An Accredited Agency

Hilton Head Island

Fire Rescue

2018

Annual

Report

To achieve the highest levels of community service and protection by delivering excellent

customer service in all that we do.

To protect the people, property, and environment of Hilton Head Island with courage, commitment, and compassion.

To take responsibility, lead by example, be honest, help others, and have a passion to

serve.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from Chief Tadlock 3

Personnel Milestones 5

Fire Department Organization 6

Facilities and Equipment 7

Fire Rescue Response Apparatus 14

Operations 18

Emergency Medical Services 23

Safety & Professional Development 26

Bureau of Fire Prevention 31

Emergency Management 36

Support Services 39

E911 Communications 40

Fleet Maintenance 43

Public Safety Systems 44

Selected Statistics 45

A Final Word, For More Information 50

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Message from the Fire Chief

On behalf of all the department members, I am pleased to present the 2018 Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue Annual Report.

The report provides an overview of the department and summarizes many of the services and activities we provide to the community. Our commitment is to provide excellent customer service in all that we do.

During the past year Fire Rescue accomplished two important objectives. First, we updated our Strategic Plan using public feedback on the services we

provide. This Strategic Plan will help guide our department to the year 2023.

We also underwent an Insurance Services Organization (ISO) evaluation to establish a new Public Protection Classification (PPC). This is typically referred to as an ISO rating. I am pleased to report that on March 1, 2019 Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue received a PPC rating of Class 2, which is an improvement from our Class 3 rating we received in 2012. More details about the ISO Rating can be found on the following page.

It is humbling to represent all the fine members of the department. Each day I see their commitment to the mission and values of the department in providing emergency services to the Town’s residents and visitors. To each member I extend a thank you for their service.

In closing, I would like to thank all the members of the community for their continued support of Fire Rescue; the Mayor and Town Council, the Town Manager and all the Town Staff who support our service delivery and programs to the public.

If you have any questions or comments on the information contained in this report, don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of our staff.

Yours in Service,

Page 3 |

CONTACT HILTON HEAD ISLAND FIRE RESCUE

Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue ISO Public Protection Classification Rating

WHAT DOES A CLASS 2 COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IS ISO?Insurance Services Office (ISO) is a leading source of information about property/casualty insurance risk. The organization provides statistical, actuarial, underwriting, and claims data for a broad spectrum of commercial and personal lines of insurance.

Community investment in fire and emergency services has helped Fire Rescue earn a Class 2 ISO rating.

Ensuring this continued level of service requires shared effort and responsibility among the Fire Department, local leaders, business owners, and residents.

In 2019 the Town of Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue earned a Class 2 ISO rating.

WHY ARE ISO RATINGS IMPORTANT?About every two years ISO evaluates municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States using the Public Protection Classification(PPC™) program. PPC is used in several ways:

- Helps insurance companies establish premiumsfor fire insurance.

- Used by many communities to measure theeffectiveness of their fire-protection services.

- Serves as a tool that helps communities plan for,budget, and justify improvements.

Analysis of a community's fire suppression capabilities based on fire department's first-alarm response and ability to minimize potential loss. Includes review of:- Engine companies / ladder or service companies- Geographic deployment of fire companies- Equipment / reserve equipment- Automatic Aid Agreements- Pumping capacity- Personnel and training

Evaluation of a community's water supply system to determine the adequacy for fire suppression.

- Hydrant size, type, andinstallation

- Frequency and completeness ofhydrant inspection andflow-testing programs

Includes:- Facilities for the public to report fires- Staffing, training, certification of

telecommunicators- Facilities for dispatching fire

departments

Local efforts to reduce the risk of fire, including:- Fire prevention codes and

enforcement- Public fire safety education- Fire investigation programs

INSURANCE BENEFITSMost U.S. insurers of home and business properties use ISO’s PPC in calculating premiums. In general, the price of insurance in a community with a good PPC is lower than in a. community with a poor PPC.74

To determine a community's Public Protection Classification (PPC™), ISO conducts a field survey to observe and evaluate features of the fire protection systems. ISO objectively evaluates four major areas:

RATING SYSTEMISO analyzes a community’s fire department data and awards a Public Protection Classification of 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria. Fire departments that have achieved higher PPC ratings have generally established procedures, processes, and best practices that can serve as examples to other communities.

CLASS 2:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HHIFIRE

RESCUE

Fire Department Water Supply Emergency CommunicationsSystems

Community Efforts

1 2 3 4

Fire Rescue score:38.62 / 50 points 5.14 / 5.50 points

86.48 out of105.50 points

Fire Rescue improved from a Class 3 rating in 2012 to a Class 2 in 2019.

$CLASS

1

$$

CLASS

5

$$$

CLASS

10

843-682-5100 hiltonheadislandsc.gov/departments/fire/

Residents and business owners should contact their insurance providers to inquire about how Fire Rescue’s Class 2 PPC rating may impact their premiums.

2

2

Fire Rescuescore:

41,177 1,597Fire departments in

U.S. rated by ISOare Class 2

only546

Fire departments inSC rated by ISO

are Class 2only

34.55 / 40 pointsFire Rescue score: Fire Rescue score:10 / 10 pointsFire Rescue score:

2018 Personnel Milestones

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES Celebrating 1 Year

Ashur Willbur Taylor Campbell

Derek Mumford Brandon DeLoach

Matthew Faust Jordan Pfeil

Greg Dombrow Michael Houseman

Celebrating 5 Years James Brown Danielle Dennis

Savannah Fuentes Trey Daniel Paul Jalbert

Celebrating 10 Years Jay Lawson Chris Savage Fred Jenkins Lance Beadling Peter Janura Randy Marrero

Celebrating 15 Years Benton Waller

Celebrating 20 Years Janet Peduzzi David Bell

Celebrating 25 Years Zachary Taylor Scott Mason Jeff Hinton Robert Scott Chad McRorie

Celebrating 30 Years Brad Tadlock

PROMOTIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS Chris Blankenship Jason Walters Collin Fanning Lee Jenkins Jonathan Bills Robert Ferguson Tina Sanders

Deputy Chief-Operation Line Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Captain Captain Captain Captain-EMS

Gabe Yacso Kyle Ramsey Jaison Hrobar Chris Darmon Erich Lindemann Nate Skager Sean Kavlick

Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Jake Sanders

Steve Kenyon Paul Jalbert Sebastian Arango Jonathan Cieply Travis Iglesia Jason Kirchner

Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Apparatus Operator Apparatus Operator Apparatus Operator

Steve Gates Ryan Hardy James Loflin Dan Riley

Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter Sr. Firefighter

NEW HIRES Andrew Randazzo Firefighter Bryan Nowak Firefighter Michael Sarracino Firefighter Sean Roos Firefighter

Luke Wolkos Firefighter Dmitri Mankarios Firefighter Aaron Aumick Firefighter Jason Lee Fire Inspector Collin McCurry Firefighter Ricardo Franco

Addressing Technician Benjamin Pfeil Firefighter Jesse Gogo Mechanic

CJ Paszek Firefighter Kenzie Hrobar Brittany Coburn

E911 Dispatcher E911 Dispatcher Jason Maltby Firefighter

Gary Leazer Firefighter Dale Waters Admin. Assistant

RETIREES Frank Willcox Mechanic 8 Years of Service Sharon Cousins Administrative Assistant 15 Years of Service Benton Waller Battalion Chief 15 Years of Service David Britton Captain 16 Years of Service Kevin Osterstock Battalion Chief 26 Years of Service Doug Hubbard Fire Apparatus Operator 29 Years of Service

Fire Chief

Operations Deputy Fire Chief

Support Services Deputy Fire Chief

Emergency Management Coordinator

HILTON HEAD ISLAND FIRE RESCUE

August 01, 2018

Sr. Admin Asst (PT)Medical Control

Physician

Admin. Asst.

Emergency Medical Services BC

Line Operations BC (3)

Safety & Professional Development BC

Station 1 Capt (1)

Lt (2)

Station 2 Capt (1)

Lt (2)

Station 3 Capt (1)

Lt (2)

Station 4 Capt (1)

Lt (2)

Station 5 Capt (1)

Lt (2)

Station 6 Capt (3)

Lt (3)

Station 7 Capt (1)

Lt (2)

Sr. FF (3) FAO (3)

Firefighter (6)

Sr. FF (3) FAO (3)

Firefighter (3)

Sr. FF (3) FAO (3)

Firefighter (3)

Sr. FF (3) FAO (3)

Firefighter (3)

Sr. FF (3) FAO (3)

Firefighter (6)

Sr. FF (6) FAO (9)

Firefighter (3)

Sr. FF (3) FAO (3)

Firefighter (3)

S&PD Captain

Coverage Company Lt (1)

Sr. FF/ Firefighter (1)

FAO (1)

Bureau of Fire Prevention BC

Admin. AsstFire & Life Safety

EducatorFire Inspector/Sr. Fire Inspector (3)

E911 Communications

Manager

Addressing Technician

E911 Communications Supervisors (4)

E911 Dispatcher/Sr. Dispatcher (8)

Supply & Support Specialist

Public Safety Systems Admin.

Public Safety Systems Analyst

Maintenance Supervisor

Admin. Asst. (PT)

Mechanic/Sr. Mechanic (2)

EMS Captain

EMS Records & Billing Specialist

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Facilities and Equipment

Fire Rescue operates seven fire stations that are strategically located throughout Hilton Head Island to ensure timely and efficient response to emergencies.

In addition to the fire stations, Fire Rescue operates the Administrative Headquarters and Training Facility on Town owned land near the recycle center and Hilton Head Island Airport. The E911 Communications Center is located in a leased facility at the Hilton Head PSD 1 building off of Mathews Drive.

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Fire Rescue Training Facility

Fire Rescue Headquarters

Stations and Facilities

Fire Rescue Headquarters – 40 Summit Drive – Near Hilton Head Island Airport / Recycle Center

Fire Rescue Headquarters is located off Dillon Road as you exit the Recycling Center. All the Administrative staff as well as the department’s maintenance facility are housed at this location.

Fire Rescue Training Facility – 75 Dillon Road

Fire Rescue operates a training facility near the Administrative Headquarters. The facility provides props and equipment necessary for the development of personnel. The center allows for various training scenarios, including live fire operations, vehicle extrication, pumper and water supply practice, and driving skills. The three- person Coverage Crew’s engine and medic units are housed at the training facility as well.

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Fire Station 1

E911 Communications Center – 21 Oak Park Drive – Near Port Royal Plaza

Fire Rescue operates an E-911 Communications Center located in the Hilton Head Public Service District Office Building off Mathews Drive. The center handles all 911 calls originating on Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island. The center also serves as a backup facility to the Beaufort County Dispatch center.

E911 Communications Center

Fire Rescue Station 1 – 70 Cordillo Parkway – Shipyard Plantation

Station 1 is located just inside the Cordillo Parkway/Pope Avenue Security gate at Shipyard Plantation. The station opened in November 2011.

Station 1 apparatus include: • One 103’ Quint• One Medic• Urban Searchand Rescue unit

Full staffing at this station is one company officer and four firefighters per shift.

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Fire Rescue Station 2 – 65 Lighthouse Road – Sea Pines Plantation

Station 2 is located in Sea Pines Plantation near Plantation Center. Station 2 apparatus include: • One Engine• One Medic

Full staffing at this station is one company officer and three firefighters per shift.

Fire Rescue Station 3 – 534 William Hilton Parkway – Near Port Royal Plantation

Station 3 is located mid-island near the First Presbyterian Church. Station 3 opened in 2000.

Station 3 apparatus include: • One Engine• One Medic• Brush Unit and Utility /Air Supply unit

Full staffing at this station is one company officer and three firefighters per shift.

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Fire Station 3

Fire Station 2

Fire Rescue Station 4 – 400 Squire Pope Road – Hilton Head Plantation Cypress Gate

Station 4 is located near the Cypress Gate at Hilton Head Plantation. Station 4 opened in 2005.

Station 4 apparatus include: • One Engine• One Medic unit• Reserve Engine &

Medic

Full staffing at this station is one company officer and three firefighters per shift.

Fire Rescue Station 5 – 20 Whooping Crane Way - Hilton Head Plantation Front Gate

Station 5 is located near the main entrance to Hilton Head Plantation and opened in 2011.

Station 5 apparatus include: • One 103’ Quint• One Medic• Reserve Ladder Truck

Full staffing at this station is one company officer and four firefighters per shift.

Fire Station 5

Fire Station 4

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Fire Station 6

Fire Rescue Station 6 – 12 Dalmatian Lane – Palmetto Dunes Resort

Station 6 is located near the entrance to Palmetto Dunes. This station opened in 2014.

Station 6 apparatus include: • One 110’ aerial TDA• One Engine• One Medic unit• Hazardous Materials Response unit

Full staffing at this station is two company officers and six firefighters per shift.

Fire Rescue Station 7 – 1001 Marshland Road – Near Cross Island Toll Plaza

Station 7 is located near the Cross Island Parkway Toll Plaza and Bridge. This station opened in 2003. The Battalion Chief supervising the shift is located at this station.

Station 7 apparatus include:

• One Command Vehicle• One Engine• One Medic• Reserve Engine• Reserve Medic

Full staffing at this station is one Battalion Chief, one company officer, and three firefighters per shift. Page | 12

Station 7

Station 11059

Station 2448

Station 3633

Station 4819

Station 51256

Station 6502

Station 7539

2018 Medical Incidents by Station Zone

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3

Station 4

Station 5

Station 6

Station 7

10%

11%

22%

7%

12%

14%

24%

Station 1423

Station 2308

Station 3258

Station 4288

Station 5374

Station 6293

Station 7198

2018 Fire Incidents by Station Zone

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3

Station 4

Station 5

Station 6

Station 7

12%19%

13%

13%11%

18%

14%

Incident Type by Fire Station Zone

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Pumper

Quint

Fire Rescue Response Apparatus Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue emergency vehicle fleet consists of eight fire engines (Pumpers), two Quints, two Tractor Drawn Aerials (TDAs) and ten ambulances (Medics). Fire Rescue also has special use vehicles that support emergency response. Standardizing our fleet provides an efficient delivery of services to the community and reduces maintenance costs.

Fire Rescue’s fire engines (Pumpers) provide up to 1500 gallons of water per minute (GPM). Pumpers are housed in five of the seven fire stations; two operate as reserves, and one is staffed by the Coverage Crew.

Two Quint aerials are located at Fire Stations 1 & 5. The Quint designation refers to the five components of the apparatus: a fire pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial ladder, and a specified number of ground ladders. The versatility of a quint is that it is capable of operating as an engine or as an aerial ladder truck using the 103-foot ladder.

Page | 14 Quint

A specialized ladder truck, known as a Tractor-Drawn Aerial (TDA) or “tiller truck”, is housed at Fire Station 6 in Palmetto Dunes. With drivers at each end, the TDA is highly maneuverable, which is important for navigating Hilton Head Island’s tight road network.

Fire Rescue operates one tractor-drawn aerial ladder and has one reserve apparatus.

Tractor Drawn Aerial

Fire Rescue’s medic units (ambulances) are a standardized fleet of advanced life support vehicles. All stations have a medic unit assigned with the engine company. Two additional medic units are in reserve and one is operated by the Coverage Crew.

Standard Medic

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Brush and Wildland Unit

Fuel Truck

Command – Battalion 1

Specialty Apparatus Response Apparatus

Fire Rescue operates other specialty Apparatus:

• Hazardous Materials Response Apparatus• Urban Search and Rescue Apparatus• Utility / Air Support Apparatus• Brush and Wildland Apparatus• Command Vehicle – Battalion 1• Fuel Truck

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Utility / Air Supply and Support Unit

Urban Search and Rescue Response Apparatus

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Hazardous Materials Response Apparatus

Operations Numbers

• 7477 - Total calls for service• 5161 – EMS Calls• 2316 – Fire/Service Calls• 316 - Open burning compliance checks• 3000+ - Hydrant Inspections

Fire Rescue OperationsDeputy Fire Chief Chris Blankenship provides the executive leadership of the Fire Rescue Operations Division. Fire Operations is the largest division of Fire

Rescue and is comprised of Line Personnel, Safety & Professional Development, and the Emergency Medical Services Division (EMS).

In 2018 the Operations Division implemented the final pieces of a reorganization of the EMS Division. An EMS Billing Specialist position was created and was filled by a current employee and an EMS Captain’s position was created by the reallocation of other vacant positions within the division. The EMS Division is staffed by a Battalion Chief of EMS, EMS Captain, and EMS Billing Specialist. This staff is responsible for the oversight of our EMS service and the professional standards & training of the members.

Line Operations is comprised of 3 Shifts working a 24 hour on shift/48 hour off shift schedule. Each shift is led by a Battalion Chief with 35 members assigned to each of the three shifts for a total of 105 line personnel. The minimum daily staffing level is 29. A three member team, the Training Coverage Crew, also supplements staffing during daytime hours when call volume is at its peak. The Coverage Crew works a 40 hour week, providing coverage in areas when companies are out of their normal coverage areas attending training or responding to incidents.

All line personnel are cross-trained in both firefighting and EMS. We respond to all types of calls for service; fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle collisions, hazardous materials spills, and specialized rescues. The members are required to participate in extensive year round training activities to maintain and improve their skills in a variety of disciplines.

The ability to improve our service is generated through many initiatives that originate from the Operations members. Their values, energy, commitment, and compassion drive many of Fire Rescue’s functions, programs, and services throughout the year. The Operations personnel are the men and women you see every day out in the community accomplishing the department’s mission to provide extraordinary service to the community.

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Line Operations

Line Operations personnel are divided into three shifts, providing round-the-clock service to the community. Three Battalion Chiefs manage the shift personnel for the 24 hour tour of duty.

Jason Walters Chad McRorie Jeff Hartberger Battalion Chief – A Shift Battalion Chief – B Shift Battalion Chief – C Shift

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A Day in the Life of a Firefighter Firefighters spend a significant portion of their day learning their jobs, educating others, and maintaining equipment. This work is done in addition to the primary job of responding to emergency and non-emergency calls throughout the community.

Here is a look at how a firefighter may end up spending their day: • Shifts begin and end at 8:00 AM. The on-coming crew meets with the off-going crew to check

the status of equipment and to discuss events that may have been encountered the previousday.

• The on-duty crew then completes an inventory and operational check of their equipment andvehicles to ensure their readiness for use.

• The supervisors conduct a briefing with details of the day’s activities.• A sampling of possible daily duties include:

o Completing daily training on medical, firefighting or specialized skills.o Completing cardio and strength fitness training to meet the physical demands of the job.o Conducting visits to buildings to familiarize with the layouts and features of the complexes.

This information is used in our pre-fire planning process.o Visiting schools and participating in a wide variety of public education programs.o Providing tours, assistance, and blood pressure checks to fire station visitors.o Performing annual inspections of the Island’s 3000 + fire hydrants.o Annually testing over 10,000 feet of fire hose.o Performing housekeeping duties for the fire stations and apparatus.

All of these activities take place between the responses of the team to emergency incidents!

Page | 20 Medical Patient being transferred to helicopter

Fire Rescue is frequently asked “why do fire trucks respond on medical calls”? The answer is not a simple one due to the complex nature of emergencies but we will attempt to explain.

Q: Why does a fire truck respond with an ambulance to EMS incidents and car accidents?

A: All of Hilton Head Island’s firefighters are dual certified as either an EMT or paramedic and are cross trained to respond to both fire and emergency medical incidents. Fire Rescue is responsible for transporting all patients to the hospital as part of our EMS system. Also, all of our fire apparatus are stocked with emergency medical equipment which allows us to send the closest apparatus so medical care can be initiated immediately, regardless of what vehicle arrives first.

We respond to emergency calls in a tiered system, based on the nature of the call. When our E911 Operators receive a call for assistance, they ask standardized questions to determine the type and numbers of apparatus to send to the scene. The initial response provides the minimum number of responders required to address the needs of the patient(s).

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES RESPONSE

There are 5 defined levels of medical emergencies the E911 Operator may choose from based on the caller’s information:

Level A, B, & C are medical emergencies that are considered non-life threating. Normally one ambulance with 2-3 firefighters is deployed to handle these types of emergencies.

Level D & E are medical emergencies that are considered to be potentially life threating and the response is the closest ambulance and the closest fire engine or ladder truck. Some examples of these types of emergencies can include but are not limited to:

• Chest Pain/Heart attack • Allergic Reaction

• Unconscious Person • Multiple Patients

• Trauma Incidents w/significant falls • Seizures

• Difficulty Breathing/Not Breathing • Water Rescue/Beach

Many EMS calls present situations that require more than a two-person ambulance crew to provide adequate care, therefore a fire truck may be sent as well if a patient is critically ill or unable to walk and must be carried on a gurney. The additional personnel staffed on the fire truck help to ensure patient care needs are met in a timely and safe manner.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS RESPONSE

When responding to a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) with injuries, a fire truck and an ambulance will be sent to the scene. Firefighters arriving in the ambulance immediately begin assessing the medical needs of the patient(s). Firefighters arriving on the fire truck evaluate and address hazards associated with scene safety (fuel spills, fire, power lines, etc.), along with the safety of ambulance crew (traffic control/blocking the scene from approaching vehicles, scene lighting/warning lights) prior to assisting with patient care or extricating patients from vehicles.

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When crews respond to low speed accidents in parking lots, on side roads or when law enforcement indicates minor injuries and no fire hazards on scene, only an ambulance will normally respond.

Q: Why do so many vehicles respond to a fire?

A: When responding to a fire incident, a number of vehicles are sent to the incident in order to get the necessary number of personnel on scene as quickly as possible. Each vehicle sent to the scene typically carries 2-3 personnel, so multiple vehicles must go to the scene to provide adequate manpower for the fire incident. Firefighters arriving in the ambulance typically function as firefighters, performing normal firefighting duties but are also immediately available to provide emergency medical care on scene if needed.

Q: Why does a fire truck and an ambulance drive around together when out in the community?

A: Typically an ambulance and a fire truck are together as one team, with 3-4 personnel split between both apparatus. The apparatus and personnel must always be prepared to respond to both fire and medical calls at any time, so when out in the community, both vehicles are always together regardless of the activity. This is called cross-staffing and it reduces the number of full-time firefighters needed to staff apparatus and ambulances, but requires the vehicles stay together at all times.

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Crews at an automobile accident

EMS Data - 2018

• 5593 – EMS responses• 4092 – EMS Patients transported• 177 – EMS patients treated but not transported• 577 – Patients assessed but not treated or transported• 4923 – Patient Care Reports Processed

• 434 – Lift assists• 379 – FOIA Requests Processed

Emergency Medical Services Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue is proud to provide world class emergency medical care to our community. We are committed to providing prompt, compassionate, evidence-based care to our citizens and visitors.

Hilton Head Island boasts one of the highest survival rates in the United States for sudden cardiac arrest and we work diligently every day to foster a culture of

continuous quality improvement.

EMS Captain

In 2018 the Town added a Captain to the EMS Division to further support our mission. Tina Sanders was promoted to the position and recently earned her Bachelors of Science in Emergency Medical Services Administration which will further support our efforts to improve our EMS service delivery.

Field Training Officers and Field Training and Evaluation Program

Another major improvement to our EMS system in 2018 was the development of a Field Training Officer (FTO) Program. A core group of 16 paramedics was selected to help train paramedics who are new to our department or have recently graduated from an accredited paramedic program. FTOs have been familiar to our colleagues in law enforcement for many years but are a relatively new innovation for Emergency Medical Services. The Field Training and Evaluation Program ensures that new paramedics are appropriately led through various operational and clinical competencies prior to being released for independent practice.

National Continued Competency Program (NCCP)

Fire Rescue has adopted the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) which has enabled Fire Rescue to assess and improve its EMT and Paramedic Refresher Program across a variety of topics including airway management, cardiology, trauma, medical, and operations.

We surveyed our staff after the implementation of this program and received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the change. It also

makes it easier to re-certify our EMTs and paramedics online through a portal at NREMT.

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PulsePoint

In 2018, Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue entered a grant competition and was awarded $12,500.00 by the Citizen CPR Foundation toward the implementation of an innovative app for your smartphone called PulsePoint. The app integrates with our dispatch computer and leverages GPS technology to automatically notify “citizen-rescuers” when they are nearby a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

PulsePoint also offers a program called “Verified Responder” for off-duty Fire Rescue personnel that includes private residences (which are excluded from the public-facing version of PulsePoint). We are working through the final details with PulsePoint which includes custom programming for Hilton Head Island to accommodate some of our unique needs like beach markers and golf course access points. We look forward to launching the program in 2019.

Opioid Epidemic

Thanks to coordinated local, state, and national efforts, we saw a significant decline in the number of opioid overdoses on Hilton Head Island in 2018. One of our best barometers for the opioid epidemic is the number of times our staff gives the drug Narcan (naloxone).

There was a 50% reduction in the number of times our staff provided this therapy in 2018. While we are encouraged to be back down to 2015 levels we must be cautious in the interpretation of this data. The opioid epidemic is not over. Fire Rescue will continue to monitor the situation and work cooperatively with our colleagues from law enforcement including Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

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512

350

347

341

261

234

175

163

162

126

117

113

101

97

52

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

FALL VICTIM

BREATHING PROBLEM

WEAKNESS

UNCONSCIOUS/FAINTING

ALTERED MENTAL STATE

CHEST PAIN

NAUSEA/VOMITING

BACK PAIN

ABDOMINAL PAIN

LACERATION

HEAD INJURY

STROKE/TIA

DIABETIC PROBLEM

SEIZURE

CARDIAC ARREST

Most Common Medical Emergencies in 2018

2018 EMS At A Glance

In 2018 Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue responded to 5,256 medical calls that resulted in 4,920 patient care records and 4,092 transports to the hospital. Our top Incident type is trauma and the largest category of trauma is fall with injuries.

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TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS

• Total Training hours – 34,380• Company Training Hours – 16,714• Company Drill Hours - 2,281• Urban Search & Rescue Training

Hours – 454• Hazmat Training Hours – 1,643• Officer Development Training

Hours - 468• Driver/Operator Training Hours – 505

Safety & Professional Development

Colin Fanning became a member of Fire Rescue’s administration team in 2018 when he was promoted to the Battalion Chief of the Safety & Professional Development Division. The division is charged with managing the department overall safety and risk management program, personnel development and industry-standard training functions. The division is supervised by the Battalion Chief and supported by a Captain and an administrative assistant.

Engine Company # 8, known as the training or Coverage Company, reports to Safety & Professional Development Division and is housed at the Training Center. This crew operates as a day crew and cross-staffs a fire engine and ambulance with a 3-person crew consisting

of a Company Officer, Fire Apparatus Operator and a firefighter paramedic. The crew works a 40-hour workweek during the daytime hours when our calls for service are the highest. In addition, the Coverage Company provides new firefighter orientation training that is completed before new members report to their assigned shift. The name comes from the function it provides to the fire stations. The Coverage Company provides “coverage” at the fire stations during the daytime hours to help maintain coverage of the island. This allows the seven fire stations’ companies to use the training center while limiting gaps in coverage.

Safety and Risk Management

The team works with other divisions within the Town to maintain individual safety training as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). The division manages all types of risks that emergency services organizations will typically face. Chief Fanning is a standing member of the Town’s Safety Committee and the direct liaison to the Fire Chief regarding safety concerns for Fire Rescue and the Town.

“We will risk a lot to save a lot, we will risk a little to save a little, but we will risk nothing to save what is already gone”

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SCBA Recertification Training

Training Program Management

The largest responsibility for Safety & Professional Development is managing a safe and effective training program for the firefighters and staff of Fire Rescue. To maintain quality training and education, the division receives support from the company officers and firefighters that help deliver various types of required training throughout the year. The Administrative Captain maintains oversight of various training programs and is a standing member of the department’s Training Advisory Committee. This committee, made up of various department personnel, works closely with the division to determine training needs based on measuring performance during emergency operations and training drills.

Training programs that are managed by the division:

• Driver Operator Program• Instructor Development

Program (New)o Program Instructorso Live Fire Instructors

• Incident Safety Officer andCompany OfficerDevelopment Program (New)

2018 Safety & Professional Development Accomplishments • Conducted new Ladder rescue training• Practiced Metal breaching training• Held the 40-hour Rapid Intervention Crew/thermal imaging camera training for new

firefighters• Resumed commercial driver’s license testing• Conducted annual self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and live structure fire

training• Conducted promotional testing for senior firefighter position and fire apparatus

operator position• Held Technical rescue training for rescuing a patient on a radio/microwave tower• Hosted a hazardous materials HAZCAT operations training with 11 personnel• Hosted two National Pro Board (NPQ) certified Incident Safety Officer (ISO) classes• Conducted training for new Bullard thermal-imaging cameras (TIC) for the entire

department• Technical Rescue Team (TRT) coordinators presented three days of operational

capabilities for our special teams

Page | 27

Commercial Driver's License preparation

Live Fire training

Graham Fire Training Center

In today’s fire service, it is important for firefighters to be trained to handle a variety of unexpected service calls from the community. The Safety & Professional Development Division has the responsibility to develop the skills the firefighters need to provide excellent service. The Graham Fire Training Tower allows our firefighters to train towards National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards in a safe and controlled environment. The burn building located within Graham Tower hosts approximately 24 burn sessions each year. These burns provide the necessary fire behavior and extinguishment training that enhance our firefighter skills.

Promotional Testing

The division is also responsible for planning and implementing promotional testing within the department. This year, the department has promoted 11 members to the rank of Senior Firefighter and three members to the rank of Fire Apparatus Operator.

• The Senior Firefighter Position (SRF) is a career development step designed to provideemployees an opportunity to fill a first-level supervisory position on a temporary basis oncethey have qualified. In addition, they will take on an increased level of responsibility withintheir station or division, including but not limited to project work, organizing and leadingactivities and administrative responsibilities.

• Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) is a career-development step designed to provide employeesan opportunity to operate a permanent driver’s position on an engine company or truckcompany. In addition, the position takes on an increased level of responsibility within theirstation, included but not limited to project work, organizing and directing activities andmentoring future drivers.

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Fire Pumper Operations Skills

Vehicle Maneuvering Practice

Hazmat Team Substance Analysis

Page | 30 Winter Storm 2018

Rescue Training

CPR Training

Fire Engine / Medic Unit Team

BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION OBJECTIVES

• Administration of the International FireCode

• Installation of life safety systems inbuildings

• Presenting fire and life safety educationinitiatives and programs

• Conducting fire investigations• Providing opportunities and interactions

with the public on fire and accidentprevention programs

FIRE INSPECTION ACTIVITY – 2018

• 2505 - Total inspections• 568 - Existing annual building

inspections• 686 - Building permit

inspections• 267 - Business License

inspections• 918 - Re-inspections• 78 - Complaint follow ups• 243 - New building

plans reviewed• 141 - Alarm system repairs• 8 - Hydrant repairs• 27 - Burn permits issued• 166 - Click2Enter© gate repairs

Bureau of Fire Prevention The Bureau of Fire Prevention is headed by Battalion Chief Joheida Fister, who is the designated Fire Marshal for the Town. The personnel of the Bureau focus on all aspects of life safety. Their primary objective is to reduce preventable deaths, injuries, and property loss through extensive public education programs, fire inspections of commercial properties, and enforcement of the adopted fire codes.

Fire Inspections/Code Enforcement The Bureau educates building owners and tenants while conducting fire safety inspections. This promotes voluntary compliance and limits the number of repeat violations in the future. The fire inspectors conduct fire safety inspections of new and existing commercial properties each year, a large number requiring at least one follow-up inspection to ensure compliance.

The fire inspectors have a wide range of other responsibilities in addition to the annual fire safety inspections:

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• Review and approve the construction plans for new buildingsor buildings being renovated.

• Conduct inspections during construction.• Conduct fire inspections for the approval of new business licenses.• Perform Monthly night time inspections of public assemblies.• Ensure timely follow up of complaints/concerns of the community.• Verify acceptance testing of all fire safety systems.• Ensure fire protection systems in buildings are repaired.• Oversee the “Click2Enter” ® emergency gate access program.• Coordinate with the three Public Service Districts to ensure

damaged fire hydrants are returned to working order.• Conduct special event inspections.• Serve as Child Passenger Safety Technicians and participate in

monthly car seat checks.• Enforce the Town’s Outdoor Burning Ordinance.• Provide training on the development of emergency procedures

and evaluate emergency evacuation procedures.• Support the Fire & Life Safety Educator’s public presentation

programs.

FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY EDUCATION ACTIVITY – 2018

• Delivered 412 Public Education programs• Conducted 70 CPR, AED, and First Aid

classes• Taught 668 students in CPR, AED, and First

Aid• Published 34 Articles• Installed 131 Car seats• Installed 208 Smoke detectors

Fire extinguisher class

The fire inspectors are challenged to keep pace with continued growth and the rise in activity for their areas of responsibility. The inspectors must fulfill daily obligations to external customers and support department members while simultaneously investing sufficient time to meet long-term goals.

Fire & Life Safety Education

The Fire & Life Safety Educator, along with other Fire Rescue personnel, delivers various presentations to the community throughout the year. Each program is developed to arm the community with knowledge to prevent situations that threaten life safety. The programs also address how to manage emergency situations they may face.

Several of the programs that the Fire & Life Safety Educator oversees include:

• Educating the public and conductingdemonstrations on the benefits of firesprinkler systems and smoke detectors

• Coordinating smoke alarm installationsand battery replacements.

• Providing a robust schedule of public CPRand First Aid training.

• Providing public training programs such asfire extinguisher training, safe sittersbabysitting course, and others.

• Presenting programs for preschools, civic clubs, retirement centers and employers on a range oftopics that include: fire safety, bike safety, water safety, fire safe holidays, smoke alarms, safedriving for the elderly, poison prevention, heat related injuries, threatening weather, car fires,calling 9-1-1 and more.

• Coordinating the File of Life ® program - a record of health related information for emergencyresponders typically located on the refrigerator in the home.

• Promoting the Keep the Wreath Green holiday season fire safety program.• Updating the Fire & Life Safety information on Town’s website.• Coordinating car seat installations.

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Local students assist with assembling the File of Life

Town signs used to provide safety messages

Teaching children not to hide when they see a firefighter

Fire Rescue personnel attend local schools for career day

Public CPR & AED course A visit to Programs for Exceptional People to talk about

Fire Safety

Geocaching for Safety

A new initiative Fire Rescue has implemented to creatively teach fire and life safety is geocaching. Geocaching is a recreational activity of hunting and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website. Fire Rescue currently has 4 geocaches set up at various stations. When the participant locates the geocache they receive a safety message located inside the geocache box. Topics include Fire Safety/Home escape, Water Safety, Bike Safety and Alligator Safety. Geocaching draws many visitors and residents alike and is a family friendly activity. Since it’s inception, there have been 470 documented visits to our Geocaches.

Fire in the Streets

Fire Rescue’s program, “Fire in the Streets”, is a home visit program designed to improve the safety and well- being of citizens in our community. Fire in the Streets began in late 2015 and since its inception, over 875 home visits have been completed. During the visits, a total of 547 free smoke alarms have been installed in homes that did not have a detector or had a nonworking detector. This program not only makes homes safer, it also provides the chance to meet face to face with families, address their concerns, educate them on the importance of smoke alarms and identify an emergency escape plan. We teach them how to install smoke alarms, change the batteries, check for expiration dates, and test their

alarms monthly.

Child Passenger Safety Traffic crashes can happen to any of us at any time and are one of the leading causes of death among children. Proper use of car seats and booster seats help save lives and can prevent injuries and death every day. Fire Rescue offers help with car seat installations by appointment. Over the last 5 years we have helped install over 750 seats.

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Smoke detector installation

Installing a car seat

Another geocache found

FIRE INVESTIGATION UNIT ACTIVITY 2018

40 Fires were investigated by the Fire Investigation Team.

Fire Cause included: • 13 unintentional fires• 1 intentional fire• 15 fires caused by the failure of equipment• 1 fire caused by an act of nature• 7 fires had a cause that was undetermined• 1 open burning/outdoor fire• 2 under investigation

Fire Investigation

Fire Rescue is required by State law to investigate all fires in order to determine the area the fire started and the likely cause.

Fire Rescue’s fire investigation team is comprised of members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Fire Rescue line personnel. The unit is supervised by the Fire Marshal and coordinates with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on any fire where the cause of the fire is considered not to be accidental in nature.

Determining the cause and origin of a fire may be as straightforward as a resident reporting that they left a pot

on the stove. But sometimes a fire can require a considerable amount of investigation due to significant damage or a hidden cause. Using proper investigation techniques, preserving the evidence, and photographing the fire scene are all necessary steps to ensure investigations are thorough and professionally completed. Information from the fire investigations is used to identify trends and programs that can reduce the potential for future fires.

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Investigating a fire

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Citizen Contacts• Over 2400 Citizen contacts through presentations,

community events, and providing preparedness information.

Distributed Information• 2,400 Citizen Preparedness Guides• 530 Vehicle Emergency Kits• 1,000 Town Flood Pamphlets and Magnets• 2,400 FEMA Emergency Kit Checklists• 800 Town E-Subscription magnets• 1,000 NOAA Weather Information Sheets

Attended Public Events• Presented 15 public presentations to over 580 participants• Attended and distributed materials at 3 community events

Emergency Management Division Tom Dunn is the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Town of Hilton Head Island. The mission of the Emergency Management Division is to develop plans and procedures that provide for an effective response to all types of threats facing the Town of Hilton Head Island. By developing and then exercising the All-Hazards Plans, we strive to minimize the impacts of an emergency or disaster on our citizens, visitors, property, the environment, and the Town’s economy.

The Emergency Management Division works closely with many public and private sector partners to ensure we are able to coordinate our actions and needs during an emergency or disaster. This coordination requires planning and close relationships with local, state, and federal partners. Our most critical partner is the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s Division of Emergency Management. Our working relationship assists us in acquiring the resources and support needed to manage events that impact the Town.

For resources the Town does not readily have available, the Emergency Management Division has Memoranda of Understandings (MOU) in place to strengthen the Town’s response capabilities by ensuring we have the necessary resources available to us to respond and recover after a man-made or natural disaster.

Tropical events are a major concern for the Town. This past Atlantic hurricane season resulted in 12 named storms during the 2018 hurricane season. Fortunately, of those 12 named storms none had a significant impact on Hilton Head Island. Although we did not have any direct damage, Hurricanes Florence and Michael were forecast to impact the Island to some degree. Due to the potential impacts to the Town we prepared by implementing our Emergency Operations Plan and opening the EOC on a limited basis until the storms had passed.

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Emergency Management Division accomplishments this past year include: • Deployed to the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center to back fill state EOC

staff during Hurricane Florence recovery operations.• Renewed as a StormReady Community though 2021• Received the recognition as a TsunamiReady Community

through 2021• Developed After-Action Reports for the January Winter Storm,

Hurricanes Florence and Michael, and the RBC Heritage. Thesereports identify areas we were effective and areas we canimprove our response to future events.o 2018 Winter storm – 19 after action items ,eight (8) items

completedo Hurricanes Florence and Michael – 16 after action items,

five(5) items completedo RBC Heritage – 32 after action items, 10 items completed

• Supported the Fire Rescue mission by responding toemergencies and performing liaison activities with agencies suchas the Red Cross.

• Assisted in incident management during various special eventsheld on the island.

• Assisted in the development of 5 exercises:o Command and Control – a series of Table Top Exercises that focused on the command

and control of a large scale incident that focused on a Unified Command with otherorganizations and agencies.

o RBC Heritage – A Tabletop Exercise focusing on a coordinated response to an eventduring the RBC Heritage.

o LowCountry Healthcare Coalition, Hospital Evacuation Exercise– A Table Top Exercisewe supported through exercise planning, on-site exercise controller and on-site exerciseevaluator.

o Public Works Exercise – supported the development of a Table Top Exercise focusing onBeaufort County’s public works response to an impact from a tropical event.

o Beaufort Memorial Hospital – Supported the design of a Table Top Exercise for anexternal emergency at the hospital.

• Presented numerous public education programs and supported the Bureau of Fire Prevention's Fire in the Streets program.

• Real world activation of the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan for the January WinterStorm, Hurricane Michael, and Hurricane Florence.

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Emergency Management continues to explore ways to mitigate, reduce, and prevent the effects of disasters in the community through public outreach, community engagement, and the employment of new technologies.

The Citizen Preparedness Guide is available at all town facilities and on the Town’s website:

www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publicsafety/citizensguideemerg

Programs for Exceptional People (PEP) over the year has been working putting together over 1,000 Preparedness Information Bags for the public. These bags include the Town’s Emergency Preparedness Guide, how to sign up for Town alerts, and information on fire safety, SMART 911, flood information, and general information about Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue.

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Support Services Deputy Fire Chief Ed Boring provides oversight of the Support Services Division. Support Services includes the E-911 Communications Center, Fleet Maintenance, Public Safety Systems (IT), and Supply and Support. DC Boring also manages the Hazardous Material Response Team and the Technical Rescue Team.

Support Services performs technical, administrative, and supply functions necessary for Fire Rescue Operations to provide emergency and non-emergency services. Support Services personnel research, recommend, purchase, repair, and replace virtually all tools, equipment, and apparatus needed to provide our services to the community.

2018 Accomplishments:

• Implementation of New Thermal Imaging Cameras. Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) providethe ability for firefighters to see in zero visibility conditions by reading the differential intemperature in what it views. The cameras are carried on all fire apparatus.

• Replacement Battalion Chief Vehicle: This vehicle is used daily by the supervisor of the line personnel as the incident command vehicle for fires and other significant incidents. This replacement vehicle will be placed into service in the spring of 2019.

• Medic Unit Replacement: Fire Rescue has signed a contract for the replacement of it’s Medic UnitFleet. Fire Rescue has maximized the life of its existing fleet by replacing the truck chassis andrefurbishing the patient bodies. The new ambulances will be able to go through the same processand realize an extended service time as well. The replacement fleet is expected to arrive in thesummer of 2019.

• Purchase and Implementation of Replacement Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD): The CAD isused by the E- 911 Communications Operators to locate callers and select the closest appropriatetype of emergency apparatus to resp0nd to the incident. The new CAD replaced a dated systemthat was not adaptable to the changes in our department. The new CAD is less expensive tomaintain and was purchased using 80% reimbursement funds from the State E911 phone tax.

• Significant Technical Rescue Team Deployment The Technical Rescue Team (TRT), comprised ofFire Rescue and Bluffton Township Fire District personnel, was deployed during Hurricane Florenceas part of the State Urban Search and Rescue Program (USAR.) This team is part of the State USARSystem and is designated SCTF4. The team was deployed on Sept. 14th to assist with flooding inDillon, Florence, Marion and Horry counties. Throughout the deployment, SCTF4 membersperformed search and rescue operations over a 730 square mile area and extracted 300 persons and80 pets from flood waters. Members of the team also provided supervisory, planning and logisticalsupport to rescue teams from Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The deploymentlasted 17 days in total and personnel returned home Sept. 30th.

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COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

• 97% of all calls are answered in 5seconds or less and

• 99.9% of all calls are answeredin 10 seconds or less

• 98% of call taking by the Dispatcher iscompliant with established protocols.

E911 Communications Division

The E911 Communications Division is managed by Cathy Jones- Gooding and operates the Enhanced 911 Communications Center of Fire Rescue. This dispatch center serves as the Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island and is the backup center for the Beaufort County E911 Dispatch Center. The center answers all 911 calls originating on Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This facility receives an average of 149 phone calls a day and dispatches more than 19 Fire or EMS calls daily.

The 911 Communications personnel are the unseen, but extremely important link in the chain of response to an emergency. When a Dispatcher answers a call in the communications center, they become the first, first responder. In addition to trying to determine what type of help is needed, personnel frequently help emergency callers determine exactly where they are to send assistance. This can be a challenge given the number of annual visitors to Hilton Head Island. A high degree of familiarity with the community is critical in the operation.

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E911 Telecommunicator at work

Telephone Call Statistics 2016 2017 2018

Total Calls

Made/Received

68,293 67,496 73,381

Inbound Calls 49,842 49,130 54,624

Outbound 18,451 18,366 18,757

E911 Addressing Technician

• 44 New Addresses Created• 73 Existing Addresses Updated• 33% of Map Pages Updated

E911 Addressing Technician

Dispatch Quality Assurance/ Quality Improvement Program

The communications center has a comprehensive QA/QI program for reviewing both fire and medical calls. Approximately 20 percent of all 911

emergency calls are randomly selected and reviewed. The process is used to ensure calls are handled efficiently and

to help identify any additional training that may be beneficial to ensure prompt and professional service. The average compliance score for the center is 98.00%.

The E911 Addressing Technician is a critical member of the E911 Communications Team. This position updates and maintains the existing Town GIS data set in accordance with state and National Emergency Number Association (NENA) E911 Dispatch Center regulations. The technician creates new addresses, corrects and modifies existing addresses. The

E911 Addressing Technician alerts staff, utility companies, and the Post Office of any address changes or modifications. The E911 Addressing Technician is also responsible for assisting the public with assigning new road names in the community.

Smart911 implemented in August 2015

Smart911 is a national service that allows citizens and visitors to create a free Safety Profile for their household that includes any information they want the E911 center and first responders to have in the event of an emergency. If a citizen or visitor needs to dial 911, their Safety Profile will immediately display on the call taker’s screen in the E911 center and this can help save seconds and even minutes in collecting information in response to the emergency. The E911 Center receives an average of 1 call a day with Smart911 Safety Profiles attached.

• Smart911 has been adopted in 40 states and over 1,500 municipalities.• In South Carolina, Smart911 is available in 14 counties including Beaufort, Abbeville, Aiken,

Charleston, Cherokee, Edgefield and Orangeburg Counties.• Smart 911 is private, secure and only made available to 911 when an emergency call is made.• Smart 911 uses the same technology banks use to encrypt your bank account, keeping

personal information safe.

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Sign up for Smart911 and create a Safety Profile today at:

http://www.smart911.com

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FLEET MAINTENANCE HIGHLIGHTS

• 120 Town wide Fleet• 265 Preventative Maintenance

Inspections Completed• 810 Vehicle and Equipment Repairs

Completed• 241 Tools or Small Equipment Repairs

Completed• 20 Emergency Repairs

Fleet Maintenance Keith Tison is the Fleet Maintenance Supervisor and is responsible for maintaining Fire Rescue and Town vehicles. The Town-wide fleet totals approximately 100 vehicles and includes:

• 49 cars/trucks for Fire Rescue• 27 cars / trucks assigned to Town Hall• 14 cars / trucks assigned to

Facilities Management• 38 mowers, trailers and various

off road equipment

Fleet Maintenance performs a comprehensive preventative maintenance program, the testing and repair of all equipment including fixed and mobile generators and all motorized equipment used by the Town.

Fleet Maintenance personnel receive significant training and hold multiple Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) Certifications. This training allows staff to perform most functions typical of a full service maintenance facility. EVT is a credentialing organization that tests and verifies a technician’s knowledge and skills and is recognized as a best practice among emergency services organizations.

Fleet Maintenance Staff are on call 24 hours a day to provide emergency repair or support as needed to enhance our service to the community.

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Public Safety Systems

Public Safety Systems is managed by Stephen Ralston and is responsible for maintaining all technology systems and applications that support the Fire Rescue mission.

Programs managed by Public Safety Systems include:

• Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) – The E-911 Communications Centeruses the CAD to select and quickly verify emergency locations and send apparatus based on thetype of call and the closest appropriate apparatus.

• Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) – AVL provides real-time tracking (GPS) of emergency vehiclesand sends updates to the CAD to make the closest apparatus recommendation.

• The Records Management System and electronic patient care reporting/ billing software.• The Fire Rescue Mobile Network that connects emergency apparatus to the E-911 Center and

moves critical incident data to responders.

Accomplishments in 2018 include:

• Upgraded and replaced all E- 911computers.

• Replaced mobile computers in emergencyapparatus used for emergency responseand incident reporting.

• Replaced a virtual server in the data center• Supported the replacement of our

Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) with

a new state of the art system.

• Upgraded modems in the emergency

vehicles to the transmission of

incident mapping and data.

Public Safety Systems personnel are available 24/7 to keep crucial IT systems operational.

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Mobile Mapping Display

E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 TRK62016 1096 511 463 353 1230 319 348 117 6652017 1009 480 400 311 1201 321 321 106 5022018 1005 555 331 336 1164 321 292 111 549

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Response by Fire Apparatus 2016 - 2018

2016 2017 2018

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M82016 1154 753 869 809 1350 674 672 1802017 1194 668 814 876 1260 642 750 1452018 1138 759 779 914 1247 616 709 200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Response by EMS Apparatus 2016 - 2018

2016 2017 2018

2018 Calendar Year Response Statistics

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Total response time FIRE: Call processing + Turnout Time + Travel Time = 8:51 90% of the time

Total response time EMS: Call processing + Turnout Time + Travel Time = 8:03 90% of the time

75677374

7477

6000

6500

7000

7500

8000

8500

9000

2016 2017 2018

Total Incidents 2016 - 2018

2016 - 20172.6% Decrease

2017 - 20181.4% Increase

6442

6950

7567

73747477

6000

6200

6400

6600

6800

7000

7200

7400

7600

7800

8000

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Total Incidents 5 Year Period2014 - 2018

16.1% Increase

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2315

5252

2087

5287

2219

5258

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Fire Incidents Rescue & EMS Incidents

Total Incidents Fire / EMS 2016 - 2018

2016 2017 2018

120

5,282

118

699

187

1,055

240

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

2018 Incidents by Type

Fire EMS/Rescue Hazardous Condition Service Call Good Intent False Call Other

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400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Calls for Service 2016 - 2018 by Month

2016 2017 2018

900

950

1000

1050

1100

1150

1200

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Calls for Service 2016 - 2018 by Day of Week

2016 2017 2018

50100150200250300350400450500550

Mid 1a 2a 3a 4a 5a 6a 7a 8a 9a 10a

11a

12N 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p 7p 8p 9p 10p

11p

Calls for Service by Hour of Day 2016 - 2018

2016 2017 2018Page | 48

42

19

34

1611

17

35

7

33

21

9

20

41

9

26

1611 10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Residential BuildingFire

CommercialBuilding Fire

Brush, Wildland,Grass

Vehicle Fires Trash, Rubbish,Dumpster

All Other Fire

Fire Incidents by Type 2016 -2018

2016 2017 2018

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Commercial Building Fire

A FINAL WORD

Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue is dedicated to serving the residents, visitors, and community of Hilton Head Island.

Fire Rescue continues to explore methods to enhance and improve our services. We always welcome comments from our citizens.

For additional information on the department and services, please visit us on our webpage:

www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/departments/fire/

Our Strategic Plan can be found at:

http://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publications/plans/HHIFireandRescueMasterPlan.pdf

Fire and Life Safety Programs can be found at:

http://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/departments/fire/pubedprograms.cfm

Our Fire Safety Checklist can be found at:

http://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/departments/fire/firechecklist.cfm

Our Annual Report can be found at:

http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publications/reports/FireRescueAnnualReport.pdf

Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue 40 Summit Drive

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29926 Non-emergency phone: 843-682-5100

Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies! Page | 50

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