Role and the Inter-Relationship of the Fire Service, Other Emergency Services - Coursework Example

Community Safety Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Introduction Community safety is a widely used terminology by academicians, the local authority workers, involved agencies, police and a range of other people engaged in engaged in localized action to fight crime (Gowen, 2000). As indicated by scholars, the word community safety is a complicated and complex term that is very hard to define. Typically it is perceived as a general all-encompassing phrase from crime reduction or crime reduction (Gowen, 2000). Apparently, the word entails much more than this as it focuses on introducing social and physical changes that prioritizes the local environments in an attempt to prevent any disorder or crime from happening (Gowen, 2000). According to the community safety home office, community safety is a feature in life in which human beings either individually or collectively are protected from threats or hazards that are as a result of anti-social or criminal activity committed by others. This people are equipped to address such hazards if they occur (Gowen, 2000). Evidently, community safety is not entirely the responsibility of the local authorities as well as their partnering agencies but also the communities have to play a role to ensure their safety (Gowen, 2000). This report aims at describing the role and the inter-relationship of the fire service, other emergency services and supporting agencies in a range of community safety events or activities and assesses the risks and applies relevant control measures within a range of community safety events. In addition, appraise the selection, location and access to a range of resources used to achieve objectives at community safety events and analyze the contents of various initiatives and methods used to effectively communicate these messages to the community. This will be aimed at helping to reduce the number of deliberate fires within the said community. The role and the inter-relationship of the fire service, other emergency services and supporting agencies in a range of community safety events or activities It is apparent that the role of the fire fighting service, other emergency services such as the Defence Fire Service as well as the supporting agencies in arrange of community safety events is to help the community put out the fire. In addition they also help in various kind non-emergency and emergency situations. The work of the fire fighting service includes attending chemical spills, pumping out flood water and helping at a road. Moreover, they also rescue individuals trapped in buildings. Evidently, in conjunction with the supporting organizations, the fire fighting service offer advice to the community on how to prevent the fire at events in which they hold. Besides, they also offer advice on fire hazards a both their homes as well as in their functions. The fire-fighter service in the United Kingdom inspects the premises of its citizens to ascertain that these homes conform to the fire safety regulations. On the other hand it is the responsibility of the supporting services such as the Red Cross to ensure that they rescue the adversely affected people in the society. They also offer material support to help the community stand on its feet again. Furthermore they offer moral support to help the traumatized calm down. According to studies there is a strong inter-relationship between the fire fighting services, other emergency services such as the Defence Fire Service as well as the supporting agencies in arrange of community safety events. All of these services are guided by almost a same aim and that is to protect the community from threats or hazards that are as a result of anti-social or criminal activity committed by others. Their activities in the community events are inter-related related since they entail offering humanitarian services in support of the affected community. Risk assessment A fire risk assessment can be defined as a careful examination of the fire hazards in one’s premises that can cause harm to you as an individual or the community at large in order to size up if you have taken adequate precautions or more should be done in order to prevent the harm (Haimes, 2009). The community has the responsibility of protecting themselves from any harm that may be caused by a failure and to undertake realistic control measures. The law does not expect them to completely eradicate all risks, but it necessitates them to protect themselves as much as it is sensibly practical (Haimes, 2009). According to studies, there exist five steps of carrying out the fire risk assessment. Identify the fire hazard It is apparent that for a fire to occur, it must be due to ignition, oxygen or fuel. Studies indicate that this three increase the risk of fire (Haimes, 2009). There are a number of potential sources of ignitions which include the deliberate ignition commonly referred to as arson, naked flames for instance matches and smokers materials as well as hot works such as electrical materials among others (Haimes, 2009). In our case the fires have been as a result of ignition by the irresponsible youths who have been setting on the fires. Identify people at risk The greatest danger in the event of a fire is the spread of this fire, smoke as well as heat throughout the premises (Haimes, 2009). Those people living in the premises can be adversely affected by the products of combustion especially if the fire grows beyond control and the house has no fire escape (Haimes, 2009). Identifying people at risk entails assessing the speed of spread of fire, the number of people in the premises as well as the arrangements to give people warnings in case there is an event of fire. In this case this identifying the people at risk will entail assessing the nature of the community and those present at the premises where the fire has occurred that is the playground and residents. Evaluating the risks After identifying the hazards and the people at risk, an assessment of the impacts of the hazard must be done (Haimes, 2009). This assessment should take into consideration the control measures in place. This is so as to determine whether more control measures are required to minimize the risk (Haimes, 2009). Evidently, the further control measures are in a number of categories which include; means of escape, safety management systems for fires, fire warning systems and community training (Haimes, 2009). Recording your findings Recording the findings of your risk assessment is of paramount (Haimes, 2009). The record should entail specific people at risk and the control measures undertaken to minimize the risk. Moreover, it should indicate whether the control measures taken are adequate or more are needed to bring the risk to some acceptable level (Haimes, 2009). Revising and reviewing the risk as assessment It is evident that the fire risk assessment is process that is continuous and it necessitates monitoring and auditing (Haimes, 2009). In addition effective control measures should be maintained to help minimize the risk of fire. To ensure that you keep track of the any changes in the risk assessment it is significant to revise and review it regularly (Haimes, 2009). Control measures A control measure is a part of a facility that includes process or advice, any system or procedure or procedure deemed right to eradicate risks, prevent any hazards from occurring as well as reduce the intense of the risks of any event that takes place (Roughton, 2002). Risk control measure is the main tool that yields a safe operation. The measures are more than physical equipment; they include procedures of high level and detailed operation systems (Roughton, 2002). They may be pro-active to eradicate the risks or reactive to minimize the risks. Apparently the risk control measures are identified during hazard identification and risk assessment (Roughton, 2002). The risk control measures are categorized as; Eliminate hazards According to studies this is the most effective control measure. It entails eradicating the risk. If possible it should be preferred to other types as with it you will not need the other controls (Roughton, 2002). Prevent incidents This is the control measure that is intended to eliminate or reduce the causes of particular hazards. As a result the corresponding menace remains but their consistent is greatly reduced (Roughton, 2002). Reduce consequences The control measures are purposed to reduce the intensity of the incidents (Roughton, 2002) Mitigate the harm The measure limits the consequences of an incident. They are for instance fire fighting systems especially the emergency response plan (Roughton, 2002). Despite the fact that they are the last in the hierarchy, they are of significant if the risk at hand cannot be reduced to acceptable levels by the other controls (Roughton, 2002). Appraise the selection, location and access to a range of resources used to achieve objectives at community safety events In order to evaluate the kind of tools to be used to help attain the objectives at community safety events, it is necessary that the involved team understands the prevailing behaviour that wants to be addressed (Uberto et al, 2005). This way the people involved will be able to identify the people affected by the problem easily. In our case the problem will be dealing with the reduction of fire incidences as well as curbing alcohol consumption between the youths. This can be achieved by facilitating the learning process (Uberto et al, 2005). This is attained by acquiring the right skills and knowledge deemed right to create a positive as well as safe environment for the youths and the supporting agencies to meet their goals. The next step will be to deliver the training (Uberto et al. 2005). This can be achieved by outlining the training design, objectives, methods and aids. All these are reviewed as well as refined in a logical, interrelated and cohesive manner to help attain the set objective (Uberto et al. 2005). In addition, delivering training offers the opportunity to consider the basic values regarding the groups affected for instance the youths in our case. Moreover there is need to sequence, tailor and structure the training (Uberto et al, 2005). This is of an advantage since it examines the content of the training and addresses how it should be delivered and gives the necessary change to be done to ensure it fits the targeted audience. Besides, it provides a framework to help meet the different needs of the audience (Uberto et al, 2005). As indicated by studies, selecting the range of resources used to achieve objectives at community safety events entails selection of particular methods of training which best communicate the contents of the training to the training aids and the learners to promote the learning (Uberto et al. 2005). It is recommended that both the standard for instance prepared news print and overhead transparencies as well as traditional for example use of nature and storytelling training aids and methods is used to meet the objectives and deliver the training content to the audience (Uberto et al. 2005). Analyze the contents of various initiatives and methods used to effectively communicate these messages to the community As is evident a number of methods and ways are used to effectively communicate community safety to the community who are the primary audience (Doll et al, 2007). In our case to help address the problem with the youth the method used should entail a project that integrates healthy and safe activities for the youths, trainings as well as skills building workshops and family strengthening activities and counselling (Doll et al. 2007). All this should be aimed at providing education to the youth to ascertain that they remain free and safe from violence, drug abuse and any dangerous behaviour. The contents of the initiative will include reports of neglect or abuse referred by the supporting agencies, community or the youths not involved in the violent behaviours as other youths. This will give the youth ample time away from home to perform enriching activities other than alcohol taking and setting up fires. Besides, they ear encouraged to participate in more recreational activities (Doll et al. 2007). In order to ensure that communication is effective, the supporting agencies should be sure to understand the feelings of the affected youths so as to help them manage their anger as well as respect themselves and others (Doll et al. 2007). This can be better attained during the counselling session where positive behaviours will be reinforced. The workshops will be aimed at providing additional information on the dangerous behaviour the youths are involved in. in addition, the youths will be taught of the harmful effects of engaging in such unacceptable behaviours (Doll et al. 2007). Ways in which the youths can be engaged in the hazard reduction activities The youths can be engaged by allowing them to participate in positive activities in the community such as intergenerational activities which are planned to help solve the problems of violence in the community and to reduce the fear of crime in the area (Matthews and Pitts, 2001). The youths should offer assistance to the supporting agencies. In addition the youths should be encouraged to participate safe communities day by being given the responsibility of putting posters to indicate when the events will take place (Matthews and Pitts, 2001). This will enable them feel to have a sense of belonging and it will help them shun their unaccepted behaviour as they will be busy. In order to attain the required community safety practices, it is of paramount that a partnership between the community and supporting agencies be enhanced. These agencies include the police at the community level (Matthews and Pitts, 2001). They are meant to help the community with surveillance and mentoring efforts to ensure the youth fulfil their duties under the restorative justice. Others include the emergency agencies and the counselling agencies who offer the relevant resources for the training and monitoring of the youths to ensure they stay safe and free from violence, drug abuse and any dangerous behaviour (Matthews and Pitts, 2001). Conclusion Hazards and risks are common phenomena and it is of paramount to device ways in which they can be addressed. As discussed in the essay to effectively manage a risk, it is necessary to carry out a risk assessment. In our case we focused on the fire risk assessment. The report has discussed such identifying the fire hazard, identify people at risk, evaluating the risks, recording your findings and revising and reviewing the risk as assessment. In the report are also the control measures that could effectively help to eradicate risks, prevent any hazards from occurring as well as reduce the intense of the risks of any event that takes place. They include; eliminate hazards, prevent incidents, reduce consequences as well as mitigate the harm. Moreover the report has encompassed that the methods used to convey the message of community safety at community events be both the standard for instance prepared news print and overhead transparencies as well as traditional for example use of nature and storytelling training aids and methods. In conclusion the contents for the various initiatives such as the training workshops, counselling sessions and the healthy and safety activities have been discussed. References Doll, LS., Bonzo, SE., Mercy, JA., Sleet, DA., and Haas, EN. 2007. Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention. New York, NY: Springer. Gowen, S. 2000. Community safety. Melbourne: Community Links. Haimes, Y. 2009. Risk Modelling, assessment, and management. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Matthews, R. and Pitts, J. 2001. Crime, disorder and community safety: a new agenda? London: Routledge. Roughton, J. 2002. Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach, 1st Ed. London: Butterworth-Heinemann. Uberto, G., Richard E. Vitaro, T. F. and McDuff, T. 2005. Youth Gangs, Delinquency and Drug Use: A Test of the Selection, Facilitation, and Enhancement Hypotheses. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 46, no. 11, pp. 1178-1190. Read More