UK's International Search and Rescue Team - Case Study Example

Rescue team Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Rescue team UK's International Search and Rescue Team In this paper, am going to cover how fire brigade supports the international rescue team, Haiti earthquake, and the UK involvement, laws in England and Wales. I will consider the fire services and its impact on UK operators and rescue team, globalization, the role of the United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team, ethical considerations that are dealt with in the fire and rescue services and the role of the practitioner in a changing world environment (Kramer 2009, pp. 54). Fire can cause lots of destruction and life loss if not well checked. Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and aid provision to the people who are in danger or distress. The UK International Search and Rescue Team include many specialty fields such as air-sea rescue over water, combat search and rescue on the battle field, mountain rescue and ground search and rescue (search rescue dogs and urban search and rescue in cities) (Kramer 2009, pp. 54). The UK rescue team was applauded by many nations and Haiti government for working tirelessly to rescue Haitians who had been trapped in an earthquake, which destroyed their buildings (Haiti Costa 2010, pp. 15). They used sniffer dogs and other equipments to rescue the victims where more than 170000 people died and more than 300000 injured (Haiti Costa 2010, pp. 19). The health and safety Act of 1974 defines the authority for encouragement, regulations and enforcement at workplace safety, health and welfare in the UK (Larry, 2004, 37). This Act is meant to define the roles on contractors, suppliers of goods for use at work place, persons in control of work premises, employees, and employers. This is meant to reduce cases of risks and how to respond when an emergency arises at work place. It is ethical for organizations to protect their employees from injuries and to follow all the legal requirements. These are the international or global requirement that must be adhered to, to ensure the safety of all the workers (Kramer 2009, pp. 60). The UK human rights Act have a legal effect to the fundamental rights and freedoms in European conventions. The humans are ethical principles of ensuring one does fair or good things to others. Others should not damage other people’s rights such as rights not to be mistreated and tortured. Some of these human rights include the right of life, right not to be punished for an act, which was not a crime, right to liberty, right not to be subjected to a death penalty, freedom of assembly, association, marrying, and expression and peaceful enjoyment of personal property. Incase any of the freedoms and rights is breached, one has a right to an effective solution in law. These rights are standard globally and are ethical in nature (Kramer 2009, pp. 63). The European convention on human rights was formally known as the convention for protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms (Larry, 2004, 38). It was drafted in 1953 and it is an international treaty that protects the fundamental freedoms and human rights in Europe. Any one who feels his or rights and freedoms have been breached can go to European court of human rights law for legal action to be taken. The UN human rights Act was a declaration of 1948 drafted by UN commission on Human rights. Its aim was to protect people’s human rights and freedom from torture in order to ensure ethics and laws are upheld (Kramer 2009, pp. 64). Globalization Globalization is a process by which societies, cultures, and regional economies have integrated through communication, transportation, internet, trade, and network of political ideas and opinions (Dehesa 2006, pp. 111). Globalization has ease trade transactions where people can exchange goods and services regardless of the country where one comes from. Sharing of information in various fields such as in education, health, transport, culture and migration can shared among many countries. With the presence of radios, TV’s, internet and trainings that takes place different countries through video conferencing has enhanced globalization (Dehesa 2006, pp. 113). Globalization leads to removal and reduction of barriers and hindrance between and among national borders and boundaries to facilitate the flow of labor, capital, services, and goods. Culture has been shared among different nations or countries from various races, tribes, nationalities, ethnicity, and cultures (Ulrich 2000, pp. 34). Many countries had resisted globalization in the early 19th century because they wanted to protect the country’s industries, cultures, health facilities, technologies, and education. Globalization picked up very fast in the fourth quarter of the 20th century. Globalization has eliminated the state-enforced restrictions and has promoted complex global system of production; hence easing exchange of communication and information. Globalization has brought a world to be one and united thing due to the shared information by many countries (Ulrich 2000, pp. 37). The role of the United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team The United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team have been in the forefront in disaster management and control in many countries in the world based on its coordinated disaster management program. The United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team has been dealing with emergency cases in many countries. It deals with educating citizens of many countries on how to avoid risks associated with emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, fire out break, terrorists and road accidents (Kramer 2009, pp. 61). Emergency management is a discipline that deals with preparation and prevention of disasters and emergencies before it occurs. This has been achieved by the United Nations through disaster responses such as evacuation, mass decontamination, and quarantine. The United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team have been supportive in rebuilding the society after the human made or natural disasters have occurred. This United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team has been involving themselves in managing hazards in order avoid or to reduce the impact of hazards happening in the society (Kramer 2009, pp. 61). The team has effective emergency plans where all levels of governments and non-governments are actively involved. The body depends on the willingness of government to respond to disasters in different countries when they are called to. The body is usually coordinated in responding to different disasters and this was evidenced on the immediate response to the Haiti and Chile emergencies on earthquake. The rescue team was sent immediately to the country to try and assist and rescue the Haitians and Chileans (Haiti Costa 2010, pp. 28). Many governments supported the United Nations disaster assessment and rescue team in responding to a call by the Haiti government. After the disaster has been assessed, it mobilized organizations, individuals, governments, non-governmental organization, and agencies to collect funds to rebuild the destroyed nation. It tries to rebuild the country after the disaster rescue teams are through with helping the affected people in the disaster. The United Nations rescue team has an emergency response service unit that coordinates all the activities called the first wave of core emergency services, which comprise of firefighters, police, and ambulance crew which conduct military operation known as Disaster Relief Operation (Larry, 2004, 44). The other important role is the mitigation or an attempt to reduce the effects of disasters by focusing on long term measures of eliminating or reducing the effects of risks. There are several implementations of strategies, which are part of the recovery process, which are either structural or non-structural in nature. This entails comprehensive legislations on land used and measures that people should take to prevent disasters such as floods and fire outbreak. On the issue of earthquake, the United Nations advises on how and where to build big houses so that they cannot be shaken by the earthquakes (Larry, 2004, 45). Ethical considerations that are dealt with in the fire and rescue services When dealing with fire and rescue services, some ethical considerations must be dealt with. Information security is crucial because it needs to be protected from access by unauthorized persons, recording, destruction, inspection, perusal, modification, disruption, or disclosure. For the company to operate as expected in accordance to set codes of conduct and ethics there must be whistleblowers protection policy. Employees must be provided with free retaliation working environment for good faith reporting or by revealing any violation of the laws and code of conduct (Rumbold 1999, pp. 102). Authenticity is where the information security is necessary for documentation either in electronic or physical and should be genuine for it to be considered ethical. Validity of authenticity is important so that both parties involved are the intended claimants. Availability of fire and rescue services will prevent denial of service attacks and accessibility. The other codes of ethics, which must be adhered, are: Keeping all sensitive personal and business information involving the fire department confidential. Provision of healthy and safe work place that respect the values of diversity, which is free of harassment and discrimination (Rumbold 1999, pp. 121). Treating all firefighters or trained personnel (employees) with due respect and dignity. Communicating openly, freely, honestly and clearly on what is needed for improvement so that incase of fire outbreak, it can be dealt with in a legal and ethical manner. There must a clear process of reporting any unethical or illegal behavior, which may compromise the fire ands rescue services to those affected. If the employee’s behavior appears to be inconsistent with the set code of conduct, the matter should be addressed immediately. The matter should be handled by the supervisor if it is within his powers. Appropriate action need to be taken if the employee is found to have violated the company’s code of conduct and ethics (Rumbold 1999, pp. 124). The role of the practitioner in a changing world environment A practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats chronic and acute illnesses and provides health education and preventive care for both sexes and all ages (Fisher 2003, pp. 80). They possess specific skills and competencies for treating patients with multiple heal issues and complications (comorbidities). General practitioner is a common term in United Kingdom, several commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland. A practitioner therefore provides general health care to patients in that, it does not focus on specific organ system or on a specific type of medical issue (Gottlieb & Dianne 2000, pp. 77). A practitioner is advantageous than a physician who only deals with a specific organ system; in that, the world environment has changed. For example, a practitioner can find a victim of a fire outbreak who has fractured limbs or arms and burnt skin. Some practitioners work independently from physicians while others work with physicians in a collaborative agreement as they practice (Gottlieb & Dianne 2000, pp. 77). This is a collaborative agreement together with the roles, duties, and responsibilities such as pharmacologic prescriptions and medical treatment. A practitioner’s other roles are: Prescribing rehabilitation treatments and other physical therapy (Fisher 2003, pp. 83). Conducting physical check ups, examinations and obtaining medical records histories. Evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and treating chronic and acute diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and tuberculosis. Medical prescription of drugs for chronic and acute diseases, but prescription may vary based on the regulations (Gottlieb & Dianne 2000, pp. 82). Educating and guiding and counseling patients on treatment options, self-care skills, health behaviors, and preventive measures. Providing health-maintenance care for adults, specialty care services, and primary annual physicals (Gottlieb & Dianne 2000, pp. 86). Helping in performing minor procedures and surgeries, which include casting, dermatological biopsies, and suturing. Practitioners too assist in training but under a physician mandate and supervision (Gottlieb & Dianne 2000, pp. 87). Conclusion In conclusion, fire and rescue teams are important in all ensuring disasters are dealt with incase they occur. Fire rescue firms must maintain ethics and code of conduct so that employees can work in an ethical manner at all times. If it was not for the globalization, Haitians would have suffered, but all countries and disaster rescue teams responded especially from UK who did commendable work (Marling 2006, pp. 23). Practitioners are important because they can deal with many illnesses or diseases than physicians who deal with specific diseases. Disaster management policies and programs are in all countries so that can respond immediate incase of disasters or calamities occurring such as fire outbreak, floods or earthquakes like what happened in Haiti. Recommendation The United Nations should improve their disaster management techniques so that they respond to any form of disaster in any part of the world. Many countries should be educated or trained on the importance of having a swift and a coordinated disaster management team. All organization on fire and rescue should have a code of conduct and ethics that all employees must adhere to for the success of the firm (Fisher 2003, pp. 90). Globalization should be embraced by all countries so that incase of disasters, all countries can respond and help the affected people within the shortest time possible (Dehesa 2006, pp. 117). For an improved health provision in a country, there should be qualified practitioners who can handle all types of illnesses and diseases. The United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team should have an organized team and stations in all regions of the world so that it becomes easier and faster when responding to disasters like what happened in (Haiti Costa 2010, pp. 29). The body should therefore have disaster management and rescue team in all continents. It should have all the fire fighting equipment and any other disaster control or management devices used incases of floods, fire outbreak, road accidents and earthquakes (Larry, 2004, 39). Reference: Costa, C. L. 2010. Natural Disaster Deaths in Haiti: Victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Casualties of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. New York: General Books LLC. Pp. 15-29. Dehesa, D. G. 2006. Winners and losers in globalization. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. 111-117. Fisher, C. B. 2003. Decoding the ethics code: a practical guide for psychologists. New York: Sage. Pp. 80-90. Gottlieb, N. & Dianne, B. S. 2000. The Woman client: providing human services in a changing world. New York: Routledge. Pp. 77-87. Kramer, W. M. 2009. Disaster planning and control. New York: Fire Engineering Books. Pp. 54- 64. Larry, C. 2004. Technical Rescue Operations, Volume I: Planning, Training, and Command. New York: Penn Well Books. Pp. 35-45. Marling, W. 2006. How "American" is globalization? New York: JHU Press. Pp. 23. Poncelet, C. E. 2004. Collaborating for the environment: multistakeholder collaboration in a changing world. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. Pp. 200-220. Rumbold, G. 1999. Ethics in nursing practice. London, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences. PP. 102- 124. Ulrich, B. 2000. What is globalization? New York: Wiley-Blackwell. 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