EMT Skills Refresher

📅 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 📍 Room 217
👨‍🏫 Presented by: MFRI

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Teaching Professional Writing for Emergency Services Instructors

📅 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 216
👨‍🏫 Presented by: MFRI

This professional development session is designed to equip Fire and EMS instructors with the essential tools and strategies needed to teach high-level professional writing. Participants will be introduced to the new Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) Style Guide, establishing a standardized framework for documentation, reports, and academic writing across the institution. The course will delve into actionable instructional techniques, demonstrating how to break down complex writing mechanics into digestible lessons for first responders.

Additionally, instructors will explore effective assessment strategies and rubric use to ensure objective, consistent grading of student writing assignments. By the conclusion of this session, educators will leave with the confidence and resources necessary to elevate the communication skills of their students, ultimately enhancing professionalism throughout the Maryland Emergency Services Community.

MFRI: Teaching Professional Writing for Emergency Services Instructors

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Strategies for Managing Neurodiversity in the Emergency Services Classroom

📅 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | 📍 Room 216
👨‍🏫 Presented by: MFRI

This professional development workshop is designed to introduce Fire and EMS instructors to the vital concept of neurodiversity and its impact on the emergency services learning environment. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of neurodivergent traits—such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia—shifting the perspective from deficit to unique cognitive strength. The session will deliver practical, actionable instructional strategies tailored specifically to the high-stakes, hands-on nature of Fire and EMS training.

Instructors will learn how to adapt their teaching methodologies, modify classroom delivery, and implement inclusive techniques that support diverse learning styles without compromising rigorous safety standards. Finally, the workshop will provide a comprehensive toolkit of available resources and support systems that educators can readily access to foster student success. By equipping instructors with these essential tools, this session aims to maximize the potential of every student and enhance overall retention within the emergency services.

MFRI: Course Name: Strategies for Managing Neurodiversity in the Emergency Services Classroom

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Culture in The Firehouse

📅 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 201
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Doug DeBest; Senior Fire Instructor, St. Joseph Township FD , Michigan

This presentation will:

• Illustrate the culture of brother/sister-hood between members of the department; through a caring atmosphere.
• Demonstrate ways of facilitating a welcoming environment within the Firehouse for new members to come in and join the team.
• Formulate the value of member retention efforts, and how to develop a roadmap to follow throughout the year in relation to providing recognition to your members.
• Evaluate the different methods of showing the Department’s appreciation to its members for the service to the Community

Course Outline:

• This presentation is primarily through lecture, with the aid of PowerPoints slides and student discussion / interaction.
• Throughout the course, the facilitator will cover the course objectives and discuss each of them in depth, providing examples on different ways that local fire department can implement these best practices to improve the culture within their fire department.
• The course will finish with an open discussion lead by the facilitator, to let student share what their fire departments have tried with success or things that they tried but need to be adjusted to meet the outcomes that they desired.

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The Science of Crashes - An Engineering Perspective for 1st Responders

📅 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 202
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Dr. Janet Bahouth; Director, Crash Center for Research and Education

Understanding the mechanism of injury is key to assessing its severity and guiding early management of the injury. Sharing an engineer’s perspective of car and occupant crash mechanics will strengthen on-scene decision making and improve patient care.

This new program delivers specialized training for emergency medical personnel and law enforcement, providing first responders with critical engineering insights drawn from real crash scenarios. These insights support informed crash severity assessments, enhance triage decisions, and improve the quality of data collected at the scene. This training gives first responders an enhanced knowledge base and a deeper understanding of car crash safety, empowering them to influence future outreach and interventions and is designed for Fire and Rescue personnel and Emergency Medical Technicians looking to knowmore about the crash scenes they work and how it can enhance game-time decisions and patient care. The presentation includes the following:

• Whole Scene Observations • Improve Data = Improve Triage = Improve Data • What We Want to Know En Route • 1 Crash = 3 Impacts • Consequences of Occupant Movement During the Crash • Airbag availability
• Seat belt use evidence and dependent outcomes • Load paths and their significance • Case reviews • Injury patterns • Transferring Whole Scene knowledge

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Getting the Wet Stuff to the Red Stuff - Water Supply - The Forgotten Basic Need

📅 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 203
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Steven Barry; MSFA Water Supply Resource Chair: Baltimore County FD (Ret.)

This seminar will focus on the importance of water supply in the modern fireground, and discuss why it is important to every officer, at every level to know more than just the basics. Fires today, burn hotter and faster than fires of decades past, and need to have good, sustainable water supply established, sooner rather than later. It will discuss the needs of water supply in both hydrant and non-hydrant areas and discuss briefly some of the tactics necessary in both areas.

This seminar will also discuss the very real, yet often ignored, need for training on water supply, competence in water supply, and the consequences and liability of failing to obtain the training and failing to be at least minimally competent in being the Water Supply Officer on today's fireground.

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Leading While Carrying: Supporting Others Without Losing Yourself

📅 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 204
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Terence Sheehy; Operations Deputy Chief - Dare County EMS

In emergency services, leadership often means carrying the emotional and operational weight of the organization while still managing your own. “Leading While Carrying” takes a candid look at the hidden burdens of leadership — the late-night stress, the emotional exhaustion, the responsibility of taking care of your people — and provides practical strategies to do so without burning out. Participants will explore the difference between healthy leadership and unhealthy emotional absorption, the difference between delegation and dumping, and how setting boundaries can actually build respect, resilience, and stronger teams. Through guided reflection, relatable leadership scenarios, and field-tested techniques, this session provides leaders with immediately usable tools to stay centered and effective. We also explore the psychological realities of leadership in high-stakes environments — how accumulated stress impacts communication, decision-making, morale, and personal relationships. Participants will learn how to model emotional health, accountability, and preparedness, creating an environment where their people feel supported rather than carried. Objectives; -Recognize the dual burden of leadership and how cumulative stress impacts decision-making. -Establish and model healthy personal and professional boundaries to prevent burnout. -Implement practical tools for leadership sustainability including intentional time management, emotional regulation, and reflective practices. -Promote a culture of accountability, preparation, and psychological safety.

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Tactical EMS: Realities, Myths, and Common Missteps

📅 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 205
👨‍🏫 Presented by: John Gomez; Founder of Black Flag EMS and Group Espada

Tactical Medicine in the civilian EMS world is often misunderstood, inconsistently implemented, and frequently misaligned with operational reality. While interest in Tactical EMS continues to grow, many programs fail to deliver meaningful capability due to unrealistic expectations, insufficient integration, and fundamental misunderstandings of risk, readiness, and role definition. This course examines Tactical EMS without hype or bravado, focusing instead on what actually works—and what commonly fails—in real-world civilian operations. Participants will explore how training, fitness, call volume, leadership, and medical oversight intersect to determine whether a Tactical EMS program enhances safety or simply adds complexity and risk. Emphasis is placed on aligning mission, capability, and resources rather than chasing credentials or appearances.

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Stop the Bleed Certification Course

📅 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 📍 Room 207
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Rachel Cockerham, Community Health Specialist -Shock Trauma Center

Stop the Bleed® is a course developed by the College of American Surgeons and has taught over 4 million people how to stop life threatening bleeding due to severe injury. The UM R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center has a mission for all Marylanders to know these lifesaving steps and be able to act when the time comes.

This dynamic and interactive class will provide participants with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage severe bleeding in emergency situations. We will discuss the importance of quickly assessing the scene and then mitigating life threats, bleeding injuries, to save someone’s life. Participants will leave with a certification in Stop the Bleed and key knowledge in basic bleeding control skills.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Recognize life-threatening bleeding: Learn to identify what life-threatening bleeding looks like and follow the steps to stop it.
• Apply direct pressure: Master the proper technique for applying direct pressure to control bleeding.
• Pack Wounds: Understand the reason this step is so important and how to pack in the difficult to reach areas of the body.
• Use of tourniquets: Learn how to effectively apply ad use tourniquets to stop severe bleeding on yourself and others when appropriately indicated.
• Discuss Shock Trauma’s role in training all the citizens of Maryland and how we are accomplishing this initiative through public classes and the public-school

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Protecting Remote Properties and Developments

📅 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Room 201
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Chief Allen Baldwin, Director - York County Department of Fire & Life Safety

A look at the need to preplan and prepare for responses to remote properties and developments by identifying and defining what you have in your first due, as well as the unique features, needs, challenges, and solutions to overcome them. Water Supply, access, emergency planning and evacuation, CERT Team use, out-of-the-box response ideas. Setting your department and community up for success. Everything from remote single-family homes to remote neighborhoods, limited-access areas, waterfront, mountain, and forested developments will be examined, focusing on existing, new, and planned developments.

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You Can Read Smoke but Can You Read Your People?

📅 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Room 202
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Zach Mathews; Planning Section Chief - Indiana Fire & Public Safety Academy

Effective fire service leadership demands more than technical skill. It requires the ability to read people as proficiently as you read smoke. This session arms frontline firefighters, chief and company officers with advanced communication and situational awareness techniques, distilled from over twenty years of investigative and interrogation experience in high-stakes environments.

Attendees will master the art of interpreting nonverbal, paraverbal, and verbal cues—gaining the ability to read the needs, emotions, and intentions of both their teams and the public. You’ll learn to build rapid rapport, defuse conflict, and recognize early indicators of aggression or concealed threats, empowering you to lead with empathy and authority even under extreme pressure.

Whether on the fireground or in daily interactions, these field-tested skills specifically tailored for the fire service will elevate your command presence, foster team cohesion, and enhance operational effectiveness.

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Grant Strategies for Success

📅 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Room 203
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Kait Meeker, Illinois Firefighters Association; NVFC Instructor

Discover a wide range of cost-effective resources developed to support volunteer fire departments in the identification, application, and successful acquisition of grants from private organizations, corporations, and foundations that they can utilize immediately. Explore innovative strategies to distinguish their department from grant competitors, drawing upon personal anecdotes, challenges, and triumphs, to increase funding success in an AI world. Develop a structured, beginner friendly, process for effectively obtaining, organizing, and presenting frequently requested grantee information in a compelling, concise, and engaging manner. Section 1: Resource Acquisition and Grant Application This section of the presentation focuses on equipping departments with the knowledge and tools to identify and effectively utilize these resources. This includes exploring various online databases specifically designed to list private, corporate, and foundation grant opportunities. Participants will learn how to navigate these platforms, filter for relevant grants, and understand the different types of funding available from diverse sources. We will cover accessing free educational materials, webinars, and workshops dedicated to supporting emergency services. Departments will be able to locate suitable grant programs and confidently initiate the application process, ensuring they are well-prepared to secure the necessary financial support for their critical operations. Section 2: Innovative Strategies for Department Differentiation This section delves into innovative strategies to help departments articulate their unique value and impact. We will emphasize the power of storytelling, guiding participants to craft compelling narratives that highlight their department's journey, including both the challenges overcome and the successes achieved. By sharing personal examples, struggles, and triumphs, departments can create a more authentic and memorable impression on grant committees. Section 3: Crafting Compelling Grantee Information This section focuses on developing a robust framework for consistently delivering frequently requested details in a manner that is compelling, specific, and engaging. Participants will learn to identify the common data points and narrative elements that grantors typically require, such as mission statements, organizational history, financial summaries, project descriptions, and evaluation metrics. Attendees will then learn to structure this information logically and clearly, using language that is both professional and accessible. Emphasis will be placed on transforming raw data into a compelling story that showcases the department's professionalism, impact, and commitment.

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RSI for the Non- RSI Provider

📅 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Room 204
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Julia Apgar, EMS Training Lieutenant, Annapolis Fire Department

RSI for the Non-RSI Provider is a lecture and practical designed program designed to help EMS clinicians understand their critical role in supporting Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) even when they are not the designated RSI provider. This course breaks down the RSI process, clarifies the responsibilities of each team member, and emphasizes crew resource management to improve first-pass intubation success. Participants will learn essential equipment setup, operational workflow, adult and pediatric checklist use, and task-driven action cards that support airway preparation and patient stabilization. Through structured guidance and standardized approaches, providers gain confidence, reduce on-scene stress, and enhance overall airway management performance within their team

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Building Our Future - Energizing Growth

📅 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Room 205
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Rob Muller; President, Cecil County Firefighters Association

The future is at stake, the time is now to establish a vision for the future and leveraging the tools we have available to engage, grow and build for a sustainable future to serve our communities. This session connects principles of leadership with resources available to connect, network, engage, and grow to meet the needs of our communities. We will discuss best practices and local examples within the state that have shown success that may connect you and inspire your team as you look forward.

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Pediatric EMS & ED Simulations: Skills and Scenarios with Children

📅 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Room 206
👨‍🏫 Presented by: Doug Walters, EMS Nurse Liaison (Base Station Coordinator & EMS Outreach specialist) at Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional

Children represent 25% of the population in Maryland and only 8 % of the EMS Transports. When children are sick or injured, everyone’s anxiety increases – but it does not have to be that way. Through simulated cases, EMS clinicians have the opportunity to practice their pediatric assessment and medical intervention skills. These scenarios are designed for the EMS team to have “hands on” learning in a safe and educational environment. Faculty from the Lower Shore EMS & EDs will present cases based upon what really happens day and night when children explore, play and learn. Through Debriefs, participants and faculty will highlight what when right, what could have gone differently, and how to apply this knowledge on your next “pediatric call”. Objectives: -To complete an age-appropriate patient assessment in a simulated case scenario -To recognize life threating conditions when presented with a medical or trauma pediatric emergency --To demonstrate primary and secondary survey within a simulated case scenario -Identify the appropriate mode of transport, equipment needed to secure the child, and most appropriate ED destination within a simulated case scenario (location, weather, resources) -To provide 60 second hand-off report to ED professionals as part of a simulated case scenario

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