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Organizational Learning from Post-Incident Analyses
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"The problem studied for this applied research project was that the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) had endured seven fireground Mayday incidents, resulting in ten significant firefighter injuries since the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures for Safe Structural Firefighting Operations in 2005. The purpose of this applied research project was to determine if MCFRS is learning the lessons needed to prevent critical fireground injuries and death. The descriptive research method was used, which included a literature review and a meta-analysis of MCFRS post-incident analyses published over the past six years. The research questions were: how did MCFRS's post-incident analysis process compare to national standards and best practices; what were the causes of the Maydays and resulting firefighter injuries; what warnings were indicated in previous post-incident analyses, and what recommendations were made in the previous post-incident analyses that may have averted the Mayday incidents and resulting firefighter injuries?"
National Fire Academy
Kinsley, John V.
Practical Applications to the Town of Duck Emergency Operations Plan
"The Town of Duck, located on a barrier island on the North Carolina coast, occupies 2.32 square miles and experiences extreme population shifts-500 year round residents to over 25,000 seasonal visitors. While weather related disasters pose the greatest risk to this community, the Town's Emergency Operations Plan guides various emergency and non-emergency incidents with the Duck Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) providing direction for their response. At no time has the Town and DVFD integrated its data, knowledge, and expertise for the purpose of improving its decision-making capacity for emergency planning and operations. Descriptive research was conducted to acquire and evaluate community information regarding risk, target hazards, and availability of firefighting resources. The risk assessment model developed and used by the National Fire Academy and FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency] resource typing definitions were the tools used to acquire the data. This research and its methods all support the goals of the United States Fire Administration's (USFA) strategic plan, and the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). This research resulted in practical data to be integrated into both the hazard mitigation and emergency operations plans including a more comprehensive list of hazards and improved mapping. Key recommendations included producing a capability assessment, applying acquired data into realistic training scenarios, conducting resource typing of all assets to mitigate emergencies, and promoting standardization for risk determination and resource deployment among mutual aid departments and municipalities."
Black, Donna M.
Solving the Arson Problem on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
"White Mountain Apache Fire & Rescue (WMAFR) provides fire service protection to the White Mountain Apache Tribe, who reside on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR) located in Northeastern Arizona. The FAIR is currently home to 17,500 permanent residents. In 2008, WMAFR responded to 225 fires. Of those fires, 70 percent (157) were determined to be acts of arson or suspicious in nature. The problem is that the FAIR has a disproportionately high incidence of arson related fires that have resulted in significant property loss, serious injuries, and death. The descriptive research model was used through a literature review, data analysis, interviews, and a review of other arson prevention programs to answer six questions. Why does our community have such a high incidence of arson fires? What steps can our organization and community take to prevent arson fires? What resources would be needed to adopt and enforce an arson prevention program? Is this problem unique to Native American communities or are there other cultural and or socioeconomic factors that predispose communities to high rates of arson? What actions have other communities, who have faced similar problems, taken to prevent arson from occurring in the future? What are the true financial, life safety, and psychological effects of arson on our community?"
Langborg, James
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Determining Community Risk Reduction in the Wildland Urban Interface Through Residential Evacuation Planning for the City of Monrovia
"The City of Monrovia does not have a formal evacuation plan for the wildfire threat that exists within the community. The purpose of this research was to identify benchmarks for wildfire evacuation including the identification of homes most at risk within the community. The research determined how the fire department will notify residents during a wildfire evacuation by determining communication mediums for evacuation. In addition, the research individually evaluated the 1,416 residential units located in the Very High Fire Severity Zone to determine what homes are most at risk for wildfire evacuation. The research then compared them against a computerized fire modeling and analysis conducted by a fire behavior specialist and then determined a set of conditions called 'benchmarks' that trigger a wildfire evacuation. This descriptive research was conducted by performing a literary review while comparing the results against focus groups, interviews with subject area experts, computer simulated fire model, and residential evaluations. The results of the research determined that three streets demonstrated the greatest risk for evacuation delay based on access and exposure to the wildland interface. Focus groups were conducted in these neighborhoods, and assessments were made about communication. Recommendations were made to employ social media to notify and prompt residents about wildfire conditions and evaluations. In addition, the research conducted supported a more participate style of public involvement through the introduction of the 'Ready Set Go' model of wildfire evacuations. The recommendations went on to further identify two zones for evacuation notification in order to control the congestion with traffic flow. It concluded by recommending the release of the research data allowing the public the opportunity to comment and participate in the mitigation determination efforts."
Haberle, Scott M.
Public Safety Officer Development Within the Mankato Department of Public Safety Fire Division
"Highly skilled leaders are vital to any organization. Whether you work for a public or private organization, large or small, the success of the mission of any group will be influenced by the skill of its leaders. The problem is that the officers of the Mankato Department of Public Safety (DPS) -- Fire Division are not adequately trained to perform their administrative duties. The purpose of this research was to identify the training components necessary to prepare the Mankato officers for their administrative duties. In this project, the descriptive research method was used to examine the current officer training status and to identify the actions necessary to provide fire officers the training needed to perform effectively. The research addressed the following questions: 1) What, if any, National, State and local requirements exist regarding public safety administrative staff? 2) What, if any, are the best practices for training officers in administrative duties? 3) What impact does a public safety organizational model have on administrative training? 4) What, if any, administrative training plans do departments of a similar organizational size employ? and 5) What are the administrative training needs of the officers in the Mankato Department of Public Safety? A survey of the fire officers was conducted to identify each member's perceived skill level and training need regarding twenty-six administrative job performance requirements. The results identified a list of training topics that can be used to guide the administrative training plan."
Bengtson, Jeffrey T.
Effect of Cross-Staffing Engine Company Personnel from Two Departments on Fireground Task Completion Times
"This Applied Research Project investigated the relationship between total elapsed task times for two separate fireground assignments and the cross-staffing of engine companies. "Cross-staffing" was defined as the merger of personnel from Eureka Fire Department (EFD) and Humboldt Fire Protection District (HFD) into functional crews after their arrival to an incident scene. The problem was that EFD and HFD did not know if there is a difference in task completion time for a standard engine company versus a cross-staffed engine company. The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in task completion time for a standard engine company versus a cross-staffed engine company. Using an experimental research design, the following null hypotheses were tested: 1) There is no significant difference between the mean total elapsed task times of a three-person engine company versus a three-person cross-staffed engine company for the fireground assignment of ventilation. 2) There is no significant difference between the mean total elapsed task times of a standard three-person engine company versus a three-person cross-staffed engine company for the fireground assignment of search and rescue. 3) There is no significant difference between the mean total elapsed task times for engine companies who have greater combined years of career firefighting experience."
Jelinek, Christopher
Firefighter Safety in Abandoned and Vacant Structures Within the City of Joplin
"The problem is that despite attempts by administration to make firefighter safety a top priority within the Joplin Fire Department and to change the mindset of our firefighters, our firefighters still continue to exhibit a tendency of making entry into abandoned and vacant structure fires that are unsafe, when no human life is endangered. This puts our personnel in jeopardy of becoming part of the annual statistics for fallen or injured firefighters. The purpose for this research is to identify options that will assist firefighters in making educated decisions and prevent firefighters from making entry into vacant or abandoned structure fires without first evaluating the structure, fire, and smoke conditions, while also developing a Standard Operating Procedure for Operations at Vacant or Abandoned/Derelict Structures. This research will use action research to answer the following questions: (a) what efforts has the Joplin Fire Department made to prevent firefighters from making entry into an unsafe vacant or abandoned structure?; (b) what barriers do Joplin firefighters believe prevents them from taking a defensive approach on vacant or abandoned structure fires that would be considered unsafe for interior operations?; (c) what SOG's [Standard Operating Guidelines] do other organizations have in place to slow down or prevent firefighters from taking unnecessary risks in emergency operations at vacant or abandoned structures?"
Ezell, Gerald S.
Identifying Causes for Emergency System Overload and Alternative Types of Medical Assistance
"The Copley Fire Department (CFD), like many other governmental agencies, desires to reduce their operating budget while maintaining or increasing the service it provides to the community. By completing descriptive research, using the following questions: 1. How can Emergency Medical Service providers successfully differentiate between emergent and non-emergency medical calls for assistance? 2. What types of medical services does the public expect to receive upon requesting the Emergency Medical Service? 3. Why do citizens request non-emergent medical treatment from Emergency Medical Services? 4. Are there alternative approaches that will reduce the number of non-emergent Emergency Medical Service incidents, while meeting the public's needs for medical assistance? It has been determined that the Copley Fire Department (CFD) can provide alternative types of medical assistance to the community and the CFD will be able to alleviate the problem of increasing call for service volume and increasing response times. By reviewing response procedures used on other communities, both domestic and abroad, and questioning the public on what they believe the 9-1-1 system is expected to provide has resulted in alternatives to current response guidelines. By implementing a tele-triage system the public can receive proper services while freeing up emergency response units."
Koellner, Bruce
Identifying Leadership Criteria in the Fire Service
"The problem was that the Lewiston Fire Department (LFD) was unable to identify the criteria for developing senior leaders in the organization. The purpose of this research is to identify criteria for developing senior leaders within the organization. Research questions to be answered using the descriptive method are (a) what are the industry standards for developing senior leaders, (b) what criteria are used by other fire departments to develop senior leaders, (c) what criteria could LFD consider using to develop senior leaders? A questionnaire was developed and sent to individuals who were either a) on the committee that wrote the International Association of Fire Chiefs Officer Development Handbook, b) on the technical committee on Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 1021, or c) were attendees at the Wingspread V Conference 2006 sponsored by the International Fire Chiefs Foundation. Seventy-eight questionnaires were sent out, twenty responded. Results yielded suggestions for several officer development programs which included: NFPA 1021, the Officers Development Handbook, the Fire and Emergency Service Higher Education (FESHE) model, Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Complete Officer Program, the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and the Brunacini Leadership Institute Seminar through Columbia Southern University. It was recommended that the LFD form a committee to consider the options brought forward by the questionnaire results and further explore options to determine what leadership criteria will work best."
Steputat, Linda
Evaluating the Need for Starting an Elderly Falls Prevention Program for Winter Park Fire Rescue
"This descriptive research project was used to determine if Winter Park Fire Rescue Department (WPFRD) were to start an elderly falls prevention program, would it benefit the community. The problem is that (WPFRD) does not have an elderly risk reduction program in place to prevent mortality or morbidity in the elderly population. The purpose of this Applied Research Project (ARP) is to find and implement life safety solutions for our at risk elderly population. The research used the following questions to determine: (a) what causes mortality and morbidity to the elderly; (b) what elderly falls prevention programs are being utilized by other agencies; (c) what are the demographics of the elderly population in Winter Park; and (d) what are the fiscal impacts of falls in the elderly? The research was carried out through literature review and interviews with professionals in the geriatric field. The research has revealed that falls in the elderly are increasing every year and that we must be proactive in applying preventative measures. It has been clearly identified that there is a need for an elderly falls risk reduction program in Winter Park."
McCabe, Pat
Preventing Drowning Incidents on Lake Lanier in Forsyth County, GA
"Several drowning incidents have occurred on Lake Lanier in Forsyth County and this is an issue Forsyth County public safety has had to respond to every year. Drowning incidents have continued without being proactively addressed by the county or by Forsyth County Fire Department (FCFD). The purpose of this research was to find the similarities in theses drowning incidents and how FCFD can best prevent them. Descriptive research determined where the incidents have occurred, when the incidents occurred and which demographic groups were most affected. Additionally the procedures of other agencies and what they have been doing to address the drowning issue on their areas of the lake were also researched. The research help define what prevention strategies should be implemented to reduce the number of drowning incidents on the lake in Forsyth County. The data for this project included conducting personal interviews with officers of other agencies with jurisdiction on Lake Lanier. In addition, data was analyzed from all drowning incidents on Lake Lanier from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009 in Forsyth County. The results indicated a need for a countywide water safety program and more staffing on and around the lake at peak times. Recommendations were made to the FCFD Administration to implement a countywide water safety program; stage the water rescue team at the park with the highest occurrence of incidents; and staff the dive boat and two personnel watercraft on the weekends and holidays during the peak season of Lake Lanier."
Wells, Kevin M.
Fire Department of New York Multiple Casualty Incident Command Structure
"The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) does not designate an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Officer as the Incident Commander (IC) or other high-level position in the Incident Command System (ICS) at any multi-casualty incident (MCI). The problem is that an individual with the highest level of emergency medical management expertise is never in charge of major medical incidents, which may cause compromise to patient care, movement or transport. The purpose of the research was to assess ICS options to develop the most appropriate command structure model for the FDNY at major incidents when patient care is the active priority. Action research was used to answer the following questions: a) What organizational structures do other public safety agencies use to manage incidents with multiple casualties? b) What are the advantages, if any, of having an EMS officer in a higher ICS position at multiple casualty incidents? and c) What are alternatives to the Incident Command System multiple casualty incident organization chart development? Procedures included interviews with subject matter experts educated and experienced in multiple casualty incidents, issuing a questionnaire to other major city Fire Departments as to how they manage multiple casualty incidents, and developing a work group of ranking Fire Department Officers to address the research problem. A revised Incident Command System organization chart for the FDNY for multiple casualty incidents was developed as a result of the research that recommends an EMS Officer in the ICS Deputy Operations Chief position or higher."
Olszewski, Janice
Garbage In? Evaluating the Consistency of the Data Input into the MTFPD NFIRS Compliant Database
"The accuracy of the data in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is highly dependent on information supplied by local fire departments. The problem was that the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) was unaware of the consistency of the data being input into their NFIRS database - stymieing future training efforts and possibly leading to incorrect data being input into the national database. The research purpose was to use descriptive methodology to discover database consistency levels and provide answers to the following: 1) Given a sample Emergency Medical Service (EMS) incident, what is the consistency of the data input? 2) Given a sample Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) incident, what is the consistency of the data input? and 3) Given a sample cooking fire incident, what is the consistency of the data input? Sample EMS, AFA and cooking fire incidents were given to MTFPD firefighters and fire officers for them to input into the department's NFIRS compliant database using normal department practices. Data was then extracted from the database and each of the variables entered were verified manually for consistency. A survey of MTFPD personnel was conducted to discover opinions regarding confidence in entering reports, quality of visual aids, training needs and intentional miscoding. Consistent data was discovered in only 7 of 39 variables for the EMS incident, 4 of 39 variables for the AFA incident and 14 of 44 variables in the cooking fire incident. An unanticipated finding was that some variables appeared to be affected by experience of the reporter while others did not. Recommendations included: establishment of procedures, linking to source data, review of error detection protocols and quality review of reporting."
Krueger, Joseph L.
Atlanta's Vacant Structures
"The City of Atlanta's vacant housing has become a serious issue. The problem was the City of Atlanta has failed to board up and secure abandoned single family dwellings. The purpose of this research was to identify the boarding systems available and the cost of each system to secure single family dwellings. Descriptive research was used to establish the results and recommendations supporting the need to properly identify and secure all vacant single family structure. The project used a comprehensive literature review to understand the complexities associated with the issue and establish a research baseline. Observations, surveys, and questionnaires were used to challenge reviewed literature to establish practical applications with vacant properties and boarding systems. Results and recommendations support the need for policy development and the standardization of board up systems that add safety and security for vacant residential structures. Results and recommendations have also supported the need for intra-agency communication, cooperation, and partnerships with stakeholders to address the issue with vacant single family structures. Lastly, results and recommendations support the need to re-implement fire department policies to identify, track vacant single family structures. Based on information gathered from observations, interviews, and literature review, vacant and unsecured single family structures pose a serious threat to firefighters and the general public. Unless the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department stop treating vacant structures as a non- issue and give them the respect deserved, death and injury will continue."
Jones, Sterling P.
West Metro Fire Rescue Greater Alarm Assignments for Senior Staff Chief Officers
"West Metro Fire Protection District follows and is National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant. West Metro Fire Rescue (WMFR) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) address incident command procedures and assignments for single-alarm responses, but the problem is the SOPs for second or greater alarm response only requires advisement of senior staff chief officers and command staff chief officers and the critical Incident Command System (ICS) management positions are being staffed by less experienced junior officers. The purpose of this Applied Research Project (ARP) is to develop a standard operating procedure that addresses assignments at second or greater alarm responses by senior and command staff chief officers. Four questions will be answered: 1) What, if any, are the benefits and concerns of utilizing chief officers in ICS management positions? 2) What, if any, are the standard operating procedures in departments similar in size to West Metro Fire Rescue for utilizing chief officer ICS management positions on second or greater alarm incidents? 3) What components should be included in an SOP to ensure proper incident management at second or greater alarm incidents? and 4) What are the components for West Metro Fire Rescue's SOP concerning chief officer ICS management positions on second or greater alarm incidents? Literature review, interviews with WMFR personnel as well as fire service leaders, and questionnaire results were used to address the problem and develop a standard operating procedure. The research and results show senior experienced chief officers are the best choice to staff critical incident command positions. "
Lombardi, Donald E.
Developing a Risk Reduction Plan for the Wildland Urban Interface in Asheville, North Carolina
"This research project examined the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and its relationship to the Asheville, North Carolina Fire Department (AFD). The problem was that some homes in the Asheville area are at an increased WUI fire risk, and AFD did not have a WUI program to address this risk. The purpose of this study was to identify WUI risk factors and identify risk reduction measures. The following research questions were addressed using the descriptive methodology: 1. What areas in Asheville were at an increased WUI fire risk? 2. What factors have led to the increased threat of WUI fires in Asheville? 3. What are other fire departments similar to Asheville doing to combat WUI fire risk? 4. What are the essential components of a WUI fire risk reduction plan for Asheville? The procedures for the project consisted of a literature review of pertinent WUI information. A questionnaire was submitted to sixty two fire service personnel. The purpose of the WUI questionnaire was to identify what other departments similar in topography/terrain to Asheville are doing to combat the WUI problem. The questionnaire revealed that most departments were at increased risk from a WUI fire, and many were unprepared for a WUI event. Topics identified to combat the problem included specialized training programs, gear and equipment, and educational programs. A data collection process was conducted that identified WUI related events that have occurred in Asheville within the past year."
Ponder, Joy Michelle
Reducing Fire Risk for Residents of Unsprinklered Multifamily Dwellings in the City of Redmond
"The City of Redmond has a large population of residents living in multifamily dwellings, many of which have no automatic fire sprinkler system installed. The problem is residents living in unsprinklered dwellings are at increased risk of injury or death due to fire. The purpose of this research was to provide strategies for residents of unsprinklered multifamily dwellings to reduce the risk of fire and their potential for injury or death due to fire. Action research was used to develop a risk reduction pilot program applicable to this population, and to answer four research questions pertaining to (a) the size of this residential population in Redmond, (b) residents' understanding of fire safety and preparedness, (c) mitigation strategies available, and (d) evaluation of any risk reduction strategies applied. Research procedures began with a community analysis to determine the population and demographics of residents living in unsprinklered multifamily occupancies. A literature review, along with an examination of practices employed by other fire departments, identified successful mitigation strategies for reducing the potential for fires in the home, with an emphasis on at-risk populations. A risk reduction pilot program was developed and then applied at one of the unsprinklered apartment complexes which houses seniors only. The residents were informed of the program and a questionnaire was developed to identify their level of fire safety awareness and preparedness. Results from the research showed a significant at-risk population living in unsprinklered multifamily dwellings."
Newbold, William D.
Strategies for Occupant Response to Fire Alarms in Off-Campus Student Housing
"The Austin Fire Department (AFD) identified an unacceptable level of community risk associated with the large college student population in Austin, Texas. The problem was that the occupants of off-campus student housing for the University of Texas (UT) do not respond appropriately to fire alarms. The purpose of this research was to identify intervention strategies that AFD could utilize to ensure that the occupants of off-campus UT student housing will respond appropriately to fire alarms. Subject matter expert interviews, observation of occupant actions at fire alarms and a fire alarm occupant questionnaire were conducted using the descriptive method of research to provide answers to these research questions: (1) how should the occupants of off-campus student housing respond to a fire alarm; (2) how do the occupants of off-campus student housing currently respond to a fire alarm; what are the factors that cause off-campus student housing occupants to respond appropriately and inappropriately to fire alarms; (4) what strategies are recommended to increase the number of occupants responding appropriately to fire alarms in off-campus student housing; and (5) how do other fire departments ensure that the occupants of off-campus student housing respond appropriately to fire alarms? The results indicated that the majority of occupants currently do not respond appropriately to a fire alarm. The factors that cause this inappropriate response include lack of confidence in the system because of previous false alarms, insufficient on-site enforcement of an evacuation plan and missing additional cues to provide enough information for the occupants to determine that this may be a true fire emergency."
Watson, Chris
ALS Engine Response: A Consideration for Cambria
"Controversy over the utilization of paramedic personnel working for the Cambria Community Services District Fire Department (CCSDFD) fueled a debate over the viability of a paramedic Advanced Life Support engine company in Cambria, California. Proponents of the ALS engine concept contend that this service delivery could provide a more efficient and cost effective approach to the delivery of emergency medical services (EMS). Opponents argue that fire department delivery of ALS would be inefficient and would create a dilution and deterioration in advanced paramedic skill levels. This debate has caused a problem for the community by creating controversy and a lack of direction for the future of emergency services in Cambria. The purpose of this research project was to explore the feasibility of a paramedic ALS engine concept for the CCSDFD and determine if it would improve the quality and efficiency of EMS in Cambria. To conduct this project a descriptive style of research was used to answer the following questions: a) What is the history and rationale of the current EMS delivery system in Cambria? b) What are the capabilities of the current service and is it adequate? c) Would a fire department paramedic (ALS) engine response benefit the community? d) How have other communities of similar size addressed the delivery of fire department EMS and ALS? e) How would a paramedic (ALS) engine commitment impact the fire department budget and workload?"
Miller, Mark P.
Effect of Staffing on Response and Scene Management
"The problem that initiated this research is that the City of Zion is not in a position financially to support the hiring of additonal fulltime firefighters. The purpose of this research project is to identify how the level of staffing for the Zion Fire and Rescue Department affects response times and the ability to safely manage incidents within the City of Zion. Descriptive research consisted of literature review and a questionnaire that was sent to fire departments in Illinois and those represented by the author' peers from the Executive Development class to answer the following: 1. What are the national, state, and regional standard recommendations for fire department staffing? 2. What are staffing levels for departments protecting communities of similar size to the Zion Fire and Rescue Department? 3. What is the effect of staffing levels in the Zion Fire and Rescue Department on response time? 4. What are the initial scene actions needed to manage an emergency scene? 5. What is the effect of staffing levels in the Zion Fire and Rescue Department on managing an emergency scene? Compared with departments protecting communities with a population between 20,000 and 30,000, the Zion Fire and Rescue Department has the fewest fulltime personnel and lowest engine company staffing. None of the departments evaluated met the NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 1710 recommendations for staffing. Based on the research it is recommended that (a) the shift commander be removed from the engine and placed in a staff vehicle, (b)six personnel are added between the engine and the quint to bring company staffing levels to NFPA 1710 recommendations, and (c) the department develop a seven-year staffing plan hiring of personnel."
Lewis, John A.
Fire Based First Responder Service
"The problem is that the Waterbury Fire Department (WFD) has not evaluated the currently provided non-transport emergency medical services (EMS) at a first responder (FR) level using the existing fire service system. The purpose of the research is to determine this effectiveness of EMS delivery within the current system using evaluative research to answer questions regarding how WFD delivers EMS compared to standards and best practices for fire service first response systems, alternative systems used by comparable fire departments and the effect WFD. Using literature review, phone interviews and internet surveys, it was determined that the WFD delivers FR services appropriately but still lags behind other fire departments in level of certification for FR. Additionally, strong community knowledge of how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use automatic external defibrillator (AED) can improve survival rates in cardiac arrest victims. WFD should investigate improving cardiac survival rates, as rapid response by FR along with bystander CPR has been shown to improve survival. Recommendations include implementing a training program for WFD members to become EMT-B. WFD should form a committee to address out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate by studying communities with high survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. WFD should provide CPR and AED classes for the public to increase the survival rates for heart attack victims. Dispatch should start tracking the following times for the fire department crew arriving at patient, CPR started, AED shock delivered and ambulance crew arrival at patient. AED effects on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate should be studied by tracking shock advice; numbers of shocks delivered and return of pulse."
Bergin, Michael J.
Using Geographic Information Systems for Pre-Incident Planning
"Emergency incident size-up is a critical function performed by all fire officers. Size-up begins the moment crews leave the station and the more information available the better the size-up will be. Unfortunately, many firefighters still lose their lives due to inadequate size-ups. The problem is the fire service collects and stores volumes of data that would be useful to emergency responders for size-up: NFIRS [National Fire Incident Reporting System] data, NEMSIS [National Emergency Medical Services] Information System] data, inspection history and special hazard information collected over years of experience, yet rarely is this data available during emergency response. The purpose of this Applied Research Project is to show that a Geographic Information System (GIS) acts as a nexus for all these data types and displays them graphically on digital maps familiar to firefighters. By using fire service GIS layers, responders are able to create better incident action plans and share these plans more effectively amongst other responders. The descriptive method of research was used to determine what data was collected and stored by the Everett Fire Department, other city departments and neighboring departments, and to determine if a GIS would easily display key pre-incident plan and special hazard information while responding. Procedures included an extensive literature review and compilation of NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 1620 pre-incident planning data points. Procedures also included interviews with subject matter experts and inventories of existing Everett Fire Department data sets compared against NFPA recommendations. "
DeMarco, David L.
Who will Manage the Crisis? Developing an Incident Management Team Plan for the Fairlawn Fire Department
"The City of Fairlawn is just as susceptible to large-scale incidents and disasters as are other communities of similar size. Just because the City has not experienced a large scale crisis is not an indication one will not occur. Should a large-scale emergency incident occur, the Fairlawn Fire Department and surrounding agencies would be called upon to mitigate and resolve the crisis. The problem is the Fairlawn Fire Department does not have the capability to manage large-scale disasters or emergency events. The purpose of this Applied Research Project is to develop a plan to establish an Incident Management Team (IMT). This project uses action research to answer three research questions: (a) What national, state, and local guidelines exist for an IMT; (b) what are the qualifications personnel should possess in order to be a member of an IMT; and (c) what are the guidelines used by other fire departments and organizations to develop an IMT. A Literature Review, questionnaire, and personal interviews were employed to address the three research questions. The results indicated a majority of federal, state, and local guidelines applied to incident management address the adoption of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and utilizing an Incident Command System (ICS). A criterion for IMT personal qualifications was discovered as well as what guidelines communities applied in the planning and establishment of an incident management team. Recommendations included establishing a committee to plan and establish an IMT based on existing federal, state, and local guidelines, developing criteria and qualifications based on those discovered in this research project, and researching guidelines used by fire service organizations and private industry."
Schepp, Edward M.
Developing Key Performance Indicators to Improve Patient Care and Outcome at Littleton Fire Rescue
"The problem was Littleton Fire Rescue (LFR) could not measure the effectiveness of its emergency medical services (EMS) and prove the fire department's patient care was positively influencing patient outcomes. Antidotal evidence indicated the fire department was providing excellent medical treatment but no key performance indicators (KPI) were developed to prove or disprove this theory. The purpose of this evaluative research was to investigate KPIs in EMS and develop measureable service delivery standards to evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatment provided by LFR. The following research questions were answered in the development of KPIs: (a) What measureable performance indicators were used to evaluate the effectiveness of an EMS system; (b) How do performance indicators improve patient care and outcome; and (c) What methods are used by other EMS system to measure performance?"
Zygowicz, Wayne M.
Man-Made Disaster Risk Analysis for the City of Denton, Texas
"This research project was prompted by the Denton Fire Department [DFD] wanting to formulate a current comprehensive risk assessment on potential man-made disasters that can occur in the City of Denton [COD]. The problem was that the DFD did not have a current comprehensive risk assessment on potential man-made disasters that can occur in the COD. The purpose of this applied research project was to identify potential man-made disasters, their potential frequency in the COD, and make recommendations to help mitigate these risks. The descriptive research approach was used to complete this project. The research was designed to answer four inter-related questions: a) What is a comprehensive risk assessment and does the COD need one?, b) What are potential man-made risks which could have significant impact on the citizens of Denton?, c) What is the COD's current preparedness level towards identified man-made risks?. and d) What preparedness measures should the DFD utilize to mitigate and/or respond to these identified risks? Procedurally, original local data was compared to known existing national data on potential man-made disasters predicted, frequencies, and magnitude. Results showed that government agencies all follow the guidelines established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] and the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] for establishing preparedness strategies and mitigation plans as they relate to man-made risks. Recommendations were made to establish a hazard mitigation, response, and recovery plan for man-made disasters that the COD may likely face."
Lahart, Bradley
Addressing the Effects of Flooding on Fire Department Operations in the Rockdale County Fire Department
"The problem was that the Rockdale County Fire Division did not have a definitive source of information to refer to during a flooding emergency, which resulted in the department not being adequately prepared for this type of disaster, especially the flood of 2009. The purpose of this research paper was to develop a single source of information for flooding in Rockdale County that can be used to assist in guideline preparation, mitigation, planning , response and recovery. The descriptive research method was used to answer the following questions: a) How is the flood risk for Rockdale County changing over time?, b) What are the implications of governments not implementing storm water utility planning?, c) How is the mission of emergency services compromised during a flooding event?, d) What is a 100 year flood and how many have occurred in Rockdale County? This research project included a survey, interviews with professional engineers and an extensive review of rainfall data which produced a most interesting result, which is that Rockdale County's storm water system has almost reached its full capability and impervious spaces are becoming more and more prevalent and consequently without some restraint we will fall victim to our own aspirations for growth and development. The research paper yielded numerous recommendations which included: working closer with the watershed management team to assure a cohesive interaction during flooding emergencies, increasing funding to establish a swift water rescue team and buying additional equipment such as flotation devices, boats and other water craft."
Scott, Cedric D.
Enhancing Communications with the Hispanic Community During Emergency Responses in Rogers, Arkansas
"The Rogers Fire Department has experienced a barrier in communications during emergency responses specific to the Spanish speaking population which was due to a significant increase in the Hispanic population within the city of Rogers. The problem was that the Rogers Fire Department has experienced a communication barrier during emergency responses within the Hispanic Community. The purpose of this research was to identify methods of communication that will enhance the ability to communicate with the Hispanic community during emergency responses. Descriptive research methodology was utilized to address the following questions: (a) What communication barriers exist between Rogers Fire Department personnel and the Hispanic community during emergency responses; (b) What have other organizations or agencies done to increase the effectiveness of communication with the Hispanic population; (c) What local, state and federal organizations provide communication resources that will enhance emergency responses within the Hispanic community; and (d) What communication methods can the Rogers Fire Department implement to increase the communication ability specific to the Hispanic population within the city of Rogers?"
Rhoades, Jake
Development of a Rapid Damage Assessment Procedure for the City of Santa Rosa Fire Department
"The Santa Rosa Fire Department's (SRFD) did not have a procedure for rapid damage assessment. The purpose of this research paper was to develop a procedure for rapid damage assessment. Action research methodology was utilized to develop a draft rapid damage assessment procedure for the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Research questions included: 1. What components are important for a rapid damage assessment procedure? 2. What facility information is needed for use during a disaster? 3. How should the risk assessment information be accessible to emergency responders? 4. How will the procedure and risk assessment information be updated to remain current and accurate for emergency responders? The procedures used during this project included literature review, a review of damage assessment forms and procedures and a survey focused on the needs of emergency responders. The results identified format options for a procedure, key components of the procedure, critical facility information required for disaster assessments and alternatives for critical facility data access. Recommendations include the need for a rapid damage assessment procedure, collection of risk assessment data for use during disasters and the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to access critical facility information."
McCormick, Mark
Analysis of Merging Fire Suppression and Fire Prevention Career Tracks
"The problem is that the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department (DFR) has two distinct career paths that a new employee may choose to follow upon initial employment and limitations exist that prevent members from moving freely between the two. The paths include firefighter/paramedic and fire prevention officer. The purpose of this research document is to determine through descriptive analysis the costs and benefits that might be derived by DFR as a result of unifying the two career paths. The procedures included literature review and surveys of fire departments across the United States along with internal surveys targeted at employees functioning in each of DFR's career tracks. The results were discovery of DFR employee sentiment of the proposed career path merger along with advantages and disadvantages of having such a model in place. Recommendations included measures aimed at changing DFR's culture to embrace fire inspection activities. Additionally, it was recommended that DFR formulate a larger scale study on how to investigate the feasibility of unifying the suppression and fire inspection career tracks."
Salazar, Daniel
Developing the Future Leadership of Spokane County Fire District Eight
"The problem was that Spokane County Fire District Eight did not have a process to develop future agency leaders, which would have negatively impacted the organization's continued success and survival if key leadership positions were not able to be filled on short notice. The purpose of this applied research project was to explore options and develop strategies that would ensure continued organizational success through skilled leadership. This applied research project was descriptive in nature, meaning that the present status of the problem was determined and clearly reported. The research questions for this project were: (a) What is succession planning; (b) What are the components of a succession plan; (c) What are other organizations doing to develop future leadership; and (d) How can succession planning be implemented in Spokane County Fire District Eight?"
Nielsen, Tony C.