit Find the WOD and more information about the program at the SAFD CrossFit website http://www.safdcrossfit.com/ index.html. CrossFit Classes are conducted Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11:30 in the Health and Wellness Center. CrossFit Classes are also available everyday at 7:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. at the Training Academy. A crew can request for a Fire Fitness Trainer to conduct a class in their fire station.

We are as flexible as a program as we can be, Jones said. Even though the FFP has a heavy emphasis on CrossFit, the word should not scare any one. According to a Departmental Memorandum, all disciplines of exercise are encouraged and fostered and targeting the individuals goals and desires is the objective. Training is available whether individuals are interested in power lifting, classic weight lifting, cutting edge CrossFit, or a trainers guidance and education. No matter the situation, dont hesitate to give a call or send an e-mail to find out how easy it can be to start a new life. The FFP can help you achieve your goals and gain a healthy living style.

Fire Chief Charles Hood and Captain Raul Chapa were recognized in early January for being outstanding mentors for the community. Chief Hood received the Outstanding Advocate for Mentoring award for being a great mentor to his assigned child at a local elementary school. In addition, the award also recognized his dedication to visiting many schools and being present at several events where he spoke to children about being a leader and of course, fire prevention.

Community Heroes
the Lord using themtolead me. The mentoring program gives me the opportunity toshow my gratitude by offeringmyfriendship and time to a child whojust wants to know someone cares enough to spend one hour a week at school with him/her, Captain Chapa said. Last year, Joe Munoz, Alfred Latigo, Dan Avila, Joe Ramirez, and Chapa served as mentors.In an effort to keep inspiring children, Roberta Cancio, Nick West, David Gibson, Latigo and Chapa have decided to motivate even more children and participate in the program as mentors this year. Chapa explained how his mentee spends time at his house and even plays with his own children. In addition, Chapa has taught his mentee life lessons, such as hard work pays off. Sometimes in an effort to help him, Chapa assigned chores to his mentee in exchange for money for video games and game accessories. I enjoy the times we get to spend outside of school because we dont have to worry about schedules which gives usthe opportunity just to hang

out and have fun.My hope is that this will be a life long relationship and that the program will continue beyond my service in the Fire Department, said Chapa. With no doubt, this group of firefighters is making a difference in childrens lives. This is shown by Latigo and Avila who are mentoring the same child this year that they had last year. Chapa is thankful that the Fire Chief has been very supportiveof the program.Also,Monica Aguillon, the school counselor at Monroe May Elementary and Principal SandraBonnet have been equally supportive. Currently Chapa is working to make this program a city wide program by the 2013-14 school year. If interested in participating in this great program, please contact Raul Chapa at Raul. Chapa@sanantonio.gov. You can look at the problems in society and feel helpless, or you can take a small part and be helpful, concluded Chapa.

Captain Chapa was recognized for his commitment to the mentoring program as well. He was the person who recruited and organized the group of firefighters that were part of the program. The group Chapa organized served as role models at Monroe May Elementary in the Northside Independent School District. The Lord put the idea of starting the mentoring program in my heart and Itry to follow His lead. Iknow thatHe put people in my life when I had struggles in my youth. I am not sure where I would be right now if not for their unconditional love and

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Services and Logistic Division is getting ready to implement three new programs to better serve the emergency responders and the
The San Antonio Fire Department citizens of San Antonio. The three new programs are:

***Picture provided by Thomas Stakes

The Services and Logistics Division recognizes that firefighters and paramedics are its customers and in an effort to provide the best customer service, the division has come up with, The Service Truck Program. This program consists of a technician who will be going to the stations to do minor repairs on the various vehicles, instead of firefighters having to take the apparatus to the shop. By doing so, we can repair vehicles before they become large problems and keep firefighters and medics in service without having them make a trip to Services, Steve Reuthinger, Chief of Services and Logistics said. We want to be more proactive and send our service tech earlier rather than send them only when our vehicles break down and will not start. The service truck will operate from 7:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. In order to receive the service, firefighters need to send an e-mail to the Services and Logistic Division explaining the problem in detail. A work order will then be created and passed on to the service tech assigned to the service truck. Implementation of this program derives from the aim to save firefighters time from being out of service and driving all the way to the Services facility. Instead, a technician will go to the fire station and fix the minor repair. Because of time constraints, firefighters wait until several repairs are needed in order to take the truck to the shop. Now this concern should not be an issue and any minor repair can be reported immediately. This procedure will allow the department to better preserve the apparatus and keep firefighters and medics from having to trade out vehicles as much. In addition, this program will speed up the critical repairs in the shop since personnel will be working on those issues rather than the minor repairs. This program will be put into service once the Services Division moves into their new facility located behind the Training Academy. The expected completion of the move will be first week of March 2013.

1.

The Services and Logistics Division plans to have all spare engines equipped with a full complement of hoses by summer 2013. The engines will include: 10-5 supply hoses 2-1 pre-connects 3 skid load This service will minimize the time firefighters have to spend trading out by approximately an hour each time. Trading out the hose from their engine to the replacement spare engine and vise versa will not be necessary anymore. With this new program, firefighters will only have to take equipment, nozzles and supplies out of the compartments and cab and put it in the spare engine. Now the trip to the shops will only take minutes versus hours! These programs will also benefit the citizens of San Antonio because it keeps fire apparatus and medic units in service for longer periods of time to take care of our citizens needs, Reuthinger added. Last year during the Goodwill Tours, the services staff identified issues and concerns that the fire station personnel had. Many of these issues dealt with furnishings, cosmetics and structure of the facilities. Now, funds have been approved. This March the services staff will come back and take care of those needs. Some of the needs more commonly found among all stations are: living room furniture, kitchen chairs, kitchen cabinets, mattresses, and painting and floor concerns. Now we will be fixing what we actually saw and found, Reuthinger said.

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3.

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Going Back in Time

SAFD History

***Special thanks to Hector J. Cardenas, SAFD Museum Society, for providing the facts for the story.

San Antonio volunteer firefighters in uniform. fourth of July 1891 picnic.

The beginnings of the San Antonio Fire Department started with men who wanted to help their community and volunteered during their time off. Many times they would even leave their regular job and run to extinguish a fire. In April 1883, the sixth volunteer Fire Company was organized as a result of many fires occurring on the west side of the San Antonio River. The sixth company was named Second Ward Hose Company. Two years later, Sunset Hose Company No.1 was organized by 30 dedicated members of the community and was located on North Alamo Street. Yet the arrival of the first train in San Antonio, the installation of the new water system and the Citys first electric lighting system brought growth to San Antonio which soon became the metropolis of the Southwest. By 1880, the population had grown to 20,550 citizens. The increase of citizens and movement into the Alamo City led to the adoption of eight districts instead of four and to what is call the decade of the famous fires that left their mark. The need for firemen grew as the population increased and blazes were occurring more often. In 1885, Mission Hose Company No. 4, the eighth and last volunteer fire company, was organized. The volunteer company started with 20 members and it was located on South Alamo St. This was the last volunteer Fire Company assembled since they were all disbanded in 1891.

8 0 7 1

QUIZ YOURSELF?
Question provided by Engineer Deborah Foster: Why does everybody refer to fire stations in San Antonio as Fire Station # 15s. Why is there an S always added at the end of the station number? Is that correct? Our Family Protecting your Family 9

Fiscal News Flash

DID YOU KNOW that all City employees are responsible for maintaining paper, microfilm, and electronic records in accordance with Citys approved retention periods? Administrative Directive (AD) 1.34 provides guidelines for all employees to ensure compliance with the Texas Local Government Code, and Texas Administrative Code. Please read the AD 1.34 at the link below: http://www.sanantonio.gov/hr/admin_directives/cosa/ads/AD1-34.pdf Section V.F of AD 1.34 particularly describes certain responsibilities regarding e-mails: It is the responsibility of the sender of an electronic mail message, sent either internally (within City departments) or externally (outside City departments) to maintain the official record for the required retention of that record. It is the responsibility of the receiver of an electronic mail message from an external source to maintain the office record for the required retention of that record. In summary, for e-mails: You do need to keep e-mails from outside COSA per the retention schedule in Appendix 1 of the AD. You do need to keep your sent e-mails per the retention schedule in Appendix 1 of the AD. You do not need to keep in your inbox (or other archive folders) for any amount of time e-mails from other COSA employees. Keep the Appendix 1 of AD1.34 handy since this is a summary of how many years you need to keep common City records of different category for. Please note that the AD fails to define Administratively Valuable or AV term on the retention schedule: Items classified as AV are retained as long as they are valuable to each user.

Emails, Internal Memoranda and Voice Mail generally fall into the following categories:
Record Number *GR1000-26a Record Title CORRESPONDENCE, INTERNAL MEMORANDA, AND SUBJECT FILES Record Description Administrative Incoming/outgoing and internal correspondence pertaining to the formulation, planning, implementation, modification, or redefinition of the programs, services, or projects of a local government and the administrative regulations, policies, and procedures that govern them. May also include subject files, which are collections of correspondence, memos and printed materials on various individuals, activities and topics. General Incoming/outgoing and internal correspondence pertaining to the regular and routine operation of the policies, programs, services, or projects of a local government. May also include subject files, which are collections of correspondence, memos and printed materials on various individuals, activities and topics. Routine - Correspondence and internal memoranda such as letters of transmittal, requests for publications, internal meeting notices, and similar routine matters. May also include subject files, which are collections of correspondence, memos and printed materials on various individuals, activities and topics. Retention Period 3 years Remarks Retention Note: Review before disposal; some correspondence of this type may merit PERMANENT retention for historical reasons.

*GR1000-26b

CORRESPONDENCE, INTERNAL MEMORANDA, AND SUBJECT FILES

1 year.

GR1000-26c

CORRESPONDENCE, INTERNAL MEMORANDA, AND SUBJECT FILES

AV.

If you have any question regarding records retention and how to dispose of records, please call the Departments Records Liaison within our Personnel Division at 207-8284.

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Your Health & Wellness Connectionn

Wondering If You Were Just Exposed To An Infectious Disease?
For blood borne pathogens, an exposure occurs whenever there is contact with blood or other bodily fluids through open wounds, mucous membranes (e.g. eyes or mouth), or by injection. Airborne diseases are spread by droplets of the disease-producing organism being expelled into the air by a productive cough or sneeze or by direct contact with infected bodily secretions.

Turkey Apple Wrap

Ingredients
1 Low carb, whole grain flat wrap or whole wheat tortilla. 3 Tbls Apple Butter. 2 slices turkey breast deli meat. 1/3 apple cored and thinly sliced. 1 thin sliced provolone cheese. 1/2 cup lettuce shredded. 1thin slice of onion.

If you think you have been exposed to an infectious disease:

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2.

Note the source patients name, date of birth and the hospital that they were transported to. Notify the SAFD Infection Control Nurse at 355-0804 immediately following the incident. The Infection Control Nurse will determine if it was an exposure.

Directions
1. Spread the apple butter all over the flat wrap. 2. Pile the rest of the ingredients on one half of
the wrap and roll. 3. Enjoy

If the SAFD Infection Control Nurse confirms that an exposure did occur:
will be asked to provide the source patients 1. You name, date of birth and the hospital that they were

2. 3. 4 . 5 . 6.

7. 8.

If you have any questions regarding exposures or infection control, feel free to call the SAFD Wellness Center at 207-6634.

transported to. Notify your supervisor to get the paperwork going (STRAC Exposure, TWCC-1, and Supervisors Report of Accident Investigation forms). Report to the Emergency Room (ER) where the patient was transported and provide your completed STRAC Exposure form to the ER staff. Stay at the ER until evaluated and consulted. Call the Infection Control Nurse at 355-0804 before leaving the ER. Email a copy of the STRAC Exposure, TWCC-1 and Supervisors Report of Accident Investigation forms to Fire/EMS Exposure Reporting. Forward the original Supervisors Report of Accident Investigation and TWCC-1 forms through your chain of command. The SAFD Infection Control Nurse will follow-up with the exposed employee to relay test results from the source patient and to provide further evaluations and testing if needed. Let us know if you liked the recipe! send us your feedback and pictures to
Flor.Salas@sanantonio.gov

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During the holiday season, the San Antonio Fire Department and the Alamo City lost two heroes; Firefighter Matthew Whitley and Engineer Rogelio Martinez. These two men were role models in the community and had a genuine desire to help others and provide hope.

In Honor of 2 Great Brothers

Firefighter Matthew Whitley

Fire Station 20 is quiet. The Porsche is missing in the parking lot. FS 20 has lost a beam of sunshine, it has lost Matthew Whitley. He was an individual with a huge heart who cared for people, and animals. Matt was always helping strays, be it a person or an animal. Matt always had a spot for them in his big, expanding heart, Kevin Zigmond said. His unique, caring, and witty personality will be missed by his brothers and sisters. Whitley passed away on December 28, 2012 leaving behind many beautiful memories. His crew will remember him for his fish plate, and his love for kids. Matt tried to cook a lot of things, but probably his best dish was his fish plate. By the time he was done, every dish in the kitchen was dirty, but it sure tasted good, said the crew of 20-B collectively. One day, some cows got out on the road just down the street from the station. Some people stopped by the station to let us know and see if we could help out and put them up. Matt jumped in the brush truck and headed out there. The rest of us followed over there in the motor. We pulled up in the motor to see Matt being the most athletic we had ever seen him. He was running around chasing this cow and then that one jumping over obstacles. By the time we could stop laughing and make it out of the motor, Matt had run all the cows back into the pasture where they came from. Matt saved the day, added the crew. Matt loved working with kids and dressed up as Sparky many times. He was always there to meet the kids as they got off the bus and give them a high five when they came over for demos. He took pictures with the kids and was always looking forward to opportunities to be Sparky, according to Crew 20-B. After ten years of great service to the SAFD, Whitley has left a heartache that no one can heal, but he has also left memories that no one can steal and will always remain. Everybody in the station knew Matts great deal on his good sports car. One day he came in and said he had a new car and it

was a cherry, it was a Porsche. Everyone at the station thought, that he was finally going to get something nice. Two shifts later, here comes Matt in a 20-year-old white rust bucket. It had hide-away headlights, and only one of them worked, but it would close every few minutes. It looked like the car was winking coming down the road. His Porsche may not have been winking, but it probably was laughing at him for buying it, said Battalion Chief Russell Johnson during Whitleys funeral. Whitley was an individual who carried with him a lot of happiness and was able to find value in everything. Lately, Matt was so excited about buying the latest thing that was going to make him rich. He bought a 1935 two-wheeled, Model L Gravely Mower and was going to mow lawns on his days off. As you can imagine, you cant just go down to Auto Zone and get parts for it, so the hunt was on. He found a Magneto in Montana and asked the Capt if it would be cheaper to have it mailed or driven down here. Capt. convinced him to just have it mailed. The next week it came in, and man he was so excited, Johnson said.

Engineer Rogelio Martinez

Engineer Rogelio Martinez will always be remembered as a family man and an excellent medic who saved many lives. Martinez was a very knowledgeable individual, who on several occasions received recognition from his brothers and sisters for his commitment and dedication to his job. Roy was my first partner ever and I learned everything I know so far from him. When I came out of EMS class we have a captain that assigns us to stations. When he called me to tell me I was going to be assigned15B he told me, Dont worry, youll be assigned with Roy Martinez. Hes a good medic and will havea lot to teach you. So I was relieved to know I had a good partner, and it turned out he was a great partner, Engineer Ashley Long said. STORY CONT. NEXT PAGE

***Pictures by Albert Pedroza

12 Our Family Protecting your Family

In Honor of 2 Great Brothers continues

Martinez had a special gift of making every patient feel comfortable and calm no matter the situation. He knew his job very well and was excellent with patients. All the patients we helped were so grateful for him because he had a caring quality that set him apart from other people. He spoke Spanish fluently which helped many patients feel more comfortable communicating with us, and he was committed to helping people in all aspects of EMS runs. I saw him help an old woman change dirty clothing. I saw him carry a sick child out of a house in his arms even though the child was covered in vomit. Parents trusted his judgment, children trusted his genuine smile and he could always get a sick or hurt kid to stop crying. It was truly a gift, added Engineer Long. You can say that Martinez left this world without being able to ride a bull (which was on his bucket list) but he left Earth as a hero. His last call as a SAFD paramedic was at 2:30 in the morning on the day that he passed away. He saved the life of a 50-yearold man with a blood sugar of 25. The patient was unconscious and he was not in good condition, breathing very shallow and with a weak pulse. Martinez rapidly stepped in and established an IV, but once the patients sugar stabilized, he was still not responsive. Martinez then noticed the patient breathing even shallower and together with his partners, he loaded the patient for transport immediately. However, being a very focused individual, Martinez noticed the patients pupils were the size of a pinpoint. Narcan was administered immediately and the patient finally woke up. I believe Roy ultimately saved this mans life, Long said. Engineer Martinez left behind many inspiring memories that have now become a treasure in the hearts of many. Medic 15B lost a gentleman and a loving individual on December 24th. But his wisdom, perseverance, and devotion will remain within those who had the pleasure of meeting him. Spending 24 hours a day with him, I never stopped hearing about his family. His wife, a teacher who loves her job, and he talked about his two sons constantly; baseball, basketball, wrestling and their never ending activities. He had goals. He wanted to promote up through the ranks someday. Roy was a quality man, a loving father and an amazing EMS partner. I miss him every call I go on because I can still hear him speak Spanish to our patients and calming everyone down. I can still see him carrying all the equipment for me even though I begged him not to. He was a gentleman. The fire department lost a great brother and we will never forget him, concluded Long.

The Military Recognizes SAFD Members

In early December, the SAFD was honored with the visit of COL Bradley W. Graul HQ, IMCOM Command Provost Marshal, Glen W. Wellman HQ, IMCOM Provost Marshal Sergeant Major, and Gerald A. Adams HQ, IMCOM Fire Protection Specialist. The Department and specifically five individuals were recognized and given a letter of appreciation for serving as judges in the Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services Awards Program. It was an honor to be part of the process to help our Armed Forces, said Battalion Chief Brooke Hildreth. They sacrifice so much for our country; I could take a little time out of my day for them. Division Chief Christopher M. Monestier, Division Chief Randy Jenkins, Battalion Chief Brooke Hildreth, Captain Robert Westbrook and Captain Raul Lopez were recognized in a small ceremony at the Public Safety Headquarters for their service to the Armed Forces.

Its important to remember the folks that serve in our military and give back when possible, Captain Lopez said.

Our Family Protecting your Family 13

or many, a burger and fries is not healthy. But, if the burger and fries are cooked with the right products and the right way it might become the favorite healthy meal of the whole crew and within the budget. Many firefighters are well known for their great cooking skills. With the aim to provide more information and options about food, Maria Worley, SAFD Wellness Program Dietitian, organized grocery tours for firefighters at local HEBs in San Antonio. This was a pilot program where stations and shifts were selected for participation and then HEB identified the stores where the tours would be conducted. One of the objectives of the tour was to show the firefighters how to make a tasty balanced plate within their budget. Healthy does not have to be expensive and it can be great, said Lorena Kaplen, Registered Dietitian with HEB. In the month of November, nine fire stations visited their local HEB to receive a tour that focused on three main points: how to read a label, how to create a healthy pantry list and tips to shop healthy on a budget. Below please find ten tips to shop healthy on a budget provided by HEB:

1. Plan, plan, plan!

Plan your meals for the week. Include meals like stews or casseroles, which stretch expensive items into more portions. Remember to check what foods you already have and make a list for what you need to buy.

6. Buy in Season

Buying fruits and vegetables in season can lower the cost and add to the freshness.

7. Convenience Cost

2. Get the Best Price

Check the local newspaper, online, and at the store for sales and coupons.

Go back to the basics. Convenience foods like frozen dinners, pre-cut vegetables, and instant rice, oatmeal or grits will cost more than if you were to make them from scratch. Take the time to prepare your own and save!

3. Cook onceeat twice!

Prepare a large batch of favorite recipes and freeze in individual containers to use them throughout the week.

8. Easy on your Wallet

4. Compare and Contrast

Certain foods are typically low-cost options all year round. Try beans for a less expensive protein. For vegetables try carrots, greens or potatoes and apples or bananas for fruits.

Locate the unit price on the shelf directly below the product. Use it to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand to determine which is more economical.

9. Be Creative

5. Buy in Bulk

Spice up your leftovers-use them in new ways. For example, try leftover chicken in a stir-fry or over a garden salad. Remember throwing away food is throwing away your money! Restaurants can be expensive. Save money by cooking your meals at home. The average dinner for a family of 4 costs $25.00. That is enough to buy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the local grocery store. STORY CONT. NEXT PAGE

Smart choices are family packs of chicken, steak, or fish and large bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables. It is almost always cheaper to buy foods in bulk.

10. Cook at Home/Station

14 Our Family Protecting your Family

HEB Grocery Tours Continues

How to properly read a label & have a healthy pantry
It was informative, a great idea and experience, said Lieutenant Brad Pool. Preliminary survey results indicate that the firefighters thought that the tours were beneficial and would be a good opportunity for others in the future. The tours were also open to family members for those shifts and stations.

Below you can find more information about how to read a label and the essential products for a healthy pantry:

Squads
SQ01 SQ08 SQ09 SQ11 SQ14 SQ17 SQ22 SQ29 SQ32 SQ33 SQ34 SQ35 SQ36 SQ37 SQ38 SQ40 SQ44 SQ46 TOTALS 28 65 77 20 4 20 3 95 171 66 31 75 95 83 77 57 15 17 999

YTD 427 680 999 80 40 203 16 1034 2119 564 360 806 1044 813 801 644 285 181 11,096

Batallion Chiefs
BC1 BC2 BC3 BC4 BC5 BC6 BC7 BC8
TOTALS

Facebook Comments
I would like to thank the SAFD for visiting my child's daycare. Since she saw the firefighters, she has talked non-stop about what an emergency is, how firefighters help and save people, and to call 9-1-1 for an emergency only. She is 4 years old and very impressionable. The firefighters (off Horn and Babcock) made a wonderfully great example of a very selfless career. She loved seeing the equipment and how things worked. She has started saying she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up. Thank you so much for taking time to talk to the children and educating them about your careers.

64 33 46 38 52 41 44 79

YTD 462 315 355 207 481 392 355 669

397 3236
YTD 9 143 3 62 9 141

Haz Mat
HZM1 HZM34 SPL1 TOTALS

Total # of Reported Fires

Structure Fires 81 Vehicle Fires 50 Brush/Grass Fires 44 TOTALS 175 YTD 823 625 469 1,917

21 346

Our Family Protecting your Family 15

Fire & EMS Responses

Brush Trucks
YTD

BT20 5 BT22 3 BT30 1 BT36 6 BT40 5 BT42 1 BT43 3 BT44 8 BT48 2 BT50 3
Totals

75 35 47 50 18 40 30 81 17 20

37 413

Unit Number Number of Engine Runs 109 E01 184 E02 158 E03 178 E04 126 E05 150 E06 120 E07 154 E08 153 E09 209 E10 153 E11 55 E12 156 E13 140 E14 182 E15 210 E16 232 E17

YTD 1122 2190 1853 2027 1568 1932 1390 1762 1711 2474 2059 621 1705 1431 2261 2299 2377

Unit Number Engine E18 E19 E20 E21 E22 E23 E24 E25 E26 E27 E28 E29 E30 E31 E32 E33 E34

Number of Runs 217 310 164 243 126 86 312 194 188 187 182 166 125 185 275 209 81

FIRE Runs
YTD 2473 3032 1639 2665 1359 1005 3245 2552 2061 2352 2584 2055 1691 2208 3267 2289 983 Unit Number Engine E35 E36 E37 E38 E39 E40 E41 E42 E43 E44 E45 E46 E47 E48 E49 E50 E51

Number of Runs 178 159 208 161 202 184 145 149 122 275 188 93 38 105 79 42 110

YTD 2221 1891 2349 1957 2326 2007 1477 1697 1472 3259 2108 1265 508 1083 954 498 1230

Totals

9,650

106,194

Ladders
L01 93 L06 144 L08 154 L09 169 L14 140 L17 234 L22 128 L29 197 L33 216 L34 73 L35 215 L36 176 L37 186 L40 191 L41 144 L46 83 AP11 193 AP32 241 AP38 205 AP51 126 1127 1605 1394 1485 1158 1792 1174 1748 1779 730 1900 1432 1668 1417 1203 812 1803 2282 1633 897
YTD

Other Units
AIR1 AIR2 AIR3 AIR4 BIK1 BIK2 BIK3 BIK4 MOF1 MOF2 MOF3 MOF4 MSC R5 FSC FSO HR11 HR51 R7 RHB1 WT22 WT43 AC26 AC29 AC39 AC41 4 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 137 133 104 92 0 36 3 9 85 58 6 1 0 0 0 8 0 5 YTD 12 40 2 8 24 11 14 7 1381 1241 1157 1088 6 459 52 152 987 623 79 19 1 2 84 114 1 25

Total Unit Number Runs M01 M02 M04 M05 M06 M07 M08 M09 M10 M11 M13 M14 M15 M16 M17 M18 M19 M21 M22 M24 M25 M26 372 61 124 344 400 367 434 393 419 229 385 272 393 414 374 335 397 178 371 385 373 125

EMS Runs
YTD 3590 1216 1990 4044 4619 4501 4900 4839 4934 1865 4528 3070 4634 4754 3925 4107 4500 2039 4293 4304 1810 M28 M29 M31 M32 M33 M34 M35 M36 M37 M38 M39 M40 M41 M42 M43 M44 M45 M46 M49 361 378 307 185 430 235 397 303 383 342 372 173 287 322 33 372 278 224 0

Unit Total YTD Number Runs M27 376 4688 4026 4343 3637 1765 4765 2638 4345 3402 4415 3753 4030 2154 3152 3109 631 4142 2959 2258 655

4224 Totals 12,903 147,553

Totals 3,308 29,039

Totals 683 7,589