Assistant Fire Chief Earns Homeland Security Master’s Degree from Naval Postgraduate School and Prestigious Zimbardo Award

Rockville - - - Assistant Chief Michael McAdams of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) completed a Master of Arts Degree in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security on March 25, 2011.

Assistant Chief Michael McAdams has risen through the ranks from a firefighter rescuer to Assistant Chief of the Operations Division. He has held multiple positions during his 26-year career and welcomes the challenge of developing the principles learned at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) into the fire service. McAdams is the winner of the prestigious Zimbardo Award. This award is given by the faculty of the Psychology of Terrorism course to the member of the cohort who best represents the intellectual leadership evidenced by Phil Zimbardo, a renowned Stanford University psychologist who is on the CHDS faculty.

During the intensive 18-month online and in-residence program, McAdams collaborated with homeland security officials from across the nation on current policy, strategy and organizational design challenges. He completed a thesis on measuring collaboration in fire service organizations.

“As the traditional role of the fire department changes, we’re committed to strengthening our capabilities across many critical disciplines. The CHDS program provides the platform for developing a strong and expanding national network,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “The issues are wide-ranging and Assistant Chief McAdams brings an important and strategic perspective that provides a strong foundation for MCFRS.”

Twenty-nine students received degrees from CHDS as part of ceremonies at the Naval Postgraduate School. They represent a cross-section of the homeland security profession and include professionals from law enforcement, fire safety, homeland security, public health, public utilities and the military.

Infant & Child Car Seat Safety Information

As Chief Bowers has stated on numerous occasions, preventing the 9-1-1 call is our top priority. What does that mean?

For one it means helping folks to prevent fire in their home by providing fire prevention tips and going into the neighborhoods each Saturday knocking on doors, handing out tips, and checking smoke alarms.

As our Fire and Rescue personnel also provide ambulance service, it also means promoting healthy living habits and providing injury prevention information and programs. One of our best injury prevention programs is our Child Passenger Safety Seat (CPSS) program.

If you have young children, or grand children, please take a moment to visit our CPSS site to learn how to best keep your children safe in cars as well as schedule a child safety seat inspection/installation appointment.

Go here to learn more: Car Seat Safety Information

FREE Conference for Fire - Rescue - EMS - Safety & Health Personnel

Arrive Alive & Survive 2011 Conference
Fire - Rescue - EMS -
Safety & Health

April 8-9, 2011
Montgomery County Public Safety Training Center
  9710 Great Seneca Highway          
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Arrive Alive and Survive is a national conference for all public safety personnel.  In previous years this conference has included best safety practices for the fire service. These best practices focused on dealing with all aspects of successful safety, health, and wellness programs in the fire service.

You may register online, review directions and lodging information, and view the agenda.


Presentations to include:
Keynote Presentations by Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder to include:

• Who Is In Your Wallet? Why EVERYONE Does Not Come Home…
• The First Due Company Officer, Working Fire… “Those SOP’s Don’t Apply to Me”.

In addition:

• The Role of Occupational Medicine Programs in Reducing Firefighter Morbidity and Mortality
• Overview of Emergency Driver Training
• Fire Scene Safety and Health Hazards
• Fire Chief’s Roundtable- Montgomery, Alexandria, Fairfax City, and Arlington- Discussion of their department’s current health, safety, and wellness programs.

By attending both days one would have the opportunity to attend all breakout sessions

Session topics include:

• Maintain Don’t Gain
• Flammable Liquid Response/ Ethanol Emergencies
• Chemical Suicide Response

Please contact Patrick Powell with questions at (202) 962-3278.

Embrace Life - Always Wear Your Seat Belt

I wanted to share a really powerful video from the UK, that has been out and about for a while now, that reminds us all we should always wear our seat belt.




Embrace Life (C)2010 Sarah Alexander/Daniel Cox/Sussex Safer Roads Partnership

Smoking and Home Fires

In light of yesterday’s tragic house fire in Potomac that has seriously injured an 85 year old man, I thought it prudent to pass along some pertinent safety tips.

If you smoke or know someone who does, it is well worth your time to review some of the links I have provided below. Smoking related fires can be prevented.

Smoking and Fire Safety
 
Smoking & Home Fires Campaign
 
Fight Fire with Facts: Careless Smoking


Stay Safe,

Bill