Cobb County Fire Department Explorer Post 33 Ride Along Program Guidelines Section 1-3

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1 1. PURPOSE- The purpose of Cobb County Fire Explorer Post 33 is to provide a comprehensive training, competition, service, practical, and recreational experience to young adults interested in a career in fire services or a related field. Toward that end, the objectives of the Ride- Along Program are to offer qualified Explorers the opportunity to accompany a fire fighter to observe and gain practical experience with regard to the methods and techniques used in fire operations and related services. This program also provides Explorers with valuable knowledge of the challenges and benefits of fire operations and a better understanding of the importance of fire service within the Cobb County. 2. SCOPE All Cobb County Fire and Emergency Service employees and Cobb County Fire Explorer in Post # ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISKS AND EXPLORER ACCEPTANCE OF LIABILITY - The Cobb County Fire Department recognizes the potential risks to participants involved with Post #33 activities, to include personal injury and/or inadvertent involvement with dangerous situations. All Cobb County personnel, or approved volunteers, involved with Post #33 will make every effort to minimize the risk to Explorers through training, supervision, adherence to policy and standard operating procedures, and proactive risk management. As a condition of acceptance into Post #33, the parents or legal guardian of every Explorer, or the Explorer if of legal age to do so, must sign a hold harmless and release form acknowledging he/she has been advised of the risks potential and waive any right to initiate a legal cause of action against the County of Cobb, the Cobb County Fire Department, and Learning for Life/Fire Services Exploring, or any of their representatives. 4. PROOF OF INSURANCE COVERAGE Prior to participation in the program, proof of insurance coverage must be provided to the Cobb County Fire Department demonstrating that the Explorer will be covered while participating in all Ride- Along Program activities. If the Explorer is not covered by any personal insurance plans, they will be covered under Learning For Life s supplemental policy. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT- Prior to participation in the program, the parents or legal guardian of every Explorer in Post #33, or the Explorer if of legal age to do so, must sign a medical release form authorizing Cobb Fire Department representatives to approve emergency medical treatment. Page 1

2 6. LEARNING FOR LIFE / FIRE SERVICES EXPLORING POLICIES - The polices and standard operating procedures for Cobb County Fire Department Post #33 shall remain consistent with current policies established by Learning for Life/Fire Services Exploring with respect to Explorers driving fire vehicles, fire activities, blood borne pathogens, Hepatitis B vaccination declinations, or any future policies pertaining to Fire Department Exploring. 7. PARTICIPATION LIMITATIONS- Explorers under 16 years of age are not authorized to participate in the Ride- Along Program. In order to ensure that Explorers partake in all activities of the Post, and to provide an equal opportunity for all members, Explorers will be limited to participating in the Ride- Along Program based on the number of hours expended on other Post activities. Upon accruing eight hours of time involved in Post meetings, training, competition or other approved activities, an Explorer can spend an equal amount of time participating in the Ride- Along Program. The Post Advisor, or his/her designee, can make an exception to this policy as needed. a) Other requirements are as follows; i) Age of 16 years or older; ii) Current on Post dues; iii) Member of the Post for at least 6 months; iv) Explorer is currently not on probation, under investigation, or under subject to any disciplinary procedures; and v) Explorer must maintain a C (2.0 GPA) overall grade average in the school he/she attends. 8. TRAINING a) Prerequisites for Explorers: As a prerequisite for participating in the Ride- Along Program, an Explorer must meet the following; i) Must attend at least 75%of the Post s activities each quarter to take CCFES gear home. (Section 1-1,6) ii) Must attend at least 75% of Post s activities each quarter to be considered for the Ride- Along Program. (Section 1-1,6) iii) Must be alcohol, tobacco and drug free. (Section 1-1,6) iv) Must abide by all Explorer policies, guidelines, procedures, memos and code of conduct rules. (Section 1-1,6) Page 2

3 b) Specialized Training for Explorers: Prior to being designated as qualified for the Ride- Along Program, it is recommended that the Explorers will receive specialized training in methods and techniques used in fire service and related services, traffic control, radio procedures, basic first aid/cpr, and Infection Control classes. c) The youth protection issues: This portion of the training will emphasize assertive and practical ways in which an Explorer can prevent and stop inappropriate behavior on the part of adults or other Explorers. d) Explorers will also have all PPE inspected and inventoried prior to being allowed to ride along. e) Advisors: To be considered for the program, a Fire Advisor must have completed his/her Learning for Life certificate, be at least an associate advisor level, and be in good standing with no pending disciplinary actions or other adverse matters. Cobb County Fire Department personnel at the approved for participation in the Ride- Along Program must undergo an orientation that includes an overview of Fire Services Exploring, agency policy and standard operating procedures for Officers and Explorers, and youth protection issues. 9. UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT a) Uniform: Explorers will report for a Ride- Along and will be well groomed in a clean uniform according to the Code of Conduct and Uniform/Dress and Grooming guidelines (unless otherwise notified). Explorers should have other uniform items as dictated by weather or other factors (i.e. turnout pants, coat, boots, gloves, hood, etc.) along with a reflective vest or other approved reflective clothing item to be used when in engaged in traffic control functions. b) Authorized Equipment: Explorers will have with them on every Ride- Along a notepad, pen and pencil, flashlight and full PPE (turnout pants, coat, boots, gloves, hood, etc.) Page 3

4 c) Prohibited Equipment: Explorers shall not bring firearms or weapons of any kind onto County property or during any CCFES Explorer event. The definition of weapon for the purposes of this section includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, or any other knife having a blade of three or more inches, straight- edge razor, spring stick, metal knuckle, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon- type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chucks, nunchaku, shuriken, or nu chucks. 10. PROCEDURES FOR THIRD RIDES a) Reporting for a Ride- Along: Explorers will report for their Ride- Along at least 15 minutes before their scheduled time in their complete uniforms and with the required equipment. Explorers must not have any prohibited equipment as defined in Section 8(c) of this policy. b) Ride Along Boxes: A Ride Along Box will be given to the Explorer prior to their Ride Along. The box will include two evaluations, the Ride Along policy, Departmental Pony, safety glasses, and a safety vest for the Explorer. The Explorer and the supervising Advisor will fill out their respective evaluations prior to the end of the 3rd Ride. The Advisor shall mail the forms to the Lead Advisor in the Departmental Pony supplied. c) Unacceptable Behavior on Ride- Along: use of tobacco products; use of any electronic device such as a cell phone, camera or other digital recording device, personal digital assistant, music device or game; or any other behavior that would distract the advisor or interfere with the objectives of the Ride- Along Program. (Refer to the Code of Conduct.)The only exception to this policy is the use of a cell phone, or other communication device, in an emergency situation. d) Prohibited Actions: Due to potential legal issues with federal and state statutes regulating criminal law and procedure, civil law, and privacy and confidentiality concerns, Explorers are not permitted to participate in interviews, interrogations, the handling or processing of evidence. Further, Explorers are forbidden from responding to any opinion or judgment questions posed to them by the public. Conversations with citizens will be limited to comments made necessary by direct inquiry and do not require an Page 4

5 opinion or judgment, unless otherwise directed by the supervising advisor. If avoidable, Explorers should not be placed in situations where they may be called as a witness in a criminal or civil proceeding. e) Supervision of Explorer: At all times during a Ride- Along the Explorer will adhere to the commands and direction given to him/her by the supervising advisor or, in the supervising advisor s absence or incapacity, any other fire officer. The Explorer shall remain in the fire vehicle, as an observer during a Ride- Along if the Advisor believes the incident is inappropriate to the Explorer. f) Permissible Activities on Ride- Along: Explorers, as directed by the supervising advisor, may assist with EMS, basic fire suppression activities described in the Ride Along task book, completion of incident report forms or any other activity that is considered by the supervising advisor to be routine and low risk for the Explorer. g) Prohibited Activities on Ride- Along: Explorers are prohibited from participating in Immediate Death and Life Hazard situations. Should, during the course of a Ride- Along, the supervising advisor have enough advance notice of a high risk or legally precarious call as it relates to the Explorer, he/she will advise the Explorer to remain inside the fire apparatus, in a safe location, or make arrangements for the Explorer to be transported to a safe location. h) Spontaneous Emergency on Ride- Along: Fire operations and calls for service often involve spontaneous situations that require an aggressive and risk inherent response, or just as likely a routine call for service escalates into a situation requiring the same type of response. In that it is not possible to foresee every possible contingency for Explorers participating in the Ride- Along program, the supervising fire advisor responsible for the Explorer must, based upon the circumstances presented, use his/her best professional judgment with respect to the safety and security of the Explorer. As a general rule, if the supervising officer/advisor is confronted with such a situation and able, he/she should make arrangements for another fire officer or law enforcement officer to transport the Explorer to the fire station or other safe location. In some situations, it may be safer for the Explorer to remain in the fire vehicle. In the event the supervising advisor is in need of emergency assistance, the Explorer will contact the fire dispatch center by fire radio or cell phone and relate as clearly as possible the location and situation. If the Page 5

6 Explorer s safety is in jeopardy, and he/she can be of no further assistance to the supervising advisor or other fire personnel, the Explorer should remove himself/herself from the immediate area. Subsequent to the spontaneous emergency, the supervising officer/advisor must prepare a written report detailing the spontaneous emergency and the actions of the supervising advisor and Explorer. This report must be prepared as soon as possible after the spontaneous emergency, but no later than 24 hours after the incident, and submitted to the Battalion Chief, Chair of the Explorers and to the Post Lead Advisor. i) Injuries/potential legal situations: The supervising officer/advisor, or any other Cobb County personnel or volunteer involved with Post #33, must report to the Shift Battalion Chief, Chair of the Explorers, and Post Lead Advisor any injury that occurs to an Explorer, or any situation that may have legal consequences, arising from the Explorer s participation in a Ride- Along or any other Post #33 activity. This report must be made as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the injury or incident. j) Infractions of Policy: The supervising officer/advisor shall immediately terminate the Ride- Along for any infraction of this policy. Infractions of this policy, or any other Cobb County policy and procedure, by an Explorer must be reported to the Post Lead Advisor as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the incident(s) so appropriate follow- up and/or disciplinary action can be initiated. Page 6