Roadway Operations for Firefighters and EMTs
Friday, 10am-12pm
Saturday, 1pm-3pm
Every day, fire/rescue, EMS, law enforcement, tow operators, and highway safety personnel are at risk while responding to incidents along the nation’s roadways. Learn what actions you can take to protect yourself and your personnel during these incidents. Traffic Incident Management (TIM) principles should be incorporated into every department’s training requirements and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). A look at current regulations, standards, equipment, training, and best practices will help keep your people safe on the roadways.
Presented By: David Lewis, President of Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association
About David Lewis
David Lewis is an active member of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (Maryland), having served as a firefighter/EMT, Chief Officer, and Company President. He previously served as President of the Maryland State Firefighters Association and presently serves as Maryland Director to the National Volunteer Fire Council and as President of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association. David is a recognized leader in promoting first responder safety and wellness and has delivered training programs and conference presentations across the U.S. As an emergency services educator, Mr. Lewis is able to apply his own personal life experiences in an environment that shares with others and builds future leadership across the emergency services communities
About Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association
The Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association (CVVFA) was founded in 1902 following a successful meeting of fire chiefs from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia to improve fire protection along the Cumberland Valley Railroad. The organization has a rich history of promoting mutual aid, fire safety, and firefighter welfare, with early innovations like public fire safety education programs and a modest death benefit for members. It has also fostered a competitive spirit through conventions and parades, leading to advancements in firefighting skills and equipment. In recent years, the CVVFA has focused on nationwide safety initiatives, including the “Protecting Emergency Responders on the Highways” project, which aims to reduce injuries and save lives. Today, the CVVFA is a family-friendly non-profit with over 1,100 individual members, advocating for improvements that benefit both volunteer and career firefighters.
Missing Person: Fire Department Collaboration with SAR Teams
Friday, 10am-12pm
Middle Creek Search and Rescue is a non-profit team ready to help the community when someone is lost/missing. Should a department be searching for a lost person, knowledge and preplanning are essential.
Presented By: Susan Stauffer, President & Tony Heidreder, Chief of Middle Creek Search and Rescue (MIDSAR)
Founded in 1994, Middle Creek Search & Rescue (MIDSAR) is dedicated to providing outstanding search and rescue services to our community. MIDSAR members are trained in grid searching techniques, map and compass skills, crime scene awareness, and interviewing methods. Many members continue their training to include managing search operations, SKYWARN (severe weather spotters for the National Weather Service), and amatuer radio licensing. Some team members choose to specialize in land navagation, emergency communications, search management, or wilderness first aid. While others train and certify their K9 for search and rescue work. Members with horses participate on the equine team.
Middle Creek Search & Rescue
OSHA: Worker Safety and the Fire Service
Friday, 1pm-3pm
This session will provide an in-depth understanding of OSHA standards as they apply to fire department response and safety. Participants will learn about the importance of pre-incident planning, including risk assessments and site evaluations, to ensure the safety of first responders. The course will also explore how fire departments and OSHA can collaborate before an incident, ensuring that safety protocols are in place and compliance is maintained. After an incident, we will focus on how fire departments and OSHA interact in preserving the scene and ensuring safety during post-incident investigations. Finally, the class will cover OSHA’s recommended practices for developing comprehensive safety and health programs, emphasizing the role of ongoing training and risk management in fire department operations.
Presented By: OSHA
OSHA’s mission is to assure America’s workers have safe and healthful working conditions free from unlawful retaliation. OSHA carries out its mission by setting and enforcing standards; enforcing anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act and other federal whistleblower laws; providing and supporting training, outreach, education, and assistance; and working collaboratively with our state OSHA programs as well as ensuring that they are at least as effective as federal OSHA, furthering a national system of worker safety and health protections.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Digital Firewalls: Protecting the Department’s Online Presence
Friday, 1pm-3pm
One critical aspect of digital security is ensuring the department retains full access to accounts, even when a member leaves. Without proper ownership protocols, departments risk losing control of social media pages, website logins, domain ownership, and other essential digital assets. Implementing structured account management practices prevents disruptions and protects online presence.
Presented By: Megan Kalbach, Founder & CEO of K Marketing Co.
K Marketing Co. is a passionate team of designers, marketing experts, and support staff dedicated to helping small businesses and nonprofits reach their design and marketing goals. Our story began when Megan, motivated by the success of a fire company fundraiser she promoted, felt a calling to help other organizations during the pandemic. As a former Independent Mary Kay Pink Cadillac Sales Director, Megan shifted her focus to use her skills in new ways amid the challenges of the pandemic, finding fulfillment in supporting others.
Megan Kalbach, Founder and CEO
Landing Zone Class
Saturday, 10am-12pm
Penn State Hershey Life Lion Critical Care Transport is hosting a landing zone safety course for Fire, EMS, and First Responder agencies. Members of the flight team will cover safe landing zone set-up requirements, landing zone officer responsibilities, communication with the aircraft, helicopter safety, and more.
Presented By: Frank Ceresini, Flight Paramedic Life Lion Critical Care
Life Lion offers 24/7 EMS and 911 response to numerous municipalities throughout Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, York, Lancaster and Berks counties.
Our team of more than 400 professionals includes paramedics, emergency medical technicians, nurses, physicians, pilots, dispatchers and mechanics who are highly trained to deliver lifesaving services — including advanced and basic life support — that we deliver to the community. Our team also prepares patients for the level of care they’ll need once they arrive at the hospital.
Penn State Hershey Life Lion Critical Care Transport
Recruitment & Retention—Do You Have the Big Picture?
Saturday, 10am-12pm
This presentation will provide an overview of a state level recruitment and retention program initiatives and how it influences local level programs through collaboration, best practices, and tools of the trade for planning, establishing a new program or transforming to refresh an existing program.
Presented By: Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner
Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the volunteer fire service in North America, and has the largest number of fire departments in the nation.
What We Do
The fire commissioner is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, and oversees:
• Development and operation of the commonwealth’s emergency service training program
• Low-interest loans awarded to volunteer fire and emergency services organizations
• Pennsylvania’s fire safety education program
• Comprehensive fire incident reporting system
Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner
Drones in Emergency Services
Saturday, 1pm-3pm
Informative training will cover Drone Pilot certification and training, FAA issues on COWAs (Certificate of Waiver or Authorization), VLOS (Visual Line of Site operations), Drone flight safety and drone missions – Civil vs Public operation regulations.
Presented By: Thomas Uff, President of Keystone Aerial Cam Ltd.
I am the Owner and Chief Pilot Instructor of Keystone Aerial Cam Ltd. My website is aerialanddroneservices.com. I have been in business since organizing in 2002. My company has been continuously insured by the same aircraft insurance entity since our beginning. I have owned/flown piston and turbine helicopters and sUAS of many shapes, sizes, and capabilities. My company’s safety culture follows and exceeds current FAA standards and is accepted by our clients and insurance carriers.
I currently train and consult with drone owners and pilot candidates. No pilot or pilot trainee remains operational without first following all accepted FAA Part 107 rules of safety, knowledge, certification, and skills. I am thoroughly familiar with these regulations as verified by my appointment as an FAA Safety Team Representative, serving as a Drone Pro.
I have several hundred hours of combined logged flight time (helicopter and drone). This does not include the years I spent flying drones (2002 to 2017) before operational time was actually logged. My PIC flights include over 3,200 separate inspection, search, overwatch, photographic, and training flights. Over the past 22+ years I have, and currently perform, routine project flights, as well as complex searches, and overwatch missions both outdoors and indoors. I have served as an Assistant Professor of Drone Flight at a Community College, Municipal Police Sergeant, Fire Department Deputy Chief, Municipal Utility Manager, and in several professional instructor positions. I am currently an FAA certificated 14 CFR, Part 107 Drone Pilot, as well as a Part 61 helicopter pilot. I currently instruct and oversee drone operations and train drone pilots that fly for industry, and for local governments and their special teams. The instruction is direct, hands on, training for flights in and through confined spaces, long sight distances, close to and inside structures, as well as night operations. In addition, I maintain certification as a sUAS level 1 Thermographer through ITC (trainers for FLIR equipment) to perform thermographic inspections of roofing, solar panels, fascia, ground disturbances, searches, etc.
Thomas Uff, Owner, Keystone Aerial Cam Ltd., FAA Drone Pro Representative
