Release Notes - July 2022

Release Notes - July 2022

STAY UP-TO-DATE! Please check back here often throughout July 2022. We will continually add to this article as we release new features this month.


Password Enhancement

Minimum Characters Changed
  1. Upon creation of new password or changing of an existing password the minimum characters required is now eight (8) (My Profile [name in upper right corner] > Change Password).



    How secure is your password? Check out this article and chart to see how long it would take hackers to crack your password.


Assets

Kits Added!
  1. You can now add and manage kits (jump bags, equipment boxes, misc containers). Kits may contain both equipment and inventory (consumables). Look for comprehensive KBAs in the very near future. To manage Kits begin by navigating to Assets > Kit List.
  2. Kits can be assigned to a User, Apparatus Compartment, or Station Storage.





    GOOD TO KNOW: Management of Kits require one more of the following permissions, depending on user role:



Making Work Order Types Inactive
  1. We added the ability to make work order types inactive (Assets > Setup > Work Orders). Making a work order type inactive will NOT affect existing work orders using that type, even if the work order is still open. Inactive work orders types will simply not appear as an option when creating future work orders.




Managing Checklist Schedules Simplified
  1. Now, all checklist schedules (apparatus, equipment, kits, stations) are managed via Assets > Setup > Checklist > Checklist Scheduler (previously called "Rotations").
  2. New search parameters added.
  3. Also added a new schedule type: "Every Three Months".









Equipment List Enhancements
  1. Added Storage and Kit to the "Assigned to" filter.
  2. Added LOCATION field to the Equipment import template. You can now import equipment with assigned location.
  3. Added ability to download filtered list of equipment.
  4. Added "Columns to Show" control for the equipment table.




Apparatus List Enhancements
  1. Apparatus fields like odometer continue to be tracked within work orders, but will not update the master apparatus record fields.
  2. The Fuel Log now includes volume and cost totals (Apparatus Checks > Select an Apparatus > Fuel).'
  3. Removed the requirement status for the "cost" field when making a fuel entry.
  4. "Diesel" is now the default selection when making a fuel entry.
  5. Added additional tire pressure fields to the apparatus record (Assets > Apparatus List> Select an Apparatus > Specifications).



Asset Reports
  1. Added Asset Type and Equipment filters to the following report:
    1. Checklist Completion Status




ePCR

Improved Field Customization Tool
  1. For EMSDataSet fields (Incident Documentation > EMS Setup > Field Customization > Add/Edit Field), you can now configure any of the following fields:

    1. Field Code
    2. Label
    3. Default Value
    4. Display NEMSIS Codes







Set Default Values for Custom Questions
  1. Set default values for custom questions (Incident Documentation > EMS Setup > Custom Elements > Add/Edit Custom Element).




Securely Send an ePCR via Kno2 API
  1. PDFs of ePCRs can now be securely transmitted via the Kno2 API. To manage this feature, navigate to Incident Documentation > EMS Setup > Vendor Directory > Select a "Vendor" > Scroll to "Facility" > Kno2 Address Field

    NOTE: The receiving facility/agency will need to provide First Due their Kno2 credentials for this field. Even if you have the Kno2 address for this field, we still need the unique credentials. 








Web Services Confirmation for ePCR Status
  1. For each ePCR, the system will display its web services (export) status (Incident Documentation > EMS Setup > Export Summary). One of the following three statuses will appear for each ePCR:

    1. Success - ePCR sent with positive response from receiving point.
    2. Failed - ePCR sent, but negative response from receiving point. Details will also be displayed.
    3. Pending - ePCR sent, but not processed. First Due will run a check every 60 minutes (up to 7 days) to determine updated status. After 7 days without a success result, status is set to Failed.








Show Narrative for EMS All the Time
  1. We removed system logic that precluded the narrative from appearing until a unit was added. The narrative is now always visible and editable (Incident Documentation > EMS Incident List > Edit an ePCR > Disposition and EMS Narrative > Narrative). 




Incident Documentation

Update to NFIRS Exports
  1. The NFIRS Department (Personnel and Apparatus) Export is now a separate export from the NFIRS Incident Export. Agencies can enable this by navigating to (Incident Documentation >  Setup > General). The frequency can be set to "Immediate" (upon any changes made to personnel or apparatus) or "Monthly" with a day of the month set to export.




Update to Property Use Type List
  1. We tidied up the Property Use Type lists for the following NFIRS fields to align with the NFIRS list for Property Use (Incident Documentation > Select an Incident > Size Up > Incident):
    1. "Property Type Where Incident Occurred"
    2. "Additional Property Type at Location"



New Apparatus EMS Times Fields
  1. Added the following fields to the apparatus times (Incident Documentation > Select an Incident > Response > Apparatus > Add/Edit an Apparatus).
  2. NOTE: These fields are visible only when the NFIRS EMS Module is activated:
    1. Arrived at Patient Date/Time
    2. Transfer of Care Date/Time




Enhancement to NFIRS EMS Module
  1. Now you can autofill the Arrived at Patient Date/Time and Transfer of Care Date/Time with just one click within the NFIRS EMS Module (Incident Documentation > Select an Incident > Size-Up > People Involved > EMS Patient).





Inspections

Add Multiple Codes to a Checklist Item
  1. More than one fire/life safety code can now be added to a checklist item (Inspections > Inspection Types > Add/Edit an Inspection Type > Checklist > Select a Checklist Item > Select Associated Codes). The number of associated codes will be indicated with a red circle.
  2. The description that appears in the form can also be edited for better communication with the business owner/responsible party.
  3. This feature also applies to Ad Hoc questions.



"Member Completing Report" Updates
  1. The "Member Completing Report" is now a dropdown selector (Incident Documentation > Fire Incident List > Select an Incident > Wrap Up).
  2. Whenever an incident report is started from scratch (not started status), the user starting the report will be automatically selected as "Member Completing Report". If another user completes the report he/she will need to select the correct person completing the report.




New Enhancements For Inspection List / My Inspections
  1. Added the following enhancements for Inspections > Inspection List and My Inspections.
    1. "Will Call" added to Scheduled Date Filter
    2. Checkmark for "Show Only Reinspections"
    3. Added new column "Reinspection Number"




Updates to Occupancy Summary Report
  1. Added the following enhancements to the Occupancy Summary Report (Pre-Plan Organizer OR Inspection Organizer > Select Print from Actions Column):
    1. For empty fields with pre-plan unit type in place there is a placeholder in the first column of each row indicating <details missing>.
    2. Checkbox added in the header row for each preplan unit type to indicate at least one preplan unit is present (when box is checked).




Added Filter for Partner Agencies on Pre-Plan List Page
  1. For agencies that share pre-plan data, there is now a filter for "client" (agency) so you can view pre-plans from one or more agencies.




New Permission to Create New Occupancy
  1. Only users with the new permission, "Create New Occupancy on the Map" can add a new occupancy on the map. NOTE: The user MUST also have the "Pre-plan - Create" permission to add a new occupancy (Admin > Roles > Select Role > Pre-Planning Roles Section)
  2. Users with just the "Pre-Plan - Create", but NOT "Create New Occupancy on the Map" can still create pre-plans but will NOT be able to add new occupancies to the system.




Pre-Planning

Approve or Reject a Preplan from the Pre-Plan Organizer
  1. Added ability to approve or reject a preplan in the Pre-Plan Organizer. Previously, this could only be done from the Pre-Plan List. 

    TIP: Select "Ready for Review" in the Pre-Plan Statuses Filter to display pre-plans that have been submitted for review.




Scheduling

New FLSA Option
  1. You can now manage FLSA pay periods in First Due. First, navigate to Personnel > Setup > Setting > Pay Periods. Move the slider to the "Enabled" position. Then enter the FLSA pay period in days and a start date.




  2. Additionally, FLSA rules can be applied to Qualifiers by navigating to Personnel > Setup > FLSA Rules. From there, you can add/edit rules for Qualifiers (e.g., If a Captain works more than 212 hours in an FLSA pay period, then export those hours as overtime).








  3. FLSA Settings will directly affect the output of the following system reports (Reports > Scheduling). These reports will also display a notification indicating "Pay Periods" are active and the corresponding time period:
    1. Payroll
    2. Payroll Summary
    3. Payroll Time





Add an Extra Vacancy with Ease!
  1. It's super easy to add an extra vacancy to the Shift Board (Personnel > Shift Board). Simply select the  icon in the Assignment title section to add an extra vacancy.





    GOOD TO KNOW: To add an extra vacancy, the user must have the following permission enabled:


New Recurrence Rules Added
  1. The following recurrence rules were added to the system (Personnel > Setup > Rotations > Add or Edit a Rotation).
  1. 4on / 49 off
  2. 3on / 60 off
  3. 7 on / 28 off
  4. 1on / 5off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 5off / 1on / 8off (Center Point AL)
  5. 7on / 7off / 7on / 35off
  6. 3on / 3off
  7. 1on / 7off
  8. 1on / 5off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 3off
  9. 1on / 1off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 6off
  10. 1on / 2off / 1on / 2off / 1on / 5off / 1on / 5off / 1on / 8off
  11. 1on / 2off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 3off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 1off / 1on / 5off


Drag and Drop Split Shifts to Vacancies
  1. You can now drag and drop a person to a vacancy without having to delete their original shift. Times will be split and adjusted where applicable (Personnel > Shift Board).








Add Notes Approve / Deny Time Off Requests
  1. Those with the permission to approve Time Off Requests can now add notes upon approval or denial of the time off (Personnel > Time Off > Review > Approve/Deny). The note is added to the user's email notification and displayed in the Time Off details as well.








New Setting for 10-/14-Hour Shifts
  1. In Personnel > Setup > Settings there is a new setting that enables 10-/14-hour shifts to count as 12 hours for the Payroll Report and Rankings anytime a call shift of 10 or 14 hours is accepted. The Shift Board will still show the 10 or 14 hour shift. Only the Payroll Report and Rankings are affected by this setting.




Qualifiers in the Personnel Form
  1. Qualifiers for personnel can now be set in the Personnel Form (Personnel > Personnel List > Select a Person > Personal Information). The qualifiers will also appear in the main Personnel List.











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