On this episode we are joined by Brent Lewis, with Correll Insurance, Inc. Brent is the Regional Sales Director and Producer for VFIS of South Carolina. He helps us explore the role of service animals in emergency services to include roles, certifications, training, deployment and what legal protections are in place through the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Brent also shares a personal and amazing journey with " Maggie ", his own service animal!

A lack of understanding, limited communication, and stereotypes are just a few of the reasons that 911/communication center personnel and field first responders, like firefighters and EMS personnel, may have some animosity towards one another.

However, breaking down barriers between your emergency service organizations and establishing better relationships may not only help improve your working relationships—but benefit your entire emergency response system as well.

In this episode, Chris Rodgers and Blair Tyndall, VFIS Industry Specialists, offer a few ideas help establish better "off air communications" and relationships within your response chain.

EMS teams are often asked to be on standby at events, like community gatherings and sporting activities, to provide assistance if a participant or spectator needs medical aid.

However, while these scenarios are common, they're not without risk to your organization.

For example, these events are often contacted on either a dedicated or non-dedicated basis, meaning you may or may not be obligated to leave the event to respond to 911 calls, which should drastically change your written agreement for the event to help protect your organization.

Join Chris Rodgers and David Bradley, VFIS Industry Specialists, as they discuss risks to be aware of and best practices to help protect your EMS agency during standby assignments.

The declining and aging volunteer firefighter base is a major concern for many fire departments and community leaders—especially in more rural areas and among smaller departments.

To help combat this challenge, many emergency service departments have implemented programs, like a cost-effective LOSAP plan, to help them recruit, retain, and reward volunteer firefighters based on their longevity of service.

VFIS is proud to be the leader of LOSAPs in emergency services nationwide and to serve as a trusted resource to LOSAP clients to help them better understand and utilize their benefits.

That's why Chris Rodgers, VFIS Industry Specialist, and Sarah M. Talerico, VFIS LOSAP Client Relationship Manager, sat down to share some best practices to help you properly maintain your LOSAP, including important paperwork and information to keep updated.

A vehicle or apparatus crash will typically cost your emergency service organization more now than ever, with year-after-year claim costs continuing to rise.

From inflation, rising replacement costs, and increasing labor costs—there are many factors at play when it comes to insurance rates and premium being at an all-time high.

However, there are things that you can do to help your ESO manage the cost of risk.

In this episode, Chris Rodgers, VFIS Industry Specialist, and Scott Harkins, Senior Vice President of Risk Control for VFIS and Glatfelter Insurance Group, take a deep dive into what "cost of risk" means, how to better manage it, and the landscape of insurance in the emergency services industry.

75 years of caring for the caretakers

Captain Randy Gates is a first responder, breathwork facilitator, wellness educator, and founder of Breath of Fire—but he didn't always understand the connection between mental and physical health.

In Part 2 of our Nevada Peer Support Program deep dive, Chris Rodgers, VFIS Industry Specialist, and Captain Gates discuss what led him to emergency services, when he started to realize the importance of mental health, and how he utilizes and teaches breathwork as a proactive technique to both relax and energize the mind and body.

Learn how breathwork can support mental health and resilience in emergency services.

After losing a "top-notch firefighter from a top-notch family" to suicide, Derek Reid and his fire department didn't know where to turn for support.

This challenging time led to the creation of the revolutionary Nevada Peer Support Program, which seeks to smash mental health stigmas and provide support to first responders.

In this episode, Reid joins Chris Rodgers, VFIS Industry Specialist, to share how the program was developed, ways it's utilized, and tips for agencies to implement similar programs in their area.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our Nevada Peer Support Network deep-dive coming in two weeks!

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 VFIS 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 regulations and implemented technology to access drone data in real-time.