REDUCING STAFFING LEVELS AFFECTS YOU...

It is fair to assume that mostly every American knows about this country's economic problems. Our debt levels continue to rise, our government spending continues to rise, lay offs and unemployment continues to rise. Our country was on the brink of defaulting, just like Greece did.

If you are not familiar with what happened in Greece and the financial crisis they are in, you should read up on it, because it affects us here, especially in the fire and ems service.

What does the Greek financial crisis have to do with fire stations being built and staffing levels, you ask?

More then you actually think. The world we live in is a connected world and the global market is influenced by local events, with the consequences of these events felt in cities throughout the United States.

When the European Union had to bailout the country of Greece (because they had to default), stocks plummeted here in the United States. The stock market is just now starting to level out, due in part to the Greek events.

So why should firefighters/ems personnel and the general public care about this?

Because now there are many political groups and politicians calling for financial reform including pension reform, eliminating deficit spending and reducing staffing levels and salaries. These are the local events of a national and international problem, partly caused by the Greek financial crisis.

Right now NFPA 1710 is being attacked as wasteful and this financial and economic crisis helps those who want to cut the fire/ems service to barebones.

Some reading this article may be asking who is the NFPA? and what is NFPA 1710 anyways? Let us help you understand...

The National Fire Protection Association is a non-profit organization that was established in 1896 to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. The codes written by the NFPA are considered the STANDARD that fire departments are expected to meet. The codes include everything from safety equipment worn by firefighters, apparatus and equipment used in the fire service to the MINIMUM STAFFING OF CAREER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

These codes are not only for firefighters protection but the protection of the citizens as well. Now NFPA codes are not laws, but rather standards of quality to ensure the health and safety to everyone affected by a fire department.

So what is NFPA 1710? NFPA 1710 - Standard for Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments - invloves staffing of career fire departments. In the code 1710, NFPA used scientific evidence, past and first hand experiences to establish the minimum number of personnel required to safely and effectively operate on a fire scene. NFPA 1710 code states that a first arriving company MUST consist of 4 fire fighters and arrive within 4 minutes of the intial 911 call. For a structure fire or full alarm assignment, NFPA 1710 sets a minimum personnel on scene of 15-17 fire fighters and must arrive within 8 minutes of the intial 911 call.

Well that is great, but I am not a fire fighter, just an average citizen, so why do I care if my department adopts and adheres to NFPA 1710? Let us tell you why? Because NFPA 1710 could be extrememly relevant to the question of whether a department has negligiently failed to provide adequate fire or emergency medical protection/personnel to an individual harmed in a fire or medical emergency.

Understaffing and reducing staffing levels of fire departments is a nationwide problem. It is such a problem that the International City Managers Association (ICMA) has conducted studies that have determined the effectiveness of fire companies based on staffing. This organization recognizes the importance of a properly staffed fire department. The publication, which was published under the name Managing Fire Services 2nd edition, incuded this important information.

* Fire suppression operations have 3 basic functions 1) rescue 2) work involving ladders, forcing entry, and ventilation and 3) the application of water. All three of these functions must take place at the same time. To raise ladders, ventilate, search and rescue as well as exstinguish the fire simultaneously, it takes quick actions by at least 4 and often 8 or more fire fighters under the supervision of a officer.

* If rougly 15 trained fire fighters are not operating at the scene of a working fire within the critical time previously mentioned, dollars and injuries are significantly increased as is the spread of the fire.

In ICMA's studies fire fighting tactics were conducted and judged for effectiveness. It was found that 5 person companies were 100% effective, 4 person companies were 65% effective, and 3 person companies were only 38% effective.

ICMA is not the only organization to point out that understaffing and reducing staffing levels has serious consequences. The Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Division recognizes that the current economic difficulties are affecting public safety organizations nationwide, but these factors DO NOT ALTER ANY OF THE TASKS THAT MUST BE ACOMPLISHED AT THE FIRE SCENE.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) presented a study last year with some eye opening information. Their study showed that 4 person crews completed 22 fire ground tasks 5 minutes faster (on average) then 3 person crews. As for actually putting water on the fire, the study showed a 4 person crew is 6% faster than a 3 person crew. The saves lives and property.

There is more....

As for working with ground ladders and ventilation a 4 person crew is 25% faster then a 3 person crew. A 4 person crew started and completed a primary search and rescue 6% faster then a 3 person crew. A 4 person crew can deploy and stretch a hose line nearly 60 seconds faster then a 3 person crew.

These studies and their results definately quantify the effects of understaffing and reducing staffing levels. You can see through the studies done that having the proper staffing, that is a standard according to NFPA 1710 is essential to saving lives, property, and reducing injuries to fire fighters and ems personnel and tax paying citizens. So the next time you hear your city or fire department talking about reducing staffing levels, brown outs, or not having 4 people per company, remember it affects more then just the fire department. IT AFFECTS YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR PROPERTY.