Accountability of personnel at emergency incidents

Accountability of Personnel at an Emergency Incident

In this paper, we shall focus on dealing with accountability of personnel in emergency incidents with emphasis on the profession of fire-fighting. The paper starts with an introduction about personnel accountability during an emergency incident. The paper then moves over to discuss about the statistics of fire fighter personnel's injuries, the IMS and the 'Personal Alert Safety System -- PASS' devices. Next the paper moves on to discuss about the concept of accountability and how it is becoming significant in Incident Command System. The paper discusses about accountability being a method to account for every fire fighter in a small geographic area, inside the "hot spot." The paper then proceeds to mention about firefighter personnel's accountability which has increased immensely in recent times compared to the earlier years and how it is harder presently to become a firefighter personnel because of all the training essentialities and how emergency services personnel are required to perceive to include an accountability system which is standard. The paper shall further try to understand about freelancing and how it is a much unsecured practice. The paper also explains regarding the importance of teamwork, supervision and communication in relation to accountability while dealing with emergency situations. Next the paper also explains about the importance of accurate documentation for accountability and the explanation of PAR surveys and the 'emergency response personnel mechanized accountability system', also known as a 'Firefighter Automated Accountability System -- FAAS'. The paper shall further mention about detection card, bar code, data entry system, emergency firefighter's masks, badges, PASS devices and various other elements which ensure the accountability of the personnel involved in emergency incidents. Next the paper emphasizes and illustrates about the necessity to devise personnel accountability.

Paper

Although risk management methods have been effectively applied for minimizing the odds for personal injury to individuals, amazingly, these established procedures have not been used in fire fighting operations that constitute among the most perilous environments of all. Personnel's might devote a substantial time readying for the brief period that will devote getting under control any emergency incident, nevertheless that brief period is when the urgency to use efficient risk management capabilities are of utmost importance. (Kipp; Loflin, 1996) the central objective of a personnel accountability program is to guarantee that the hierarchy of operations during an emergency incident keeps a precise record of personnel who are on duty, backed by a fool-proof procedure of guaranteeing speedier information during an emergency incident.

A lot of personnel still continue to get injured and also lose their lives while performing their duty. A cursory glance at the some of the alarming figures will lend some viewpoint to the issue encountered by the departments around the country. Fire fighter personnel experience over 100,000 injuries annually. From the years 1985 till 1994, 173 firefighters lost their lives during duty inside structures. Out of 173, 113 were caught or jammed within a structure, 10 met death due to falls, and some 30 lost their lives as they went lost within a structure. (Walker, 2007) Especially, in the aftermath of the 9/11 incident in USA, development and execution of incident management system -- IMS has received a great deal of interest. The IMS is an instrument for arranging pre-assembled and pre-identified resources to react to an emergency or debacle incident. IMS is especially helpful when resources and personnel from several agencies and jurisdictions are needed to run bigger incidents in a successful manner. (Perry, 2003) Fire chiefs, safety officers, fire officers and risk managers - for the initial period anywhere are required to grow and execute an all-round risk management program which is able to abruptly minimize deaths or injuries during duty, and dreadful exposures while lowering property and damage to equipment. (Kipp; Loflin, 1996)

Although with the present attention on personnel accountability, the creation of a speedier interference or response team, and the putting in place of technology like 'Personal Alert Safety System -- PASS' devices, we still come to know time and again regarding catastrophes wherein firefighters lose their lives while discharging their duties and were not documented as missing till some later period of time. Few of these deaths are due to unexpected appalling incidents which could have been completely unavoidable. Undoubtedly, if there were forewarning of a looming tragic situation, immediate action might have helped in saving some of these individuals. (Walker, 2007)

It is very difficult to usher changes in emergency services. Nevertheless, the time is right that we begin safeguarding ourselves. The concept of accountability is not really a new concept. Performing it in a proper manner and increasing its frequency is a recent concept. (Yaccich, 2002) in case of emergency fire-related public safety applications, the accountability of firefighters has been the primary and the most basic need. (Sha; Shi; Watkins, 2006) Accountability is fast coming to be a constituent of the Incident Command System in emergency fire service because of valid points. Hence, it ought to be the constituent of every command system in case of any emergency incident. It is necessary to appreciate the value of having a systematically executed accountability system as accountability is a means which must be applied to improve the security of every emergency personnel. This concept of accountability must be executed prior to the onset of the tragedy. (Yaccich, 2002) in keeping with the primary situation of an emergency fire rescue application, when firefighters begin the fighting in the fire field, the fire department as well as emergency incident commander requires the information relating to firefighters, one of which relates to the emergency firefighters accountability. (Sha; Shi; Watkins, 2006) Accountability methods lend a way for the emergency withdrawal of fire department personnel from a danger area when situations pose an instant danger to life. ("Public Fire Safety Guidelines," 2000)

Accountability is thus a method to account for every fire fighter in a small geographic area, inside the "hot spot" of an incident. A "hot spot" would vary depending on the character of the incident. The cause for the accountability system is to have an understanding as to the number of personnel engaged in a "hot spot." Apparently, anytime firefighters are deployed in an IDLH -- 'Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health' situation which would definitely become a hot spot. In the meantime, in case the operation is visualized, the risk that a firefighter could be missing, trapped, or hurt by the environment or structure those would be also covered as "hot spots" as well. Rescuing from a high angle, closed spaces, rescue from trenches or hazardous materials incidents would all tend to have hot spots. (Richards, 2003) Nevertheless, placing responsibility in case of disastrous incidents must not only be the sole objective of accountability. Accountability methods are associated with other crucial variables in the management perspectives that cover risk also. The view of risk and its management considerable impacts the decision making of managers. Besides, organizational inducements and deterrents for taking risks can put a heavy toll on the propensity of managerial risk that could have crucial outcomes for execution of program. (Wise; Freitag, 2002)

During the early part of the 1970s firefighters adopted the strategy of 'Body by Mack, brain by Matel'. (Abdelnabi, 2007) However, much water has flown since then, and more is anticipated from firefighters with regard to education as also training. The principles, the safety norms adopted earlier are not prevalent today. The years have witnessed several more rules as well as regulations. The emergency firefighter personnel's accountability has probably enhanced up to ten times. Presently the firefighter personnel's have norms to follow and all the essential tools to assist them doing their jobs. Security was actually an issue in the early years since it was considered as more of a macho institution and with the pace of time we have dealt with the amount of firefighter personnel's we have wounded or succumbed to death. Presently, the engines have safety mechanisms such as seat belts and personnel's are not permitted to move through the fire trucks. The groundwork for firefighter personnel's has enhanced and become more forceful in the last four decades. Presently, firefighters are required to be certified and most pass through hundreds of hours of schooling prior to having their license. (Abdelnabi, 2007)

It is harder presently to become firefighter personnel because of all the training essentialities. It not only involves willingness of someone to undergo training, but also some one desirous of sacrificing the time required for the purpose. Training progressively enhances since being a firefighter is not simply reacting to fires, but to emergencies. Many of those emergencies are medical and that is why firefighters are obtaining licenses in emergency medical services. The fire service at present is varying to entail for a fire-based emergency medical service to make sure firefighters can address any kind of contingency. The fire service is varying intermittently, and lessons are continuously being taken from the errors. There appears more liability that are supplemented to each personnel every year and that involves more human resources on the fire scene. (Abdelnabi, 2007)

Emergency services personnel are required to perceive to include an accountability system which is standard. Systems may change as per the circumstances, however there is required to be certain fundamental principles which are to be followed so as to promote compatibility among systems. There are several varying systems of accountability out there. Each asserts to be superior. Some are very costly, and some are cheap. When perceiving for an accountability system, each of the individual agency is required to first assess their requirements. What kind of incidents do you react to? How many personnel are required to be liable for? What is your economic position? Do you desire to adopt an electronic system or that of a manual system? (Yaccich, 2002)

It is an established truth that freelancing is a much unsecured practice. Freelancing might give rise to injury or death. ("Public Fire Safety Guidelines," 2000) Old timers, recall the days of filter marks and the cowboy approach towards firefighting acknowledge the implicit hazard of such practices. If we are to safeguard our most worthy resource -- our people, we are required to ensure their whereabouts at all times. This is particularly true when the incident enhances and firefighters are in greater danger. Anything less is deplorable. (Walker, 2007) Thus if one has to eradicate freelancing, one has take a major step towards enhancing the overall security of the personnel. Accountability fosters the concept of teamwork. For all to be accurately accountable, they must adhere to be in their groups. (Yaccich, 2002) the most prominent step for attaining accountability of personnel is an organization wide dedication. (Walker, 2007)

Accountability is straightly associated with supervision. It is the liability of all the officers, superiors and the incident authority to keep pace of a standard of supervision that is liable for the location as well as function of all personnel at every incident. The firefighters are liable to inform their supervisors regarding their actions and locations. ("Public Fire Safety Guidelines," 2000) the head of the department is required to view the accountability of personnel just as gravely as the battalion commander, the company officer, as well as the firefighter. The Incident Command System or Incident Management System is required to indicate the responsibilities as well as roles of personnel at all levels. Again this is required to be followed on all incidents, from the usual work to the complex. If a company officer is not aware where his or her crew is while on a small fire, probability is that this officer would have even less awareness on the big one. (Walker, 2007)

Team sizes can change with each circumstance. Every team is required to have a team head that is liable for uniting the team, carrying out the mission of the team and reporting to the accountability officer as well as authority. The accountability officer position holds a great deal of liability. A correctly trained accountability officer monitors all 'on scene personnel, time in/out, duties, location, just to mention some duties'. (Yaccich, 2002) as commanding officers who are on an emergency incident, this could involve a huge relaxation off the burden. The accountability officer is required to be in direct involvement with all team leaders along with the authority. (Yaccich, 2002). While there appear different modes to monitor the personnel, the base line is making them aware and making individual emergency firefighters liable to continue to be a component of the team. Their authority is also required to be aware of the staffs and their operations at every moment. The most crucial time on the emergency fire ground is in the initial twenty minutes, when resources might be light and command officers might still be in course. If there ever exist a moment to scrutinize this then it is this! As an authority structure develops then teams which report to a sector officer is required to be accountable towards that individual. (Richards, 2003)

An accountability process which is good is required not to link up communications with unnecessary radio passage. The conditional controls are required to be conducted at frequent intervals indicated before the emergency incident and sanctioned by command. The communications are required to be speedy and include everyone. (Yaccich, 2002) the essential resources are required to be chalked out with precedence, if a program is to be successful. A skill development program which is aggressive, incorporating the elementary level classes as well as in-service training and practical assessments are required to be targeted at imparting accountability as a skill. Normally, fire departments impart training on hose and ladder evolutions, aggressive entry, hydraulics etc., as talents that are required to be attained and practiced. Everyone inside the organization is required to have a careful comprehension of his or her responsibility as also role, at conceptual as well as pragmatic spheres on all incidents. There is required to be no query by anyone inside the organization of what is necessary of them, at times of general operations and in the incident of a distress circumstance. (Walker, 2007)

A significant level of accountability is accurate documentation. In case of fire departments, an accountability statement is required to be completed and affixed with every fire report. This is the testimony in respect of ensuring accountability at every sphere. An accountability report is required to mention the names of the authority team, incorporating the accountability officer. Further, the strength of the group and their responsibilities, the number of times as well as frequency of PAR surveys, and any other details appear pertinent. On lesser incident of emergency, where all are in simple opinion of the Accountability Officer, significant visual accountability is considered to be acceptable. If all are not within the line of view of the Accountability Officer, PAR surveys are required to be performed. The Personnel Accountability Report or PAR is a roll call with regard to personnel. A PAR from the team leader or company officer is a confirmation wherein members allocated to his/her squads is apparently accounted for. (Richards, 2003)

It is pertinent to indicate the back-up role or quick interference crew, and make certain that each and everyone understands what is to be performed if they are vested with this responsibility. (Walker, 2007) a PAR with regard to the sector officer is taken to be an accounting for all of the crew members of all firms vested to his/her arena. If feasible, PAR is required to be personal or with the field wherever practicable. PARs are required to be updated frequently, to illustrate every 20 minutes. Further when there is a remarkable variation in the emergency incident, to illustrate, structural collapse, variation in strategic method, offensive to defensive or that of a report a firefighter missing, a PAR is required to be quickly implemented. The more prolonged the time among PARs ensures a better chance of not being able to restore a missing or lost firefighter. As the incident enhances to the level which the accountability officers are being vested, command is required to be executed an accountability sector to bring together accountability officer. The accountability sector officer would need to be vested to safety section. The accountability sector officer progresses and implements a plan to monitor and account for all of the personnel functioning in the hot spot. (Richards, 2003)

The 'emergency response personnel mechanized accountability system', also indicated to being a 'Firefighter Automated Accountability System -- FAAS', is required to be entailed that back up automatic trailing of and confined connections among first reactions incorporating police, fire, security personnel and emergency medical service. The FAAS enhances circumstantial recognition and security of first responder personnel by entailing position details automatically along with other sensor details. Elements of the FAAS incorporate wireless mesh networks having location as well as communications systems to support the real-time tracking of as well as communications with that of the emergency reaction personnel. The 'FAAS incident recognition system' entails position and time information through Global Positioning System -- GPS and/or several other of the positioning systems as well as procedural data from the sensors to entail increased linkages, command and regulation capacities to the first reactions and incident command at the incident spot. (Mason, 2006)

In this manner accountability systems are required to be with operational strategies for emergency incident management as well as rapid inference teams. Accountability measures are required to detect when accountability systems would be applied, the supervision level and the manner in which entry regulations to the emergency incident would be restored. Accountability systems is required to be sufficiently flexible so as to be applied for any emergency incident wherein personnel are isolated and away from the incident authority, the incident danger level high, incident situations are varying quickly or as other circumstances dictate. Accountability system/processes are required to be capable of accommodating non-departmental personnel when essential. To illustrate, ambulance, police, utilities staff, investigation personnel, or other similar associated individuals. ("Public Fire Safety Guidelines," 2000)

An accountability procedure for monitoring firefighters at an emergency fire scene incorporates a detection card incorporating particular personal information shown by a bar code. A bar code reader is tailored to decipher the barcode and to communicate the data to a computer from the bar code. A data entry system is to be linked to computer and is tailored to permit entry of additional data by means of a user. The computer is required to be in connection with the bar code reader as well as data entry device and is required to be programmed to process data entailed from the bar code reader as well as data entry device and offer several pre-decided outputs, an exhibit, and a signal tailored to entail an alert with regard to the accountability officer relevant to a pre-indicated output. In the chosen embodiment, the computer is planned to enumerate the passed time after the bar code reader deciphers the identification card, and to trigger a signal when the passed out time extends a pre-indicated maximum amount of safe breathing time. (Whalen, 2000)

An incorporated safety as also communication system for connection to a standard kind of emergency firefighter's masks is required to incorporate an authority post tracking as also accountability monitor, and a mask accessory having the mode of transferring amplified voice of the wearer to anyone within the sphere of its audible range, and to make interactions with the command post incorporating location, identification, important symbols like pulse as also respiratory rate, nearby temperature, hydrocarbon evaluation and alarm symbol if the wearer tend to be motionless for a pre-indicated timeframe. (Bieback, 1999) PASS devices are crucial factors of any program of accountability. They are structured to show an alarm when a firefighter is in anguish or immobilized that would help in investigating the correct location of the victim. Out of the 173 firefighters who succumbed to death amidst structures during 1985 to1994, only seven had a PASS that was being activated. Another six had a PASS, however did not turn it on. Select a PASS that is dependable and that the firefighters rely. There are many accessible in the market -- one could choose them and purchase one that functions. If one is only taking into consideration the cost, the trade-off might be firefighter safety. (Walker, 2007)