A Marysville Fire District aid car driven by a firefighter struck and killed a pedestrian as it returned from a trip to the hospital. The Seattle Times reports a 55-year-old man from Bellingham was killed early Saturday morning on Highway 529 on the bridge over Steamboat Slough. The man's name was not immediately released.
- PUB DATE: 7/28/2019 10:48:54 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Four separate fires in the Cheney area, which were sparked by lightning on the night of Tuesday, July 23, were fully contained Sunday morning. Because of their close proximity, the fires were labeled the Cheney Complex Fire. It was estimated the four fires burned a combined total of 171 acres, or about a quarter mile.
- PUB DATE: 7/28/2019 10:45:07 AM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4

A man suffered serious burns after a garage goes up in flames at a Kennewick home. Kennewick firefighters responded at 12:15 a.m. on Underwood Street near 27th Avenue and Vancouver Street to a garage up in flames. When they arrived, a man was outside the home with third-degree burns. According to Capt.
- PUB DATE: 7/28/2019 9:50:20 AM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

Firefighters battled a blaze Friday night off Highway 12 in Yakima that threatened Washington Fruit and Produce Company fruit bins and a nearby home. Several fire agencies responded just before 9 p.m. to reports of a fire near the Yakima Greenway, westbound on the highway near the 16th Avenue exit. Arriving firefighters found that the fire was actually located near the eastbound lanes on the other side of the highway, according to Yakima Fire Shift Commander Tom Schneider.
- PUB DATE: 7/27/2019 1:52:15 AM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

TargetSolutions, a Vector Solutions brand offering the leading EMS and Fire Department training, asset management, and workforce scheduling software, is excited to present its latest innovation for tracking controlled substances during Fire-Rescue International (FRI) in Atlanta. 

In compliance with DEA guidelines, TargetSolutions is releasing an all-new upgrade inside the TargetSolutions Check It™ application for managing Schedule II Controlled Substances. The mobile-friendly feature allows agencies to document all movements of controlled substances securely. From the moment a controlled substance is acquired, to when it is administered or wasted, it can now be tracked. 

“With the current climate in the United States surrounding opioids, EMS and Fire Service organizations must ensure the controlled substances we are entrusted with are managed with the utmost care and accuracy,” said Joseph Santiago, who holds credentials ranging from an MBA in Healthcare to Ambulance and Healthcare Compliance and serves as a subject matter expert for TargetSolutions. 

“If you are relying on dated paper logs and luck to ensure you are compliant with DEA and state regulations, you have your answer in TargetSolutions’ Controlled Substances tracking system. With automated notifications, threshold reminders, and many additional safety nets, your organization’s controlled substances system becomes more secure, more reliable, and more compliant.”

With this new module in TargetSolutions Check It™, which will be available for free demonstrations at booth No. 3425 during FRI, all activities surrounding controlled substances are automatically tracked in one, password-protected online location. Designed for maintaining compliance with DEA standards, the Audit Log records crucial data related to controlled substances.  

"The launch of our Controlled Substance Tracking functionality continues to round out the product’s capabilities and sets it apart as the single solution for all the operational procedures crews perform when they start a shift,” said Alex Montgomery, who serves as general manager for TargetSolutions Check It™.

For more accurate records, a built-in barcode scanner in the mobile application allows personnel to capture usage or other updates closer to when they occur. By scanning the barcode on a drug box item, the controlled substance is instantly pulled up in the system and can be edited appropriately. 

“Two-step authorization and technology-reinforced security measures ensure accountability in performing drug box counts,” said Montgomery. “Employee pin numbers, eSignatures, and facial recognition tools verify personnel responsible for every movement of controlled substances.”

Escalation policies ensure counts are being performed with auto-generated reminders for personnel. In the case of possible discrepancy, supervisors and affected staff are automatically notified via in-platform notifications, emails, or text message alerts. 

To watch a live demonstration of these functionalities inside the  TargetSolutions Check It™ application, or to request a one-on-one demo, please visit booth No. 3425 during FRI 2019.