Measuring the Extent and the Performance of Fire and Rescue Management - Essay Example

Name : xxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxx Title : xxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxx @2009 Introduction This report examines the current condition in the quality and standards implicated in fire and rescue management around the globe. There have been numerous fire disasters around the globe with majority causing lots of irreparable damages. Unlike other disasters whose damages can be easily restored like theft and the destruction of goods, the damages caused by fire are very severe such that it becomes almost impossible to bring back damaged goods to their initial condition. Fires can bring down valuable buildings, edifices and homes. The threats caused by a number of fire disasters have prompted the need to adopt ideal quality measures and standards to help in the management and rescue services in the event of any fire disaster. With the danger posed by this disaster, a number of workshops have severally been conducted to help in imparting skills and knowledge in the management of fir disasters. These workshops are held with the purpose of training various personnel and at the same time increasing the awareness of the risk posed by this disaster. Discussion With the high cost of the destruction caused by a fire and the large number of victims bound to be affected , a fire presents with all the features common to a number of other disasters like flooding and earthquakes. The causalities in any fire disaster are such that are in dire need of quick medical intervention owing to the intensity of burns that they might have incurred in the disaster (Zeballos 1992). Depending of the intensity of burning, most of the rescue procedures can ideally be provided with the use of the locally available resources. For fires of higher proportions damaging lots of properties, it is advisable to have excellent rescue measures and standards upheld. This can be done through the use of professionalism where by individuals handling the rescue procedures need to have received prior training and exhibited high standards of qualification in that particular field. Intense fires are highly feared for causing the suffocation of human beings as a result of the effect of various gases and smoke. Excellent rescue services should have a clear understanding of the implicated dangers of the effects of smoke and gases in the event of any fire. Panic has been identified as a major cause of dramatic fires in most cases reported in the UK ( Zlatanova et al 2007). Panic seems to take control of any individual caught in a fire especially in the wake of the realization of the speed with which a fire can cause death and lots of other major injuries. Psychological paralysis quickly takes over in the event of a fire outbreak. Such a situation makes it very hard for the individuals caught in the disaster to think logically (Coppola 2007). The level of desperation and confusion that ensues in the event of a fire disaster causes individuals to develop a number of instinctive reactions geared at saving oneself and perhaps that which is held dear in an attempt to get to safer grounds. Any fire disaster needs to be examined with regard to the particular features that it presents with (Aburel, Visa &Grigorescu 1994).The ability to make rational decisions in the event of any fire disaster can only be reinforced if calm is restored and the risks involved ascertained. The rescue team to aid in the management of any fire disaster should be able to provide ideal information concerning the various risks involved (Satendra 2003). This would then help those caught up in the disaster to have an understanding of the various risks at hand and perhaps behave appropriately on being instructed on what exactly needs to be done (Gunn 1990). The lack of an ideal understanding of the appropriate steps to take in the event of any fire is highly feared for intensifying the nature of the catastrophe. The effects of any fire disaster can be of traumatizing effects even for fires that may be very short lived. This is because any fire has the ability to spread very fast within a very short period of time. In human beings, the immediate pathological effect of any fire is a burn that can takes various forms. The nature of any burn is thought to be of very devastating effects on the sufferer (House of Commons 2006). Owing to such effects, the rescue and fire management team at any scene must not only be trained in the prevention of damages in the event of any fire but also have a prior training in the planning and the use of various measures to strategically mitigate the various damages on human beings. This should be done with the aim of preventing the escalation of the implicated effects of the fire and at the same time promoting the healing of the damages accrued (Mathews & Feather 2003). The type of training to be accorded to the rescue and fire disaster management team should be able to help them understand the following: the likelihood of a high number of people being caught up in a fire disaster the intensity of the burns on the causalities alongside their general condition the ability to ascertain other side effects that are bound to emerge alongside the burns such as wounds , inhalation lesions and fractures The ability to effectively ascertain and manage hypovolaenic shock, a type of condition associated with a number of burns which characterizes the initial phases of a number of burns. This should help the rescue team in upholding ideal resuscitation measures in the shortest span of time possible after the disaster. The survival of the causalities stands to be greatly impaired by the heavy inhalation of fumes and various combinations of gases alongside hot air from the combustion which stands to damage their internal air ways. The accessibility of the scene of the disaster may be impaired by a number of aspects and thus the urgency with which the response is taken is of great concern. The rescue team should ensure that only identified professionals handle the causalities from the disaster since only such personnel can be able to effectively ascertain the gravity of the injuries incurred and further prescribe appropriate action. Other than ascertaining the number of those who might have died in the event of the fire, the damage and the severity of the fire needs to be stated with regard to the number of individuals in a state of intense disability and at the risk of potential mortality. The rescue efforts at any fire disaster need to ensure that appropriate care of all the curable causalities is highly considered. The current standards of the management of fire disasters in the UK For over a period of about sixty years, fire fighting response in the United Kingdom has been formulated on the basis of the environment of the building. This has been very ideal in the reduction of fire accidents in a number of public places (Hadjiiski & Dimitrov 1998). Studies done in the past indicate that various uncertainty treatment theories or inferences have for ages been used to foster the assessment of the risk involved and the management of a number of fires. The lack of an ideal or rather holistic approach to the management of the risks and the various supporting tools to be used in various fire and rescue measures remains to be a major obstacle to fire and rescue operations. The various methods that have preferably been used are such that are not ideally tailored for application in management of fire disasters. Fire and rescue management is very unique unlike other disasters and thus requires very ideal management strategies. Such a situation thus calls for the need to identify an ideal asset management approach to fire and rescue services (Smeby 2005). There is need to propose an ideal risk management frame work that preferably supports the various tools that can be used in the management of fires and rescue services (Waugh 2000). The deployment of effective resources in the management of fires and rescue services is an aspect that would improve and further optimize fire fighting operations and fighting strategies. There is need to study fire and rescue management operations together with the various characteristics, equipment and strategies to be adopted. Planning For the Management of Fire Disasters With regard to the management of fires, disaster preparedness refers to the level of prevention, training response, preparedness and reconstruction of any form of disaster. Planning needs to identify the various instruments needed for the prevention or the reduction of the effects of the disaster on the general population. All the measures being planned for should bear attention to the expected pathology. Effective planning of the disaster response operations should be highly considered. Effective communication channels and transport network to help in the provision of medical services to the casualties needs to be highly considered too. Every aspect needs to be effectively planned with respect to the preparedness for the situation. A draft for a fire rescue plan should not fail to consider the following; The pathological condition of the victim. This is with regard to the extent of the burns and any implicated inhalation lesions. The nature of the type of intervention measures to be upheld. Rescue measures in the event of fire disasters need to be planned along three major lines including the immediate care, immediate medical rescue procedures alongside the application of ideal equipments for rescuing causalities. Local and general factors determine the timeless impact of the rescue procedures (Pertus et al 2005). With regard to fire disasters, the exact time of the disaster, the location, the accessibility and how far the rescue forces are located are important aspects that should be considered in the planning. Any delay in the implementation of any of these aspects would greatly prevent the upholding of ideal rescue services in the event of a fire disaster (Schield & Collins 2001). A major decisive role needs to be upheld by various local factors which heavily rely on the implicated behavior of the individuals at the disaster. The speed with which the rescue team arrives at the scene of the disaster should also be ideally planned. The nature of the disaster needs to determine the chronological and quantitative steps to be followed in upholding rescue procedures (Tweedy 2005). The type of medical attention to be given to fire victims differs from that accorded to other disasters including earthquakes and floods. On waiting for ideal medical attention, it is advisable to offer appropriate first aid measures as soon as possible (Herndon 2007). An ideal planning for the management of fires and rescue operations should consider the following; An ideal evaluation of the nature of the disaster. Appropriate rescue measures for the evacuation of individuals with injuries Effective and specific medical assistance to the causalities. A critical evaluation of the ability of available medical facilities to handle the casualties Measuring the Extent and the Performance of Fire and Rescue Management A quick evaluation of the nature of a fire disaster is vital for ascertaining the level of rescue operations to be upheld. This evaluation would determine the size of the rescue team to be designated to the provision of various operations including; the operations right on the spot, local first aid measures, and regional operations. A figure of about twenty five to thirty individuals being caught up in any fire disaster implies a severe catastrophe ( Masellis & William 1992). This is with regard that there probably exist a relatively high number of other minor causalities. A fire disaster needs ideal management since various local procedures may not be ale to cope with various health conditions. This is more so with regard that the available facilities to handle the disaster in two geographical places are not the same (Viala 1997). This explains why its is vital to call for the intervention of various levels of rescue forces especially in the event that the disaster is severe. The exact number of those injured and dead should be immediately ascertained to help in the assessment of the disaster. The team operating on the spot should be in a position to provide vital information on the nature of the situation at hand. This would probably help in sending signals to various medical facilities so that they can prepare for the arrival of the causalities. The team should be able to determine the exact time of arrival for full-scale medical care and first aid (Wells & Young 2004). Reviewing the Performance of Fire and Rescue Management Procedures The ideal management of fire and rescue management procedures should entail the following; The mapping of all the available medical facilities in an disaster hit region Preparation of lists of all the medical facilities within the disaster region that have facilities to handle fire casualties (Gunn & Masellis 1998). Parameters pointing to the use of various regional data banks for the provision of medical aid including blood banks and gene banks in the region hit by the disaster Guidance on the use of various forms of specialized medical structures that can organize for the transportation of the casualties to medical facilities. Guidance on the organization of medical facilities to handle an emergency related to a fire disaster. All the available medial facilities need to be in a position to set up ideal emergency procedures for the provision of: Well structured emergency facilities for its various staff. Identify a central location where the receiving and viewing of arriving casualties can be done. Be able to effectively collaborate with various medical facilities including the laboratory, the blood bank and the radiology units. Identify an office where communication between the casualties and their families can be upheld. Liaising with the laundry and pharmacy facilities for the provision adequate supplies for the incoming casualties. Conclusion Owing to the particular nature of some pathological conditions common to fire disasters, the rescue and fire management team should ideally identify with the fact that casualties in this regard need to be given specific attention. Such rescue operations need to be different from operations common to other catastrophes like floods and earthquakes. There is need for the fire and rescue operation team to provide immediate medical attention to the casualties in line with the evaluation of the implicated damage to human life caused by a fire. It is equally important for the rescue management team to mobilize immediate support by individuals right on the spot. This should be done with in line with ideal first aid measures alongside the provision of ideal prognosis. For the fire and rescue management procedures at any one point to bear an organized and scientific kind of rigor, there is need to subdivide the operations in to various phases. Such a division of operations in to various phases makes it possible to ideally predict the nature of the risk and the appropriate measures to be taken. It is ideal for ordinary citizens to have the capability to respond to emerging situations as a sign of civil and cultural progress with regard to disaster preparedness. References Aburel V., Visa I. &Grigorescu D.: The 1979 fire disaster (93 casualties) in Brosov, Romania: the importance of rapid transport and unitary treatment in a hospital. Ann. Medit. 13 ums Club Vol, 8: pgs 30-35, 1994. Coppola, D, 2007, Introduction to International Disaster Management, Butterworth- Heinemann, Sydney. Gunn S & Masellis M.: The World Organization Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Burn and Fire Disasters: The Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters. Ann. Burns and Fire Disasters, Vol.11: pg 3-6, 1998. Gunn S, 1990, Multilingual Dictionary of Disaster Medicine and International Relief. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. Hadjiiski & Dimitrov D, Organization and transport in mass burn disasters. Ann. Burns and Fire Disasters, Vol. 11: pg 45-6, 1998. Herndon, D, 2007, Total Burn Care, Elsevier Health Sciences, Washington. House of Commons, 2006, The Fire and Rescue Service: Session 2005-06, Stationery Office, New Jersey. Masellis, S, & William, G, 1992, The Management of Mass Burn Causalities and Fire Disasters: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Burns and Fire Disasters, Springer Publishers, New Jersey. Mathews, G, & Feather, J, 2003, Disaster management for libraries and archives, Ashgate Publishers, California. Pertus, J et al, 2005, Geo-Information for Disaster Management, Springer, New Jersey. Satendra, 2003, Disaster Management in the Hills, Concert Publishing Company, Washington. Schield, D & Collins, 2001, Disaster Management and Preparedness, CRC Press, Virginia Smeby, L, 2005, Fire and Emergency Service Administration: Management and Leadership Practices, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Washington. Tweedy, J, 2005, Healthcare Hazard Control and Safety Management, CRC Press, California Viala B, Risque chimique en milieu souterrain. Ann. Burns and Fire Disasters, 10: 50-3, 1997. Waugh, W, 2000, Living with hazards, dealing with disasters: an introduction to emergency management, M.E .Sharpe, Washington. Wells, A & Young, B, 2004, Fire in Airport Planning and Management, McGraw-Hill, New Jersey. Zeballos J.L 1992, Triage In Disasters. In: Further Aspects of Disaster Medicine, Heresu Publishing Co. Inc., Tokyo. Zlatanova et al, 2007, Geomatics Solutions for Disaster Management, Springer, New Jersey. Read More