Safety Training for Emergency Responders - Essay Example

?Running Head: SAFETY TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS Safety Training For Emergency Responders School] The response to disasters over the last decade has raised questions regarding the effectiveness and capabilities of emergency responders, in spite of the continued development of new technologies to aid in emergency response. This paper explains who emergency responders are, their different manifestations form the police, to the firefighters to the paramedics, what they do and some of the challenges that they face at work. The paper also highlights the importance of cross-training among the emergency response categories, importance of communication and most of all the effect of proper safety training on the job performance and rescue capabilities of emergency responders. Safety training is a broad course that encompasses knowledge and use of specialized gear, self-defense techniques, environmental hazard studies, site evaluations, rescue operations and staff health and fitness curriculum. The paper delves into each of these topics explaining how each contributes to the improvement of emergency responder’s rescue capabilities and job performance. To what degree does safety training effectively improve emergency responder’s rescue capabilities and job performance? Disasters and emergencies can occur at any time and this requires the emergency responders to be prepared to handle such emergencies. In the United States, emergencies occur on a daily basis and emergency responders are required to answer the calls for help from citizens and take on jobs which have high potential risks. Emergencies can either be single or a series of incidents which cause disruptions in normal activities or threaten human life, property or assets if they are not immediately put under control, stabilized or contained. Emergency responders deal with a range of emergencies from the small scale everyday incidences that affect individuals and families to the large scale disasters which affect nations such as hurricanes, terrorist attacks and earthquakes (La Tourrette, 2003). The response to disasters over the last decade has raised questions regarding the effectiveness and capabilities of emergency responders. The response to emergencies has been found to be wanting. This has raised the need for emergency responders to be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge through safety training for them to be effectively prepared for such emergencies. Emergency responders are usually deployed on the scene of a disaster or emergency to assist in rescue efforts. They may also be deployed to these sites to safeguard property, evacuate the victims from buildings, and provide any form of medical assistance to the victims (La Tourrette, 2003). Emergency responders who engage in rescue activities during such incidents include fire fighters, emergency medical personnel, and law enforcement agencies. Fire fighters are usually assigned the role of containing substances which are hazardous, putting out fires as well as the search and rescue of disaster victims. Emergency medical personnel usually assist in the rescue operations by providing medical care to injured victims. Law enforcement agencies, on the other hand, are responsible for maintaining law and order in the scene of the disaster, restriction of access to the disaster scene and the removal of injured and contaminated individuals from the scene of the disaster (Beaton, 2002). For emergency responders to perform their functions safely and effectively, safety training is expected. Safety training programs which are administered play a significant role in enhancing the response to emergencies and disasters. They can be broken down into workplace safety practices, safety practices in the line of duty and testing of physical wellness and fitness. The safety training helps emergency responders to understand their individual functions and responsibilities at the scene of the disaster. Accordingly, the different categories of emergency responders are usually cross trained to enable them to handle the different forms of emergencies that occur at the scene of the disaster, an attribute that enhances their effectiveness in emergency rescue operations. For example fire fighters are usually trained to response to emergency medical calls; emergency medical personnel are trained on how to fight fires that occur at the disaster scenes; and law enforcement agencies receive training on how to respond to fires and emergency medical services (Maguire, 2002). Cross training adequately prepares the emergency responders to handle any emergencies and disasters occurring in the scene of the incident. However, emergency responders have reported instances where they have been physically assaulted in the course of their duty. Such incidences prompted their trainers to introduce self-defense classes which teach them how to deal with various forms of physical assault. Safety training programs which are developed for the emergency responders cover topics such as prevention of accidents and promotion of safety, response to accidents and emergencies, equipment for personal protection, safety of chemicals equipment and hazardous materials, and safety practices (Beaton, 2002). Response to emergencies has been regarded as one of the most dangerous occupations since the responders are exposed to hazardous situations which increase their risk of injury or death. The hazards encountered by the emergency responders range from the mundane to those which pose a great threat to their life. To mitigate these risks and hazards, emergency responders use various forms of protective equipment such as clothing, communication equipment, and respiratory protection gear which enhance their safety at the scene of a disaster. Safety training programs which are provided in training centers, equip the emergency responders with the necessary skills and knowledge which enables them to save their own lives as well as the lives of other individuals (La Tourrette, 2003). Effective training on safety go a long way in minimizing the number of hazards encountered by emergency responders which in turn reduces accidents, injuries and death of emergency responders during rescue operations. Training on emergencies enables the emergency responders to prevent the hazards from spreading and developing into disasters or reduces the effects of disasters. Emergency and disaster mitigation efforts on the part of the emergency responders include the issuance of evacuation orders. There are a number of safety equipment as well as procedures which are required during emergencies. In carrying out environmental hazard assessments, they should be trained to interpret the readings in environmental hazard monitors correctly and make relevant conclusions (Weeks, 2001). Training on safety procedures has an important role to play in enhancing the preparedness of emergency responders in handling emergencies. In emergency incidents which involve the dispersal of hazardous materials, responders are required at such sites to stop the dispersal of these materials, to relocate victims to areas of relative safety, to evacuate people from buildings and to establish barriers to prevent people from accessing the disaster zone. Emergency responders should be adequately trained to perform these actions speedily and safely. Training enables the emergency responders to understand the potential hazards in the scene of disaster. Since emergency response requires short timelines, emergency responders should be trained to quickly assess the conditions in such environments and to rapidly select the most suitable actions to reduce the number of fatalities arising from such incidences. As a result, safety training prevents or reduces the negative consequences that could have resulted from such incidents (Beaton, 2002). All members affiliated to the emergency management team have to familiarize themselves with the emergency management system as well as their specific roles and responsibilities in emergency management through training. During emergency safety training, exercises are offered to the members of the response team which enable the responders to test safety equipment and facilities. Any deficiencies which are noted during this exercise are corrected using the corrective action plan which enables them to take corrective action. In emergencies, responders have to efficiently and effectively respond to save human life (La Tourrette, 2003). Communication at the scene of emergency is vital for the success of any rescue operation. Compatible radio systems are required to ensure that the emergency responders communicate easily with each other in the scene of disaster. Breakdown in communication can have severe consequences as it hinders sharing of critical safety information. Emergency responders should therefore be trained on how to handle the communication technologies which are used in the scene of emergency or disaster. To improve communication at the scene of a disaster, emergency responders need to be equipped with first hand information on the protocols and networks which govern communication among individual responders. This will ensure that there is compatibility of radio systems being used in communication and coordination between the different categories of emergency responders which will in turn enhance their effectiveness in rescue operations (La Tourrette, 2003). Since communication plays an important role in safety operations, training on communication technologies will go a long way in enhancing the clarity of transmissions, managing radio traffic and monitoring the identification of radio users to increase accountability in rescue operations. Within the scene of disaster, emergency responders are usually required to conduct assessments on the severity of the incident. Training equips the emergency responders with the necessary skills as well as knowledge required in conducting hazard assessment. Emergency responders have to understand the hazards which are present in the scene of disaster before taking any relevant action. In carrying out these assessments, they require several hazard assessment tools including hazard information supplied by dispatchers and equipment for monitoring the environment (Wilson, 2005). During rescue operations, emergency responders especially fire fighters undergo thermal and physical stress as a result of the weight of protective garments, firefighting equipment and other protective technologies. They should therefore be trained on the signs to watch for to avoid exhaustion as well as heat stress which are responsible for deaths as well as injuries of emergency responders in the scene of the incident. There are situations where emergency responders are required to enter into buildings and other places which have limited oxygen and are required to put on alternative forms of respiratory protection to improve air supply. They should be equipped with the necessary skills to understand how the respiratory protection equipments function as well as information on when and where these equipments should be used. This will reduce instances where emergency responders die as a result of suffocation while at the same time enhancing their performance in rescue operations (La Tourrette, 2002). In the scene of disaster, emergency responders usually face difficulties in accounting for the whereabouts of their colleagues. Training on technologies such as magnetic card readers may improve the accountability of emergency responders. Since different types of equipment and procedures are required for different emergencies and disasters, the emergency responders will be taught on the proper application of different equipment and procedures which will further reduce injuries and death in the scene of disaster. As a result of exposure to disaster scenes, emergency responders are exposed to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Adequate knowledge on the methods of infection as well as how to protect themselves from such infections is required in emergency response training (La Tourrette, 2003). Law enforcement agencies who are usually on patrol are usually the first emergency responders to arrive in the scene of disaster even though they lack adequate training on potential hazards and protective equipment. Since they are among the initial responders, it is vital for them to receive safety training which will allow them to conduct assessments in the scene of disaster and understand the role of protective equipment in such scenes. In addition, training will equip the law enforcement agencies with the skills and knowledge which they can use in evacuation of victims and provision of medical care. As emergency responders, law enforcement agencies have to be taught to be constantly equipped with protective equipment such as gloves, respiratory protection and escape hoods to adequately respond to emergencies (Beaton, 2002). Most of the emergency responders have limited knowledge regarding the things which they need to be protected from, the forms of protection which are required in a given situation and where they can obtain these forms of protection from. It’s only through safety training classes that these responders can be assured of the effectiveness of the available protective technologies in enhancing their safety in rescue operations. Emergency responders have to understand the important role played by human factors in emergency response. They should be trained on how to fully utilize available information and mobile data terminals which significantly improves their effectiveness in emergency operations. Training on safety practices imparts the emergency responders with the necessary knowledge and skills which are required in the mitigation of day to day injuries such as sprains (La Tourrette, 2003). The gear and equipment are required during emergency operations. As such, proper training is required to ensure that emergency responders maintain the equipments and gear allocated to them. Poorly maintained equipments and gear may hinder the effectiveness of emergency response. Emergency responders should understand the equipment replacement cycles to avoid instances where they use out of date equipments in rescue operations. In addition, they have to understand the hazards which require the use of protective technology as well as the limitations of the various protective technologies for them to improve their rescue capabilities (Maguire, 2002). In the last decade, there has been increased terrorism attacks, with the most severe attack occurring on 11th September 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre. This increased probability of terrorism attacks necessitates the need to train emergency responders on weapons of mass destruction. Instances of terrorism are unpredictable and fatal therefore emergency responders need to be trained on how to enhance their safety and protection in this new form of disasters. Furthermore, they have to be trained on the hazards as well as risks which are associated with such incidences for them to enhance their safety (La Tourrette, 2003). Emergency responders are usually exposed to chemical and biological agents as they come in contact with individuals as well as materials which are contaminated. This can have adverse health consequences if the emergency responders have not been trained on how to ensure maximum protection under such circumstances and enhance their protection capabilities. In rescue operations involving the exposure of emergency responders to chemical, biological and radiological agents, they should be trained on the nature of hazards and threats which they are likely to face in such circumstances, appropriate protection, effectiveness of protection technologies in such circumstances, and how they can be able to obtain the protective technologies (La Tourrette, 2003). Through training and experience, emergency responders acquire skills and knowledge which enable them to make decisions regarding their approach to a given situation. This enables them to individually detect any hazards in the scene of disaster, carry out monitoring and assessment, evacuate victims from affected buildings, put out any fires and respond to any medical emergencies. In emergency situations, approaches such as the rule of thumb and other simple indicators are often inaccurate and insufficient. As a result, they have to be trained on the various monitoring and assessment technologies which increase their understanding on the hazards which they encounter while on duty as well as knowledge on how to deal with potential hazards. Training increases the understanding of emergency responders on the value of placards which are usually placed on vehicles and buildings and which may indicate the presence of flammable, toxic, explosive or hazardous substances which may be present in the scene of disaster (La Tourrette, 2002). New technologies aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of emergency responders’ rescue capabilities are constantly emerging. These new and emerging technologies have been found to perform more functions than the older technologies. Through training, emergency responders will be informed on how to use the new technologies in improving their job performance as well as the limitations of these technologies. Such technologies include portable environment sensors, analytic sensors, and infrared thermal imaging cameras. Infrared thermal imaging cameras are especially useful in enhancing the effectiveness of fire fighters as they are used in identification of hot spots and location of victims or colleagues who may have been trapped or overwhelmed by the fire. Basic four gas monitors are also some of the technologies which are used in determination of carbon monoxide levels during first response and which inform the emergency responders on how to protect themselves before entering the scene (Maguire, 1997). Technological advancements have also resulted in the emergence of portable devices which are used in the analysis of liquids, gases and solids which are present in the scene of a disaster to determine any toxic substances which are present in the environment. This enhances the sensing capabilities of emergency responders especially those who are the first to arrive in the scene of the disaster. Training on personal location technologies such as the global positioning system will enhance the emergency responders’ ability to locate their colleagues thus enabling them to collaborate during emergencies so as to minimize injuries and deaths. Provision of protection equipment to emergency responders without adequate training negates the effectiveness of the equipment. This justifies the need for emergency responders to be trained on new equipment and technologies. In addition to the initial training offered to the respondents, refresher training should be conducted frequently as emergency-handling technologies are constantly being updated (La Tourrette, 2003). Emergency responders may sustain injuries or even death as a result of motor vehicle accidents as they drive aggressively and against oncoming traffic to get to the scene of the disaster. Training will ensure that emergency respondents drive carefully and safely to minimize instances where they die or get injured during response to emergencies. Through safety training, emergency responders will understand the significance of investing in fitness in the reduction of injuries during emergencies and the enhancement of physical as well as mental health of the respondents (Maguire, 2002). During training, emergency responders should be trained to follow the standard operating procedures which enhance their safety and protection in the scene of disaster. Personal protection education and training which is offered to the responders enhances their knowledge on threat detection and awareness as well as threat identification. During training, emergency responders are taught on the various parts of the emergency response plan as well as their individual role in this plan. There is need for emergency responders to be provided with skills and knowledge as well as regular exercises on emergency response which adequately prepares them for their new roles. Increased awareness on emergency response strategies enables the responders to intervene and mitigate the consequences of emergencies thus enhancing their effectiveness in rescue operations. Training prepares the emergency responders to safely execute either partial or complete evacuation of victims from the scene of disaster. There are guidelines and procedures which should be followed during emergencies and which are acquired through training (La Tourrette, 2003). In fire emergency sites, there may be chances that fire may break out either due to electrical or chemical causes. Training on fire prevention practices helps in the mitigation of such fires. As a result, emergency responders should be trained on how to keep away combustible materials from any potential ignition sources such as prohibiting smoking at the scene of an emergency. They should be trained on how the different fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment operate to effectively respond to fires. This is justified given that fire occurring in the scene of disaster can significantly hinder the rescue efforts of the emergency responders (Maguire, 1997). There are circumstances where emergency responders are required to alert the occupants of a given building concerning the emergency, operate the fire alarm systems and elevators and make assessments on whether the building is safe for occupation. It is only through training that emergency responders can acquire the necessary knowledge and skills required in performing such actions. Emergency responders are required to conduct rescue evacuations based on the procedures which are established in the emergency response and evacuation plan. Training therefore allows the emergency responders understand these procedures. In case of injuries, emergency responders should have adequate knowledge and skills which allows them to understand the severity of the injuries and in turn evacuate the victims depending on the severity of their injuries to save lives. They also have to understand that victims have to be separated from any nearby hazards (Treat et al, 2001). During other unusual emergencies such as hurricanes, emergency responders have to make evaluations on the severity of the emergencies and make decisions regarding the areas which require immediate evacuation and victims who require immediate medical attention. Under such circumstances emergency responders should make assessments on areas which are safer before relocating the victims of these disasters to safer areas. All the necessary skills and knowledge required in carrying out such operations are acquired through training. Training teaches the basic domestic preparedness, operation procedures, and protocols which are required during emergency incidents which reduces the number of fatalities and injuries occurring in the scene of a disaster (La Tourrette, 2003). To round up the thoughts in this paper, it is evident that safety training does improve the emergency responder’s rescue capabilities and job performance in four key ways: (1) personal protection, (2) rapid response, (3) cross training and (4) continuously updated know-how. Under personal protection it is seen that from safety training emergency responders are able to learn self-defense to protect themselves from physical assault during rescue missions, be trained on the signs to watch for to avoid exhaustion as well as heat stress, and have an understanding of the potential hazards in the scene of disaster. With this know-how trained emergency responders have the confidence to work at a disaster scenes and while minimizing their own casualties. The second key way, rapid response, is the easiest to reflect in terms of improved emergency responder job performance. From safety training these responders gain knowledge on how to assess disaster scene at the shortest time possible and how to operate specialized gear that increase their productivity. They are also taught standard operating procedures and every individual’s role such that they are able to effectively work as a unit. Furthermore the continuous training drills they undertake during safety training sharpen their response times. The final two attributes that emergency responders obtain from safety training – cross training and new knowledge – do not directly increase their efficiency in attending to a disaster scene but they increase their capacity to save lives. For example an emergency responder may not have the skills to perform an onsite medical procedure but she may know how to stabilize the rescued person and this increases the individual’s chance of recovery. Continual updating of knowledge improves the emergency responders’ capability to tackle new disasters such as chemical or biological terrorism. With proper and adequate training, the casualties of civilians can be reduced effectively and safely. From the above discussion it is clear that training affects the effectiveness of emergency responders’ rescue capabilities and their job performance to a very high degree. It is therefore crucial that they receive adequate training before being positioned in the scene of disasters and emergencies for them to engage in rescue operations. This will go a long way in ensuring that loss of lives and injuries occurring at the scene of an emergency are minimized. References Beaton, R.J. (2002). Instrument development and evaluation of domestic preparedness training for first responders. Prehospital Disaster Medical Journal, 17(3): 119 – 125 La Tourrette, T, Peterson, D.J., Bartis, J.T., Jackson, B.A., and Houser, A. (2003). Protecting emergency responders: Community views of health and safety risks and personal protection needs. RAND science and technology policy institute Maguire, B.J., and Porco, F.V. (1997). EMS and vehicle safety. Emergency Medical Services, 26: 39 – 43 Maguire, J.B., Hunting, K.L., Smith, G.S., and Levick, M.R. (2002). Occupational fatalities in emergency medical services: A hidden crisis. 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