I took a survey from the IAFF several weeks ago that was conducted through Survey Monkey. I just tried to go back to update it, but I can’t open the link. Why is this not working?
During the initial days of the pandemic in the United States and Canada a survey was created using survey monkey while a better data collection tool could be built. Since then the survey monkey link has been deactivated and we are directing members to the survey found on the coronavirus update page that can be accessed from the IAFF websites home page.
I am a local officer and have been appointed by my local president to enter data into the survey, but I cannot gain access. How do I fix this?
If you are a local officer and you cannot access the survey it is likely that your IAFF credentials have not been updated to reflect your position. Ask your local president to email [email protected] and provide us with your membership information and new position. It is also a good idea to have your local president cc your IAFF District Vice President (DVP) to keep them up to date on your local. If you don’t know your IAFF DVP or district number please follow this link to find out: https://www.iaff.org/executive-board-and-trustees/.
Once the change has been made it will be one workday before you will have access.
I am not a local officer and I was appointed by my local president to enter data into the survey. I tried to log in, but I cannot gain access. How do I fix this?
If you are not a local officer you can still enter data into the survey, but you will require special permission. Your local president should contact IAFF membership services and have you identified as Affiliate Office Staff (AOS). This position will give you access Ask your local president to email [email protected] and provide us with your membership information and identify you as an AOS. It is also a good idea to have your local president cc your IAFF District Vice President (DVP) to keep them up to date on your local. If you don’t know your IAFF DVP or district number please follow this link to find out: https://www.iaff.org/executive-board-and-trustees/.
Once the change has been made it will be one workday before you will have access.
Why is the department headquarters being used as the exposure tracking address?
The goal of the tool is to collect data so that it will be relevant to decision makers for your use in discussions. Since many affiliates may not reside within the communities they protect, using the department headquarters’ address geographically reflects the exposure data in the community you protect.
The survey asks for the address of my department headquarters, but my local is an amalgamated local that represents multiple jurisdictions. What address should I use?
A question has been added to survey so that amalgamated locals can better identify the different departments where their membership works. You are required to provide separate surveys for each of the individual departments.
When you get to the question, “Is this report for an amalgamated,” you should select “yes” and then enter the specific department’s name. Similarly, use the specific department headquarters address for whichever jurisdiction the exposure or exposures occurred in.
Although this may seem cumbersome to generate a separate survey for each department that has had an exposure, the data are incredibly valuable for protecting our brothers and sisters. The data you collect with separate surveys will allow you to have jurisdiction-specific discussions with decision makers.
The survey asks for my district number. Should I be using my IAFF district number or my state/provincial association district number?
You should be entering your IAFF district number so we can assess the distribution of exposures by geographic region and for federal fire fighters. The state your local is in will be identified by your local number and by the fire department headquarters address you submit and will be available to IAFF executive board leadership on the backend of the survey. Using your IAFF district number allows us to better meet the needs of affiliates.
If you don’t know you your IAFF district number please follow this link to identify your district and your District Vice President: https://www.iaff.org/executive-board-and-trustees/.
I entered data into the last IAFF survey. When I start this survey, do I select “First Report” or “Updated Report?”
If this is your first time using this tool you should select “First Report” and then answer the questions as if you are updating your answers from the previous survey. When you next enter information into this tool you will select the “Updated Report.”
What happened to the data I submitted in the first survey?
We have maintained the data that were previously submitted and will be combining it on the back end of the new survey.
How do I report it if one of my members went from quarantine to isolation, but wasn’t released in between?
If your member was released from quarantine and then entered isolation, you should answer yes to the question: Have any of your active on-duty members been released from quarantine? and then enter the number once prompted. Following that, you should answer yes to the question: Have any of your active on-duty members been in isolation? and then follow the prompts.
What if one of my members who was in isolation went to the hospital after being confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. How do I report that?
Hospitalization should be considered isolation at this point of the pandemic, so answer yes to the question: Have any of your active on-duty members been in isolation?
I have active on-duty members who were exposed while on vacation. Should I include these in the survey or only count workplace exposures, isolation, infections and hospitalizations?
We want to capture exposures, quarantine, isolation and positive tests regardless of how they occurred. Part of the narrative is how we must protect the protectors and why we need to be a priority for testing and equipment. The more of our active-duty members who are taken out of service, the more vulnerable our communities become.
Some of my members are active retirees or alumni. Should I count their exposures, isolations, infections and hospitalizations?
While we are concerned for all our members’ health and well-being, for the purposes of this survey, we are only tracking members who are still on active duty and working for a fire department or EMS service.
The survey asks about exposures but doesn’t ask if I was wearing PPE or not. If I was wearing PPE does this still count as an exposure?
Whether you were wearing PPE or not, if you come, or came, into contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient you were exposed. Wearing PPE minimizes the risk of contracting an infectious disease and the risk level can vary depending on several factors. Generally, a firefighter/EMS practitioner that is wearing all recommended PPE (except wearing a facemask instead of a respirator), while the patient is not wearing a facemask (i.e. no source control) the exposure category is considered low. Use of eye protection, in addition to a facemask or respirator would further lower the risk of exposure.
Because there is insufficient data regarding the transmission risks of COVID-19 the CDC advises that it “is reasonable to consider an exposure greater than a few minutes as a prolonged exposure.” The CDC also defines close contact for healthcare personnel (HCP) exposures as:
- Being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters), of a person with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time (such as caring for or visiting the patient; or
- Having unprotected direct contact with infectious secretions or excretions of the patient (e.g., being coughed on, touching tissues with bare hand).
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-risk-assesment-hcp.html
I would like to just see the numbers that are only related to my district. I see how to select my district, but how do I get the boxes on the right-hand column to change?
You can change the count in the right-hand column by zooming into the map to focus on the geographic region you would like to investigate. We are working to make the totals change when a specific district is selected.
I made a data entry error. Is there a way to fix that?
Yes, please email the issue that needs to be addressed to [email protected] and put the phrase “Tracker issue” with your local name and number in the subject line. Then describe the data entry issue and we will address.
I am entering data into the survey and there are fields that require data, but I have nothing to report for the specific questions. What can I enter in those fields so that the report will submit?
Thanks for taking the survey and having a commitment to ensure you enter data as accurately as possible.
If you encounter a field where you have nothing to report, then simply enter “0” (zero as a number) into the answer box. If the issue persists, email [email protected] and explain your issue and provide your contact information. We will follow up with you and help address the issue.