§ 5-441 — Fire and Emergency Medical Services education and training program; certification of firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.

(a) The Chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department shall design an education and training program that encompasses entry-level and in-service training and addresses issues such as skills with specialized equipment acquired to address special hazards, knowledge of new construction techniques, and emergency medicine skills for target audiences, such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, and very young. The education and training program shall be based upon the department’s mission and operational performance measures.

(b) The Fire Chief, in close coordination with the Medical Director, shall develop and implement a program of certification for firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.

(c) For fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, no officer or member of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department shall be detailed to Emergency Medical Technician classes for more than 60 days.

(d) The Fire Chief, in close coordination with the Medical Director, shall develop and provide for members of the Operations Division instruction on best practices for identifying and interacting with individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias, and the risks such individuals face, such as wandering and elder abuse. Such instruction may be inclusive of existing or planned curricula required by licensing or certificating bodies; provided, that the curriculum:

(1) Requires initial training to be completed after appointment that covers the following topics, including:

(A) Neurological, psychiatric, and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias;

(B) Communication issues, including how to communicate respectfully and effectively with individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias in order to determine the most appropriate response, and effective communication techniques to enhance collaboration with caregivers;

(C) Techniques for understanding and approaching behavioral symptoms and identifying alternatives to physical restraints;

(D) Identifying and reporting incidents of abuse, neglect, and exploitation to Adult Protective Services;

(E) Protocols for contacting caregivers when an individual living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias is found wandering or during emergency or crisis situations; and

(F) Local caregiving resources that are available for individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias; and

(2) Requires continuing education covering the subjects described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(e) The Fire Chief, in close coordination with the Medical Director, shall, in developing the curriculum described in subsection (d) of this section, coordinate with the Department of Health, the Department of Aging and Community Living, and the Office of the Attorney General.

Legislative History

Sept. 30, 2004, D.C. Law 15-194, § 202, 51 DCR 9406; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 17, 53 DCR 6198; Apr. 15, 2008, D.C. Law 17-147, § 5, 55 DCR 2558; Sept. 24, 2010, D.C. Law 18-223, § 3024, 57 DCR 6242; Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 3014, 58 DCR 6226; Sept. 20, 2012, D.C. Law 19-168, § 3024, 59 DCR 8025; Dec. 24, 2013, D.C. Law 20-61, § 3054, 60 DCR 12472