| When one hears the term 'First Responder,' the | | | | of emergency situations. |
| images that most often come to mind are of | | | | At the corporate level these procedures should |
| brave Firefighters carrying people out of burning | | | | be role-specific with the ability to scale to the |
| buildings, or the blaring sirens of an Ambulance | | | | severity of the event and also reflect |
| racing to a motor vehicle accident. These brave | | | | inter-connective support and coordination to their |
| men and women put themselves into harms way | | | | facilities, dependants, suppliers, tenants and the |
| routinely, to help and protect people during | | | | community. For inter-connectivity to be |
| emergencies. With their training and experience, | | | | successfully realized, the corporate facilities and |
| they are able to quickly assess any situation, | | | | managed buildings must have plan continuity, using |
| make decisions based on the resources available | | | | the same system, capability, and nomenclature. |
| to them and effectively deal with the incident. | | | | This fact was recognized by jurisdictions across |
| Rarely however, are these Community First | | | | North America that have adopted the Incident |
| Responders on the scene of an incident when it | | | | Command System (ICS) as a cornerstone to |
| first happens. In fact, most of the time they are | | | | their emergency management policies. This |
| three to five minutes away, or in the worst case | | | | integrated system establishes a uniform set of |
| scenario, as long as three to five days. The True | | | | procedures that all emergency responders at |
| First Responders are those civilians who are in | | | | every level will use. They will have the same |
| close proximity to the event when it occurs and | | | | preparation, the same goals and expectations and |
| are in a position to assist. In a building or facility | | | | most importantly they will be speaking the same |
| these True First Responders are the building | | | | language. At the facility and corporate level, having |
| management and staff, security officers, tenant | | | | everyone executing from the same play book is |
| floor wardens and ordinary occupants that are | | | | essential to a successful outcome. |
| able to help. | | | | Once the Fire and Life Safety Plan is put |
| The policies and procedures that the True First | | | | together, it's time for training. This second piece |
| Responders initiate prior to the arrival of the | | | | of the puzzle is vital to the program's |
| authorities can dramatically influence the outcome | | | | effectiveness. The training, exercising and testing |
| of an emergency. Depending upon their actions, | | | | of the plan and the True First Responders on a |
| this effect can either be positive or negative. The | | | | continual basis is imperative or the plan WILL |
| odds of having a positive outcome are directly | | | | FAIL. Training can be relatively generic for general |
| related to the quality of the emergency response | | | | occupants, but it needs to be role and site-specific |
| plans, training programs and tools provided to the | | | | at the facility level. Corporate level training will also |
| True First Responders. | | | | need to be role-specific to be effective. Training |
| It is important that the building owner or Property | | | | need not be difficult to plan and implement as |
| Managers realize that a comprehensive Fire and | | | | online programs are now available for both |
| Life Safety program containing detailed | | | | cost-effectiveness and time-efficiency. |
| emergency procedures is for the benefit of the | | | | The third piece of an effective program is a way |
| True First Responders. They must be given | | | | in which to maintain a current plan and |
| procedures, training and support so they are able | | | | communicate with others during an emergency. |
| to manage an emergency event until the | | | | eSoftware can provide you with an easy and |
| Community First Responders arrive. While for | | | | extremely effective way to manage your plan |
| most incidents the emergency response time | | | | and ensure it is up-to-date. Mass or crisis |
| may be only a few minutes, during a large-scale | | | | communications companies offer numerous ways |
| event, such as an earthquake, hurricane or | | | | to keep you communicating with everyone during |
| regional disaster, the response time may be up to | | | | an emergency, including email, text messaging, live |
| several days. With the right procedures and | | | | websites and more. As with every relationship in |
| training, the True First Responders should be able | | | | life - communication is key. |
| to effectively manage the situation during that | | | | The fourth and final piece of a successful Fire and |
| time. | | | | Life Safety program is supporting the Community |
| An effective Fire and Life Safety program | | | | First Responders. Keeping your plan up-to-date |
| consists of four pieces; the first is a | | | | and knowing your role and responsibilities is |
| comprehensive Fire Safety or, better yet, | | | | essential. There is no point to having a plan, if no |
| Multi-Hazard Plan and its accompanying manuals | | | | one knows it. |
| that provide detailed descriptions of the roles and | | | | By having a comprehensive Fire and Life Safety |
| responsibilities, as well as standard operating | | | | program and embracing processes to support, |
| procedures, for each member of the emergency | | | | train and keep the program current, the end |
| management team. While a Fire Safety Plan is | | | | result will be a reduction in life loss, injury, |
| mandatory by law, it only provides emergency | | | | property damage, reputation damage, liability and |
| procedures in the event of a fire, while a | | | | downtime, as well as less confusion when dealing |
| Multi-Hazard Plan is all-encompassing and much | | | | with an actual emergency. |
| more effective in preparing people for a multitude | | | | |