|
Promoting and Teaching Safety
As written by Lou Bruneau, EMT-B
|
I received my initial EMT-1 training at Clackamas Community College
in 1984. In 1992 I took the EMT-B course at Portland Community College,
and have maintained continuous certification since then.
During my 30 year career as a Public Works Manger, 24 years of
which were with the City of Portland, I advocated First-Aid, First
Responder, and EMT training for public employees, at all levels.
In emergency and disaster situations, these are the people, who are
frequently among the first on scene.
|
 |
For ten years I worked on the development of a technical rescue
capability in Oregon. Initially, the focus was on a FEMA USAR Task
Force. The Task Force would have been a multi-jurisdiction Fire
and Public Works effort, bringing together resources from all over
Oregon. It was ultimately decided by the City of Portland, not to
continue the pursuit of a National Task Force, because of budget
limitations.
|
 |
We then redirected the City's effort into development of a
Heavy/Technical Rescue Team, a joint venture of the Portland Fire
and Maintenance Bureaus. The focus is now on a local team to serve
the needs of Portland and its mutual-aid partners. I facilitated
training in: basic rescue, hazmat, incident command, emergency
vehicle operation, and emergency medical care. The Maintenance
Bureau contingent of the Team has 20 EMTs and 10 certified First
Responders. I was the Course Director for the First Responder
training and managed continuing medical education for the Team.
I managed the design and construction of the confined space and
trench props at the Portland Fire Bureau Training Center. Even
though I retired in 2000, I still do consulting, training, and
teach part-time at Portland Community College.
|
|
I currently utilize my EMS training mostly as a volunteer. I
work with the Oregon Region of the Sports Car Club of America. I
have been Chief of Medical for the SCCA and am currently the
Assistance Chief of Medical. In this capacity, I work both amateur
and professional auto races, throughout the United States and
Canada, as either an emergency medical responder or as a firefighter.
|
 |
In 1994, after three years as Assistant Chief of Medical, I was
asked to take over the emergency medical function for the
organization. I recruited a Supervising Physician, obtained
approved of the Club as an Oregon EMS Agency, and trained certified
First Responders for the Emergency Crew. I also provided First-Aid
and CPR instruction for corner and pre-grid workers and pit and
paddock officials. I authored the Disaster Medical Plan, the
Post-Exposure to Blood Protocol, a set of job descriptions and other
procedures and protocols.
|
|
Also, I co-chaired the effort by Pacific Northwest Search and
Rescue to become an approved Oregon EMS Agency. I trained 30
members as certified First-Responders and have provided continuing
medical education for the unit. I was co-developer of standard
operating procedures and provide ongoing patient care quality
assurance reviews.
|
 |
I am also a member of Mountain Wave Communications, another type
of search and rescue unit. My current projects with them include,
obtaining approval as an Oregon EMS Agency and developing a series
of Memorandums of Understanding with the County Sheriff's we most
often support in searches and other emergency operations.
For eleven years, I was the Coaching Program Coordinator in
Oregon for USA Hockey. Each year I taught two clinics for youth
hockey coaches, adding first-aid and CPR to the sport specific
curriculum. I was responsible for the rule requiring that all youth
hockey coaches, in Oregon, be First-Aid and CPR trained.
|
 |
I am the Logistics Officer with the Oregon Disaster Medical Team
which also operates as Disaster Medical Assistance Team - OR2, when
activated as part of a Federal Disaster Response.
I have been actively involved in pre-EMS First-Aid and CPR
training, since 1981. I teach for Red Cross, American Heart and
Medic First-Aid. I teach Emergency Response (First Responder course)
for the Red Cross, as well as, all of their versions of First-Aid
and CPR. I am a BLS and AED Instructor for AHA. At the City of
Portland, prior to my retirement I was the Master Trainer in the
Medic First-Aid programs (Basic, CPR Plus, Advanced, Bloodborne
Pathogens and Automatic External Defibrillation). I also teach the
prehospital Trauma Life Support and Emergency Vehicle Operations
courses.
|
|
In addition to my emergency medical training, I have a Bachelor's
Degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Business
Administration from the University of Michigan. I have had the
following specific training in emergency response:
| • |
Technical Rescue: Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench
Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue;
|
| • |
HazMat: Awareness, Operations, Hazwopper Site Worker,
Hazwopper Supervisor, Incident Commander;
|
| • |
Weapons of Mass Destruction: Awareness, Operations, Incident
Commander, EMS Technician, EMS: Basic Trauma Life Support,
prehospital Trauma Life Support (Provider and Instructor),
Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (Instructor);
|
| • |
Incident Command System: Overview, Introduction, Logistics,
Planning, Operations, Command, and Command & General Staff.
|
|
 |
I saw a need to bring Emergency Medical training and skills to
non-traditional areas and set out to do something about it. Some
of the accomplishments, of which I am most proud, include:
| • |
EMTs and First Responders within Public Works;
|
| • |
the partnership formed between Public Works and the Fire
Service in Technical Rescue;
|
| • |
First-Aid and CPR training for Youth Hockey Coaches;
|
| • |
bringing EMTs and First Responders to Search and Rescue Teams;
|
| • |
and bringing First-Aid and CPR and First Responder qualified volunteers
to motor racing.
|
I enjoy doing unusual things, and projects which improves safety.
I am very pleased that I have been in a position to do these things.
Louis W. Bruneau, EMT-Basic
Oregon certified since 1984
|
|
