For fire departments, incident responses are dynamic and can quickly evolve from calm to chaos in seconds. As a result, fire departments must be constantly alert—ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. 

But how do you prepare your department to respond and mitigate rapidly evolving emergencies?

Here are some strategies you can deploy to prepare your team to act effectively as soon as an emergency call comes in. 

What Are the Components of a Rapid Response?

Although every emergency is different, broadly speaking, the fire department's emergency response performance hinges on three key factors: 

  1. Availability – What resources (firefighters, apparatus, equipment) are available to respond to the emergency incident? 
  2. Capability – Are the deployed resources able to manage the emergency incident adequately?
  3. Effectiveness – Are the deployed resources suitable for the emergency at hand? 

Your goal should be to position your department so you always know what resources are available and can allocate them where needed most.

Embracing Technology to Ensure a Prompt Response

Today, leading fire departments have cracked the code to improve the effectiveness of their emergency response. Increasingly, they rely on fire department management software to equip incident commanders and response teams with the real-time information they rely upon to make sound decisions. 

For instance, IMT's personnel accountability management system (PAMS) is the key to keeping your fire department prepared for a prompt response. This powerful technology affords officers and responders real-time clarity and detail over personnel availability and response. It can assist with the following:

  • Pre-incident preparedness – Maintain visibility over all of your personnel and apparatus, distinguishing between available and already deployed. 
  • Response – Identify which personnel are responding to an incident, which apparatuses are available and responding, and the estimated arrival time for each responder. 
  • Incident mitigation – Know at all times what resources are available and where crews are assigned so you can ensure accountability and safety. 

Equipped with incident response software, fire departments can transform how they prepare for and respond to emergencies. 

Measure the Effectiveness of Your Response

According to the NFPA 1710, you can use dozens of metrics to evaluate your performance. An internal performance audit will demonstrate how your fire department compares with expected execution. 

Therefore, you should pay special attention to the following criteria:[1]

  • Alarm answering time
  • Alarm processing time
  • The first engine on-scene time
  • The second engine on-scene time
  • Effective Response Force
  • Initial full alarm for all low, medium, and high hazards 

Ideally, over time, these averages should continue to improve because of the actions you take to optimize fire department preparedness and response. 

IMT—Enabling a Prompt Emergency Response

When a response is dispatched, time is mobilization, and response time is critical—every second counts. But to create an effective response, you must first know precisely what resources are available.

IMT's developed the firehouse response software to transform how your fire department prepares and responds to all types of emergencies. 

It delivers end-to-end accountability in your pocket. 

Are you interested in learning more? Schedule your demo. 

 

Sources:

[1] NFPA. NFPA 1710. Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations… https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1710