2018… Where have you gone?

I wish I could make a 2018 highlight reel for the TIM program. You know, the kind they have on TV that revisits the major events that defined our lives over the past 12 months--everything from elections to sporting events, natural disasters to Nobel Prize winners.

The reel would feature all of our moments of partnership, all of the successes and challenges we faced day to day, storm to storm and in our trainings. We would show the connections and relationships we built together this year.  It would show how you, our readers and partners, made a true difference through your actions.

It would be EPIC! (Or RAD as Jess would say!)

We would see examples of the trainings that shape our future, like Push Pull Drag and TIM Train the Trainer.

We would see videos of you on Facebook with your #MoveOver signs and National TIM Week messages, showing the public the importance of responder safety.

We would highlight the successes of our existing TIM Teams and the beginnings of new TIM Teams, illustrating how we shaped our response and operations all while building lasting relationships.

Your participation in the updated TIM Oregon material, the updated Train the Trainer, Alumni roll-out and OAR rewrite would all be at the forefront. Then we’d transition into the peer exchanges and conferences you’ve participated in: the TIM Team that traveled to Maryland and Kentucky. It would show how our program has become a national example (the good kind) of what a TIM program can be. And we couldn’t possibly forget to include our largest Oregon TIM conference to date, followed by a nationwide peer exchange.

The highlight reel would conclude with a thank you to all of you and a wish for a safe and prosperous New Year. Kudos to all of you for an amazing 2018 and cheers to 2019!

We made a photo album from the year. Check it out HERE!

Stay safe out there,

All in

Lieutenant Patrick Huskey is all in.

Seriously, we don’t think he sleeps. He’s constantly working on various programs with the Oregon State Police which includes collaborating with ODOT and our TIM program.

Huskey has a way of making time for everyone and everything, and he’s on top of it all. Somehow he remembers all of the details and although he has little time for preparation, he’s always prepared. And when it comes time for Huskey to share his thoughts on something, we’re all ears, which is why we are so pleased he agreed to be our spotlight this month!

What do you like about being a leader within the TIM program? What makes you stay with the program?

HUSKEY: I enjoy being a leader within the TIM program. It brings all the first responder disciplines together to better understand what each of us brings to an incident. While we all have different specialties and assignments on scene, we have a common goal of going home at the end of our shift. To explain what a law enforcement officer is thinking about en route to an incident to a group of non-law enforcement personnel is both amazing and consequential. In turn I have learned so much from our responder partners as they share their needs and capabilities. We all learn from one another and become better at working together as a result, which is critical to staying safe and alive in our line of work.

In your experience, what is critical to clearing an incident safely and quickly?

Establishing an Incident Command on scene and communicating with all involved makes the incident run smoothly and efficiently. The ability to practice the concepts of TIM at any given incident increases the likelihood of everyone going home safe.

What are some of the ways we can strengthen the communication, coordination and collaboration between response partners?

The goal of TIM in Oregon should be 100% participation by all first responders. The TIM concept has proven itself nationally. Numbers don’t lie--applying TIM concepts saves our lives. It’s hard for a culture to give up on “traditions.” As first responders we need to know that “change” in our organizations will happen and it usually happens because something wasn’t working as well as we thought. Perseverance in reaching out to the organizations that haven’t yet come to the TIM table is critical. Eventually they will get tired of me asking and they will attend the training.

Tell us about a Traffic Incident Management best practice you find particularly effective.

I have spent a considerable portion of my career working highly populated interstates and highways in the Salem and Portland areas. The simple, “little things” like pushing a vehicle out of the lane of travel, whether by hand or with another vehicle does wonders for the traffic flow. Push, Pull or Drag are three easy words that can drastically improve safety for all.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?

I enjoy doing anything outdoors with family and friends. Hunting, fishing, camping or working on the family farm, it’s all good!

Moving forward

2018 will go down in the books as a year of significant change for our TIM program. And while some things change, some things also endure, like our determination to advance the message of TIM across Oregon. Many of you have been integral in spreading the message of SAFE, QUICK CLEARANCE through various trainings you’ve held. Small or large, agency wide or cross discipline, all trainings are impactful.

The trainings YOU HOST have always been and will continue to be the backbone of the TIM program. They allow all of us important face-time with one another—our partners from all corners of our great state—to converse, strategize and learn about safety, best practices and methodology.

To date, our program champions have trained 6,200 responders!

That’s all THANKS TO YOU!

Our work is never done. I challenge you to find time to train more, engage more, be more. It’s easy to start—host your own agency training and advance the message of Many Disciplines, One Mission in your own community.

It’s easy to set up a training. Email me at timtraining@odot.state.or.us. I’m happy to work with you to ensure the training has value and works for everyone’s schedule.

If you’re not in the market to host but are interested in getting training, visit our Eventbrite site for a training near you.

I look forward to training with all of you in 2019.

Justin