Posted: October 7th, 2022

Emergency Support Function (ESF)

Emergency Support Function (ESF)
ESF #4: Firefighting
Begin by selecting a contemporary safety issue for today’s first responders. Research a specific Emergency Support Function (ESF), and locate an article from the library that focuses on the protection of first responders or receivers who support your chosen ESF. Your article should have been published within the last decade; be peer-reviewed; and be published in a credible, academic journal.
Address the components listed below in your critique.
Assignment help – Discuss the specific ESF.
Describe how this function is focused on the protection of the first responders or receivers. ·
Identify any practices or policies related to first responder safety, the role(s) of the safety officer, or first responder occupational health.
Explain how this article shows consideration and evidence of how the protection of first responders or receivers within a community or workplace can be strengthened.
ESF #4 – Firefighting Article Critique
ESFS is mandated to provide the structure for coordinating federal interagency support during a federal response to an event. The structure contains around 15 ESFs annexes, with each having its elements and basic content (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008). The fourth ESF is firefighting, which provides federal support in terms of detection and suppression of fires, whether wildland, rural or urban. These fires could result from coincidence to an incident containing several hazards, thus needing a coordinated national response for assistance. The scope of this ESF is to coordinate the firefighting operations and providing the required resources such as personnel, equipment, and supplies (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008). The main objective is to ensure all agencies, whether local, state, tribal, or territorial, receive the necessary support regarding the firefighting operations.
It is undeniable that the firefighting responders face a risk of injury or death since the respective operations are naturally risky. According to McEntire et al. (2013), the fire service operations lead to over 80000 injuries annually, with the most common cause of injury being strain or overexertion. It is responsible for about 25% of them. Notably, the firefighting sector has invested heavily in training and providing its responders with personal protective equipment (PPEs) (McEntire et al., 2013). This equipment is very necessary as the responders engage in operations that require them to be protected from the thermal and chemical heats. The various types of PPEs provided aid in hindering normal thermoregulation that happens during causing an uncompensable heat stress (UHS). Notably, the impacts of UHS of firefighters need to be remedied during the rest periods for maintaining the safety of the firefighters and have the operations go on till their completion.
In dealing with UHS, the firefighting operations will have structured rest periods during the event known as the fire ground rehab or the emergency rehabilitation incident (McEntire et al., 2013). During these periods, the firefighters are provided with rest, fluids, and a chance for the safe removal or protective garments for cooling purposes. The rest periods are normally 20-30 minutes, indicating that vital signs to UHS’s sequelae partially recover. This partial recovery needs to be optimized during the short periods such that the firefighter does not have to deal with overexertion or strain. The core body and skin temperatures are known to increase every five minutes during the recovery period, increasing the risk of heat illness (McEntire et al., 2013). Therefore, it is prudent that better cooling practices are incorporated to have these body temperatures return to normal levels.
Various cooling techniques and practices among firefighters do exist, but the cooling levels differ substantially. An analysis of these cooling techniques would lead the article to recommend air-conditioned shelters and vehicles’ target use to create an environment that allows maximal physiological cooling (McEntire et al., 2013). Currently, there is widespread use of cooling devices. However, these have not been effective when the ambient temperature and humidity close to room temperatures, together with protective garments, are eliminated. If the rehabilitation is to occur in hot or humid environments, the active cooling devices are required. Notably, the technique of hand and forearm immersion is also supported extensively in achieving the cooling effect. The large reservoirs of cooling water used in the immersion process improve the cooling potential.
Notably, the cooling techniques are necessary for protecting the firefighter responders from being injured or dying after the fire suppression and response [procedures. Safety officers need to have proper techniques that can be incorporated in different temperature and humidity conditions to ensure that the responders will have their body temperature cooled after the process. This ensures that the firefighter does not strain or deal with excessive heat in the bodies, leading to cardiac challenges.

References
McEntire, S. J., Suyama, J., & Hostler, D. (2013). Mitigation and prevention of exertional heat stress in firefighters: a review of cooling strategies for structural firefighting and hazardous materials responders. Prehospital Emergency Care, 17(2), 241-260.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2008). Emergency support function annexes: Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1825-25045-0604/emergency_support_function_annexes_introduction_2008_.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2008). Emergency Support Function #4 – Firefighting Annex. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1470149986920-95287e53610af4abe03879996af779d1/ESF_4_Firefighting_20160705_508.pdf

Order | Check Discount

Tags: Emergency Support Function (ESF)