County staff reviewed seven risk-control recommendations from VFIS at an emergency services meeting and urged volunteer fire and rescue agencies to adopt measures aimed at reducing hazards and keeping insurance premiums low.

Michael, a county staff member who presented the VFIS recommendations, summarized the measures as annual driver training (comparable to the classroom portion of an Emergency Vehicle Operator Course), development of agency-specific standard operating procedures for privately owned vehicle response, enhanced written emergency-vehicle response safety guidelines, medical evaluations for drivers aligned with NFPA 1582, securement of hose, blades and loose equipment, and posting vehicle height and weight for driver awareness.

Michael said VFIS recommended annual classroom driver training and that some online training is available through VFIS University for self-paced refresher work. He and other staff described options including local classroom refreshers, staged competency checks, or full EVOC-style sessions at the county training center or at individual stations.

On the recommendation for medical evaluations, presenters said that NFPA 1582 (the NFPA standard on member physicals) was a reference point; staff acknowledged that implementing medical evaluations for volunteer or part-time drivers would be challenging and described the standard as a possible model rather than a mandatory county regulation.

Two other recommendations that staff said would be easier to implement were improved securement of equipment on apparatus and posting vehicle height and weight information where drivers can see it. Staff offered to assist stations with simple installations or signage to address those items.

The presenters noted it has been three years since the VFIS recommendations were issued and said they will distribute the detailed recommendation packet to departments. Michael asked departments to provide feedback so the county can report back to VFIS on progress.

Staff also flagged a state seat-belt law change that they said takes effect July 1 and will require every passenger in a vehicle to wear a seat belt; the presenters said the law does not currently include an explicit exemption for emergency vehicles and that the county attorney is reviewing possible approaches. Staff described possible liability if an occupant is unbelted during an emergency response and said they will encourage responders to use seat belts when operationally feasible.

During the same update, staff reported two operational items relevant to agencies: the Western Virginia EMS Council’s distribution pharmacy is now live and can be used to purchase medications (contact Chris Christiansen to enroll), and two EMT classes are scheduled this fall with registration windows described at the meeting. Staff also said the county posted an RFP for a comprehensive fire-rescue study on June 16 and encouraged consultants to submit proposals.

Staff closed by offering support for implementing the VFIS suggestions and inviting departments to contact county staff with questions or to schedule training.