Willow Grove Fire Department Creates Special Needs Training

By Leann Pettit

Willow Grove Fire Company has started new training for all emergency responders in the township. Fire Chief Brian Focht created training that teaches emergency responders how to manage children and adults with autism.

He told Patch that he has a son who is autistic and has learned that 1 in 88 kids are born autistic. He said as a firefighter and paramedic, there is a need to the emergency service team in the township to be educated on and how to work with this population in case of an emergency.

The trainings, which focus on communication with a child and the traits of an autistic person, began in January and have been given to the Upper Moreland Police Department, Fire Company,and to the Lower Moreland Fire Company. He's also done a county level symposium and a training for a group of Bucks County fire chiefs.

During the trainings he said he teaches simple things such as to look for kids who might have wandered off towards water (pools, lakes, etc.), watch for what he calls "parroting," or when I child repeats back what you say to them; and ask parents and caregivers for any change in their routines.

The trainings have proven successful, too. Focht told Patch that not even a week after giving the training to Upper Moreland Police Department, police had an interaction with an autistic child that went better than it could have gone in the past.

"Having a little understanding goes a long way," said Focht.

He added that Upper Moreland Township has begun a special needs database for emergency responders. Parents and caregivers can register a special needs person with the township and if an emergency is called in at their address, the special needs person's information will come up before the police, fire or ambulance reach the house. To add someone in your family to the special needs database, contact Sergeant Tim Troxel at the Upper Moreland Police Department at 267-607-1010 or by e-mail at ttroxel@uppermoreland.org.