Chapter 22 Community risk reduction

Fire and Life safety Programs

Initiatives

• Public relation/safety branch of a department community risk reduction

• Bring community and fire together

Purpose

• Mentoring/Community education

• Fire prevention

• Health awareness

• Large-scale disaster preparedness

• Prepare humans for hazards that are unpreventable

• Personnel create and maintain positive relation with the public

Interactions

• Personnel receive citizens’ concerns, complaints, and inquires

• How personnel resolve issues determine org. public image

• All statements made to public: Truthful/Factual

• Good customer service: Calm, Polite, listen actively even if angry, understand true natural of issue/complaint

• know range of full service available

• know who to contact when resolving inquire

• resolve issue with your authority quickly or refer to proper authority

• Document all complaints according to SOP’s

Private dwelling fire and life safety survey (home safety survey)

Provides information about safety equipment, can be done on volunteer basis.

• single family homes not subject to local fire codes like businesses, institutions, industrial structures

• surveys provided as public service

• occupant participation is voluntary

• survey for potential hazard

• educational opportunities not enforcement tools

• complete a survey form for each resident if possible

• provide a copy to occupant/ a checklist of common causes can serve as a guide

Common causes (highest - lowest)

• Cooking equipment

• Heating equipment

• Electrical distribution/lighting equipment/defective equipment

• Intentional

• Smoking materials

Non-fire hazards

• Falls

• Drowning

• Accidents

• Poisoning

Fire and life safety hazards

Fire hazards - Conditions that would increase likelihood, extent, severity of fire

Safe hazards - Unsafe behavior/conditions

Unsafe behaviors

• Poor housekeeping

• Open burning

• Hoarding combustible materials (oil, gas, chemicals)

• Ignoring ignition sources

• Unattended cooking materials

• Unsafe smoking materials

Unsafe conditions

• Electrical hazards: exposed or frayed wires, extension cords, overloaded outlets

• Loose handrail on a stairway

• Ice on a sidewalk or exterior stairs

• Unsecured swimming pool access

• Nonworking smoke detectors Propane/butane, gasoline, or chemicals storage

• Poor basement access or ventilation

• Overloaded attic storage

Planning and Public awareness

For public awareness and education, also gains acceptance to fire department

Main Objectives

• Preventing accidental fires

• Improving life safety conditions

• Helping occupant understand/improve conditions

Educational opportunities

• Provide customized safety information in a way the resident can understand and embrace.

• Discuss the correct installation, replacement, and maintenance of smoke alarms.

• Discuss the importance and advantages of having bedroom doors closed while sleeping

• Discuss the advantages of residential sprinkler systems.

• Help develop an exit plan with effective escape routes and determine a meeting place.

• Provide information about carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.

• Provide information on the prevention and proper treatment of burns.

• Recommend the correct portable fire extinguisher and placement of extinguishers.

Gain Information

• Home construction

• Occupancy conditions

• Location of streets, fire hydrants, and water supplies

• Presence of security grilles and gates

• Local trends in housing development

• Identification of residents with special needs

• Residents who do not speak English in the community

Provide special information to

• Older residents

• Disabled

• Non-English speakers

• Small children

• Physical, mental, sensory limitations

Professional Courtesy

Expectations

• Take surveys seriously

• Behave professionally

• Answer a variety of questions

Guidelines

• Conduct surveys in teams of two or more

• Dress and act professionally

• Introduce yourself/your partner and provide proper identification

• Explain the survey procedure

• Compliment when conditions are safe

• Survey basement, garage, attic is accessible/allowed

• Thank occupant/owner

• Leaving educational materials behind

• Keep survey confidential

Fire and life safety presentations

Primary Focus - provide effective and appropriate information on risk-reduction issues and strategies

Presentations

• formal classes in CPR/tours of station

• hazard being prevented

• specific audience

Basic Skills

• Audience centered/Best choice of words

• Good development ideas (appealing, memorable)

• Good organization

• Delivery skills, vocal, tone, positive attitude, appropriate humor, personal style