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5 Common ESO Risks Worth Noting - 100th Episode!

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Release Date: 04/01/2025

Innovative Ways to Use Drones to Aid Emergency Response & Help Reduce Risks show art Innovative Ways to Use Drones to Aid Emergency Response & Help Reduce Risks

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Drones have been a hot topic in emergency services for years. But, for some, it's still challenging to grasp how their capabilities outweigh the regulations and risks that come with them.  In this episode, Paul DiCicco, EMS Chief, and Dominick Boyd, Chief of Staff, of Lee County Public Safety Department join the  podcast along with Chris Rodgers, Industry Specialist, to discuss how they're utilizing drones in new and innovative ways to aid emergency response, help reduce risk to their members, and enhance their service to their community. Plus, learn about how they've addressed...

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Roadway Response: Protecting First Responders with Truck-Mounted Attenuators show art Roadway Response: Protecting First Responders with Truck-Mounted Attenuators

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Too many first responders are struck and injured or killed while working along the roadways each year—making it crucial for emergency service organizations to implement policies, procedures, and tools to help protect their crew. In this episode, Wesley Attwood, Senior Investigator for NIOSH’s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, and Chief Jordon Cramer, South Strabane Township Fire Department in Washington County, PA, join the podcast to discuss one risk mitigation tool for these incidents: truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs). Learn how these energy-absorbing cushions...

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Protecting Your Emergency Vehicles with Brush Guards show art Protecting Your Emergency Vehicles with Brush Guards

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Did you know that vehicles striking fixed objects, like buildings or poles, as well as animals, including deer, are some of the most common claims that VFIS clients face? Adam Kinsey, Employee Compliance and Training Manager for St. Johnsville Ambulance, joins the podcast to discuss how emergency service organizations can utilize brush guards on their vehicles to help mitigate extensive damage during these incidents and reduce downtime for their fleet.

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The Use of Whole Blood in EMS Care show art The Use of Whole Blood in EMS Care

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Does your EMS agency utilize whole blood for patients with severe blood loss? In this episode, EMS professionals from Sussex County EMS join VFIS podcast host Chris Rodgers to share how the use of whole blood, which includes red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, has been beneficial for their pre-hospital care protocols. Let’s dive into the concept of using whole blood, why it’s needed, and how to implement it in your emergency service organization.

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To-Do List for New Emergency Services Leaders show art To-Do List for New Emergency Services Leaders

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Every time your emergency service organization makes a leadership change, it’s essential that change is represented across all of your organization’s channels and entities. Members of our VFIS Risk Control and Education team joined the podcast for a roundtable discussion on the importance of previous leaders making a clean-break, best practices for leadership transitions, and tasks that new leaders should consider making a priority.        

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Utilizing Blocking Vehicles Along Roadways show art Utilizing Blocking Vehicles Along Roadways

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Emergency services personnel and their vehicles are increasingly being struck by fellow motorists while responding to emergencies along roadways, resulting in significant damage, injuries, and even death. In this episode, we sat down with Fire Chief Dr. Hervy Kornegay of Belfast Volunteer Fire Department in Wayne County, NC to discuss how his department is utilizing an attenuator-equipped vehicle to help battle this issue and better protect their team.

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Citizens Fire Academy: A Community Engagement Tool show art Citizens Fire Academy: A Community Engagement Tool

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Is your fire department looking for new or better ways to engage with your community? Chris Rodgers, Industry Specialist with , sat down with Fire Chief Dan Hoff from York Area United Fire & Rescue (“YAUFR”) to learn about their Citizens Fire Academy—which could serve as a great inspiration for your team! This program gives adults a hands-on, behind-the-scenes view into what firefighters and EMS personnel do and face every day—plus, serves as a great tool for community risk reduction, volunteer recruitment, and community engagement in the process.

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Underwriting Junior Member Programs show art Underwriting Junior Member Programs

Don't Risk It! Podcast

Junior Member Program Liability can be a large exposure for an Emergency Service Organization. In this episode, Rachel Breen and Greg Lidstrom of VFIS Underwriting and Dave Bradley of Client Risk Solutions discuss best practices for departments with a Junior Member Program.

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Modified Response show art Modified Response

Don't Risk It! Podcast

In this episode we discuss the concept of modified response in emergency services, what it means and how to integrate it into your operations.

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Freedom House Ambulance show art Freedom House Ambulance

Don't Risk It! Podcast

VFIS Education Specialist Nicole Dugan joins us to learn about Freedom House Ambulance—the first paramedic program in the US, which was fully-staffed by African Americans, and their notable impact on emergency services and beyond.  

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More Episodes

From ongoing driver training to fidelity practices, in our 100th episode, the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team shares the 5 most-common recommendations that we make during our on-site risk assessments of emergency service organizations (ESOs).

Join us next week for a very special celebration of our 100th episode anniversary, where we reflect on the journey of the Don’t Risk It! podcast so far.