Statistical Information from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Integrated Risk Management Plan - Coursework Example

Running Header: Community safety Name of the Student: Name of the Instructor: Name of the course: Code of the course: Submission date: Table of Contents Running Header: Community safety 1 Name of the Student: 1 2 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Changing Peoples Behaviors through Campaigns 5 Partnering with Stakeholders and the community 6 Youth Engagement 7 Role of Legislation 8 Strategies for Improving Community Safety 9 Conclusions 10 References 11 Introduction Safety in the community assists in reducing devastating losses of property and life that may occur as a result of fire. Fire departments are required to come up with safety programs in order to ensure public safety. According to Gamache at el (2011), fire safety in the community requires fire departments to develop strategies and plans in order to address this problem. A successful fire and safety program calls upon fire departments to conduct community analysis and to develop partnerships with the community. In addition, they must develop and implement the strategies within the community and at the same time evaluate their effectiveness. However, this requires commitment by the involved stakeholders as well as strong support and leadership from the fire department. This paper is going to evaluate the statistical information from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Integrated Risk Management Plan. Societal Risks Associated with Incidents of Fire According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012) fire presents a risk of death to the society. Children and older people have a higher risk of death in incidents of fire. Studies conducted by Yamashita (2008) found out that adults over the age of 54 and children under the age of five years old have the highest risk of death in relation to incidents of fire. This is because older people and children are less mobile and lack the ability to respond to dangers. Additionally, older people have sensory difficulties and they have been statistically found to be less likely to have a fire alarm as compared to other members in the society. On the other hand, younger people are at a risk of dying because of involving themselves in antisocial behaviors related with fire. Moreover, the study found out that men have a higher probability of dying in a fire as compared to women. Furthermore, people in the lower income brackets have a greater risk of dying as compared to those in the higher income clusters. Gamache at el (2011) insists that people who belong to certain religious and ethnic groups have a higher risk of dying from fire. This is because they can use fire as weapons hence expose themselves at a risk of dying. Therefore, incidences of fire create a risk of death in the community. Incidents of fire create a risk of injuries to individuals in the society. According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012), 20% of the most income deprived wards in Merseyside have a higher probability to experience fire related injury as compared to the 20% of wards that are least deprived in relation to income. According to a study conducted by Yamashita (2008), the risk of injury in fire incidences is greatest for adults who are between the ages of 20 and 44 years old as well as to adults who are over the age of 85. Adults aged between 20 to 44 years are risk takers during fires and this makes them to experience a higher proportion of injuries. Furthermore, fires in construction sites increase the risk of serious injuries to individuals (Gamache at el, 2011). This is because of the scattered construction equipment’s, debris and materials which make the fire to spread more rapidly hence cause severe injuries. Statsky (2010) states that the injury rate as a result of fire in vacant and under constructed properties in London was estimated to be approximately 33 firefighters per 1000 fires. Injuries occur because firefighters and individuals lack information about the causes of the fire. In addition, people may assume the risk associated with the fire hence expose themselves to injuries. Moreover, people who have hearing impairments or who are deaf have a lower ability to detect and escape fire incidences. This in turn exposes them to a greater risk of incurring injuries. Besides, older people are characterized by illnesses and impairments hence this makes them vulnerable to injuries in case of fire incidences. Therefore, individuals in the society are exposed to injury risk which is associated with fire incidences. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012) notes that fire incidences have negative effects to the society because they lead to destruction of infrastructure and businesses hence weakening the economy. This in turn creates unemployment leading to a decline in living standards. Statsky (2010) asserts that fire exposes the society to the risk of losing valuable resources like residential properties and assets. According to Hudson (2011), incidences of fire oblige people to waste a lot of resources in making phone calls to fire departments due to the fact that it creates a risk of loss of property. Fire fighters place a higher priority on saving life’s hence this leaves the society at a risk of losing their assets. Moreover, anti-social behavior associated with incidences of fire make fire departments to waste a lot of valued resources and time. Yamashita (2008) asserts that in 2006, individuals in London incurred losses amounting to half a billion pounds as a result of fire. Thus, incidences of fire expose the society to loss of assets and resources. Changing Peoples Behaviors through Campaigns According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012), public campaigns play an important role in raising awareness to individuals in relation to dangers associated with fire. This is due to the need to work with the community by establishing partnerships hence change their behavior in relation to fire safety. Public campaigns assist in enhancing a risk based approach towards improving fire safety in homes. Neill(2011) notes that public campaigns assist fire departments in targeting vulnerable groups and communities with important messages and this plays an important role in changing their behavior. Public campaigns involve identifying key themes in relation to fire and creating awareness in regard to the risks that individuals may be facing. Successful fire campaigns require those who initiate them to gain endorsement from the society as well as from the media. Hudson (2011) affirms that public campaigns assist in promoting the advantages of fire safety and this in turn motivates individuals to adopt the recommended behavior. Individual behavior campaigns strive to change people’s behavior in relation to fire safety and thus improve their social well-being (Gamache at el, 2011). Through public campaigns fire departments can be able to raise the need of community safety in the eyes of the public. Moreover, it provides them with an opportunity to emphasize on the responsibilities of the public in ensuring safety. Yamashita (2008) states that successful fire campaigns require the involved stake holders to set out an agenda in order to guide them through the process. In addition, the campaigners must integrate what the public cares and does with the agenda. This helps in agitating the public to act by changing their behavior in regard to fire. Public campaigns provide a platform for communicating directly with the public thereby increasing the probability of influencing them to change their behavior in respect to fire. Partnering with Stakeholders and the community The community can play a vital role in changing people’s behavior in relation to safety from fire. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012) notes that establishing partnership with the community can assist in developing the role of the society in supporting vulnerable members hence motivate them to adopt safety behaviors. Partnerships provide an opportunity through which fire departments can improve quality of life of the community thereby changing its behavior. According to Kennedy and McGarrel (2009) establishing partnerships with the community and stakeholders can assist fire departments in gaining increased support towards fire safety. This can in turn play a vital role in inspiring individuals to change their behavior. Furthermore, through partnerships with the community, fire authorities can be able to obtain vital information necessary to change their conduct. Gamache at el (2011) affirms that the important aspect of establishing partnerships is that it provides a means of building understanding with the society. This helps in making sure that individuals perceive the value of safety henceforth influence them to change their behavior. Moreover, fire departments can be able to come up with better plans of influencing individuals by establishing corroborations with the community. Fire departments can learn critical methods and processes to utilize in order to create a culture of fire safety by engaging with the community. Effective partnerships can enhance the ability of fire authorities to persuade individuals to change their behavior in relation to fire safety (Coaker, 2010). Besides, fire departments can be able to enhance community volunteer through partnerships. Volunteers provide a means of communication through which fire authorities can use so as to educate individuals and improve their behavior. Youth Engagement According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012), engaging with young people can assist in influencing individuals to adopt positive behavior in relation to fire safety. Moreover, it can help in eliminating their negative impacts to the firefighters and the community. Youths involve themselves in anti-social behavior and this makes it difficult for fire departments to enhance fire safety in the community. Coaker (2010) affirms that anti-social behavior that youths engage in present a major challenge to fire and rescue departments hence the need to change their behavior. Thus, engaging with the youths provides an opportunity through which fire departments can provide leadership to them. This is important as it allows them to recognize the negative impacts that they create in regard to fire safety thereby encouraging them to amendment their behavior. Hudson (2012) notes that youths can offer crucial and quality voluntary work in influencing individuals to change their behavior in order to ensure fire safety. To do this, fire departments are required to build the youths self-confidence and to raise their inspirations as well as instill their self-respect. This can assist them to provide important education and support in encouraging individuals to change their behavior. Youths can offer important public education initiatives in relation to public fire and safety programs in timely and efficient manner (Richmond, 2012). Role of Legislation Merseyside Fire and Rescue service (2012) notes that legislation performs an important role in assisting fire departments to prosecute arsonists who are responsible for setting-up deliberate fires in the country. Cote (2011) notes that laws empower fire departments to sue those accused of deliberately starting fires. The biggest concern for fire fighters is arson because it requires a lot of time and skills in order to detect and investigate as well as prosecute the culprits. Moreover, it requires fire department with an opportunity to create public awareness in order to enlighten individuals on legal provisions relating to arson. Therefore, laws assists fire departments in prosecuting individuals accused for arson. On the other hand, laws play a critical role in preventing hazards that may compromise public safety. According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue service (2012), laws assist fire departments in making sure that commercial property are safe and they contribute to public safety. Legal provisions provide important guidelines through which fire departments can use in order to ensure that the community is safe from risky premises. Moreover, it provides a means through which the departments can educate the stakeholders so as to ensure that they meet their obligations in safeguarding public safety. Furthermore, laws empower fire departments to inspect premises that they may perceive as risky. This ensures that they protect the public by confirming that the premises that they reside in comply with the law. Department for Communities and local Government (2011) states that the national legal framework requires fire departments to provide services related to the safety of the public by ensuring that all public amenities comply with regulations and legislations. In addition, the law obliges fire and rescue authorities to carry out their duty in a way that ensures safety of the public. Thus, the law provides a means through which fire departments can safeguard the public from the risk that may be caused by fire due to negligence. Strategies for Improving Community Safety Arson presents the biggest risk in ensuring public safety. The Great Britain parliament (2009) affirms that arson reduction is a key challenge that faces the community. Therefore, to minimize arson there is need for fire authorities to conduct public relations programs in order to create awareness in relation to the cost of arson to the community. Moreover, there is need to enact new rules whereby individuals who fail to report arsonists can be highly penalized. The biggest challenge that fire and rescue authorities face is identifying arsonists (Coaker, 2010). Therefore, implementing high penalties can be an important step in encouraging individuals to report arsonists. In addition, firefighters should be allocated with more funds so as to enable them to purchase the necessary equipment’s for investigating and prosecuting arsonists. According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2012), fire and rescue authorities receive low grants from the government hence they have been forced to reduce their employee thereby lowering the quality of their services. Finally, firefighters should be trained as much as possible in matters involving arson so as to ensure effective investigation and prosecution. The community faces a high risk related to injuries and death as a result of fire. According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (2006), community safety is mostly needed so as to reduce and prevent deaths as well as injuries. Cote (2011) notes that setting policies that require each home to have a smoke alarm can play a significant role in reducing the rate of deaths and injuries. Smoke alarms create fire awareness in advance hence this can assist in preventing negative outcomes. Furthermore, voluntary firefighters should be thoroughly examined and their medical as well as physical fitness established. Gamache at el (2011) confirms that in 2006, 73% of all firefighting injuries were incurred by volunteers. Thus, there is need to ensure that volunteer firefighters have the necessary skills and physical fitness to overcome the challenges associated with firefighting. Moreover, codes should be developed so as to ensure that buildings are fitted with automatic sprinklers. This requires fire and rescue departments to educate the public on the benefits of fire sprinklers. Richmond (2012) notes that the fire service must assume the responsibility of developing programs of maintaining fire protection systems. This is important in preventing deaths and injuries that may occur as a result of fire outbreaks. Conclusions Incidents of fire present risks associated with death and loss of property. Old people and children have a higher risk of incurring injuries as a result of fire as compared to middle aged persons. Changing people’s behavior through public campaigns and by establishing partnerships with the community can assist in creating awareness in regard to safety. Moreover, engaging with the youth provides the best means through which fire authorities can obtain volunteers who can assist in promoting community safety. Furthermore, rules provide means through which fire departments can prosecute arsonists and at the same time protect the public from risky properties. The community faces great risk from arson hence the need to train firefighters the strategies of investigating cases involving deliberate fires. Additionally, adopting new rules can assist in overcoming this risk. References Coaker, V.(2010). Delivering Safer Communities. Fire Partnership Working, 1(1), 1-30. Cote, A.(2011). Fundamentals of Fire Protection. London: Jones & Barnett Learning. Department for Communities and Local Government.(2011). Fire and Rescue National Framework in England. London: Crown. Gamache, S., Comoletti, J., Hall, J., & Ahrens, M.(2011). Public Fire Education and Planning. National Fire Protection Association, 5(1), p. 20-54. Hudson, A.(2011). Fire and Life Safety. Manson: Cengage Learning Kennedy, L., & McGarrel, E.(2009). Fire and Risk Analysis. London: Taylor & Francis. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.(2012). Intergrated Risk Management Plan 2012/15. 1-63. Neil, H.(2011). Fire Protection Handbook. London: NFPA. Richmond, S.(2012). Fire Protection and Training. Mason: Cengage Learning. Statsky, W. (2010). Personal Injury. Mason: Cengage Learning. The Great Britain parliament .(2009). The Fire and Rescue Service. London: TSO Publishers. Yamashita, K.(2009). Understanding Fire. Ann Arbour: UMI. Read More