Chief Compton's Research Corner

Published By: Archives of Women Health and Care; Volume 6 Issue 1 – March 15, 2023

Authored By: Brittany S. Hollerbach*; Carrie L. Sutherland; Maria DH Koeppel; Kimberly Cox; Amy Hanifan; and Sara A. Jahnke – Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, NDRI, USA. 

*Denotes Corresponding Author

Description:

This review identifies and summarizes the current state of the literature on the reproductive Health of women firefighters. Several alarming firefighting exposures were noted, and the existing literature supports an association between firefighting and higher rates of reproductive health complications. However, the lack of research in this area has precipitated uncertainty concerning appropriate firefighting duties during pregnancy and the safe return to work post-partum. This has led to an absence of effective policy and, in some cases, no policy at all. This is occurring while reproductive health is an emerging area of concern for firefighters, both men and women. 

The following study and report were endorsed by Archives of Women Health and Care on March 15, 2023.

Access the report at the following link:

• Research Open - Archives of Women Health and Care; Volume 6 Issue 1

Report Sponsored By: The Urban Fire Forum 

Hosted By: NFPA

Report Authored and Endorsed By: Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Urban Fire Forum Participants and NFPA

Description:

The Urban Fire Forum is sponsored and hosted by the NFPA each year. This unique event brings together selected Metropolitan Fire Chiefs who are responsible for protecting some of the largest urban centers in the United States and around the world. The Urban Fire Forum focuses on a wide range of topics including sessions on the latest international research and technology. Fire Chiefs today lead sophisticated organizations that provide fire, rescue, EMS, hazardous materials and other environmental services, as well as a wide array of public education, code enforcement, and community health programs. The Urban Fire Forum conducted in September 2023 resulted in a Report that includes three Position Statements addressing the critical issues of Climate Change; Support for increasing Efforts on Mental Health & Wellbeing; and Support for Research on Firefighter Reproductive Health.

The following three Position Statements were endorsed by the Urban Fire Forum on September 28, 2023. 

Access them in the following links:

• Climate Change
• Support for Increasing Efforts on Mental Health & Wellbeing
• Support for Research on Firefighter Reproductive Health

Forum Hosted By: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF); Event Sponsors Include: Cintas, NFSA, California Casualty, and Grant Funding by FEMA’s Grant Program Directorate for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Final Report Authored By: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). 

Description:

President Harry S. Truman convened the National Conference on Fire Prevention in 1947 to address the nation’s fire problem. In May 2019, the inaugural Truman Fire Forum was held in Key West, Florida to reassess the status of the fire problem and develop future intervention strategies. The second Truman Fire Forum was held in August 2022 in Independence, Missouri to continue planning and follow-up work towards established goals. This report includes an overview of the work of the 2019 Fire Forum, as well as the 2022 Forum. This set of meetings and the work that has been produced beings together the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and many fire service organizations to focus on a vision that includes integrating fire prevention and public education into fire department operations; better utilizing data, research, and science; creating modern fire solutions; leveraging fire prevention and safety; developing better messaging; and enhancing risk management and decision-making. 

Access the Report at the following link:

• Truman Fire Forum Report

Conducted By: UL Fire Service Research Institute (FSRI) with Research Partner: Illinois Fire Service Institute – Research Engineer: Craig Weinschenk supported by a 21 member Technical Panel.

Description:

The Study of Fire Service Residential Home Size-up and Search & Rescue Operations was funded through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program under the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. This Research and Development grant focused on the objective of examining size-up and search & rescue tactics on the residential fireground. Twenty-one experiments were conducted in two identical, purpose-built, single-story, single-family residential structures. Eleven (11) experiments examined bedroom fires, eight experiments examined kitchen fires, and two experiments examined living room fires. Across this series of experiments, the impact of isolation of fire and non-fire compartments, the timing of search actions relative to suppression actions, and the influence of isolation, elevation, and path of travel during rescue were examined with respect to firefighter safety and occupant tenability. The primary purpose of the study is to improve firefighter safety and victim survivability by examining the impact of: different search tactics, such as search initiated through the front door or search initiated through a window – different rescue tactics such as path of occupant removal or elevation of occupant removal – isolation (front door, fire room, or remote bedroom) and ventilation – and search and rescue operations that occur prior to, during, or post suppression. These experiments resulted in a three-part fire service technical report series released in May 2022.

Access the Study Introduction, Video Overview, and the Three Reports at the links below: 

• Study Introduction and Video Overview
  • https://fsri.org/research-update/report-series-and-tactical-considerations-released-analysis-search-and-rescue
  • https://www.firerescue1.com/research/articles/fsri-releases-report-series-on-search-and-rescue-tactics-szpUkLX4hkaVgfKg/
• UL Fire Service Search and Rescue Report Part One (PDF) - Bedroom Fires
• UL Fire Service Search and Rescue Report Part Two (PDF) - Kitchen and Livingroom Fires
• UL Fire Service Search and Rescue Report Part Three (PDF) - Tactical Considerations

Prepared, Published, and Sponsored By: The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI).

Description:

The 2021 National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium (RAS) was held virtually from February 15 through March 8, 2021. It was released in January 2022. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Everyone Goes Home® Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #7 calls for the creation of a national research agenda and data collection system related to the sixteen Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. To that end, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has previously hosted three research agenda symposiums in 2005, 2011, and 2015. Although the publication of a new Fire Service Research Agenda causes great excitement in the academic and research community, the broader fire service often has very little interface with it and may subsequently lack understanding of its true impact. They are often unaware that virtually every research project conducted by, or on behalf of the fire service, has its roots in the Research Agenda. In fact, demonstrating a project’s connection to its recommendations is often a gateway to grant funding for researchers. The domains and symposium structure were created by a planning team whose members are considered to be among the fire service’s leading visionaries.

Access the Research Agenda at: 

• http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/research-agenda-symposium-4-report.pdf

NOTE: If interested, the 2015 National Fire Service Research Agenda is also available for review on Compton’s Corner.

Prepared By: This report was sponsored and executed by NFPA with administrative oversight and support provided by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), a small group of NFPA colleagues, and a 16 member Project Technical Panel; the NFPA Research Team: Marty Ahrens and Birgitte Messerschmidt; and the NFPA Project Sponsor: Lorraine Carli.

Published: 2021

Description:

This study looks at fire data and other research to provide an analysis of what has impacted fire safety in the United States in the last 40 years. Through the lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, this report highlights successes, new and ongoing challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The main focus of this study is on reported fires in homes, as home structure fires have consistently accounted for the largest share of reported structure fires and the majority of the reported civilian fire deaths and injuries. It also analyzes fires involving hospitals and nursing homes, as well as catastrophic multiple-death fires and fires in the wildland/urban interface (WUI).

Access the Report at: Here

Prepared By: This report was prepared and authored by specific staff of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) – James M. Murray, Director  

Published: August 2020

Description:

The U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) is an integral resource for the agency’s no-fail mission to safeguard this nation’s highest elected officials. NTAC’s continuous efforts to ensure the informed development of prevention strategies through research also enables outreach programs and publications that assist protective and public safety partners in their missions to prevent targeted violence in communities across the United States. This NTAC study examines 34 targeted attacks that occurred in public or semi-public spaces (e.g. schools, places of business, houses of worship, open spaces) from January through December 2019. Understanding the key factors in preventing these attacks is even more critical now that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing additional stressors in the lives of our citizens.     

Access the Report at:  https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-09/MAPS2019.pdf

Prepared by the IAFC Coronavirus Task Force: Chaired by Fire Chief John Sinclair; Membership Consists of Fourteen Stakeholder Representatives

This Guide identifies key recommendations, best practices, and considerations for fire departments nationwide who are dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). These recommendations are based largely on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Presented at the NFPA Urban Fire Forum in September 2019

This presentation was provided to participants at the 2019 NFPA Urban Fire Forum. It includes current information on firefighter cancer risk and an overview of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018. Previous studies, including a study completed by NIOSH, clearly indicate that career firefighters are at higher risk of cancer than the general population. Although these are extensive studies of the career firefighter population, they are limited by the inclusion of only small numbers of women and minorities, as well as a lack of data on volunteer firefighters. The goal of the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) is to track firefighters’ cancer risk over time to better understand the link between workplace exposures and cancer. This presentation provides the most current information addressing who might be included in the NFR; recruiting NFR participants; NFR registration information; what will be addressed by the NFR; and the timeline for implementing the NFR.

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This document was produced with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Emergency Medical Services, U.S. Department of Transportation. It was created through a cooperative agreement in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & & Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & & Response (ASPR), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The participants involved in the creation of this document hope that by using the specific recommendations they have provided, the EMS industry and profession can create a more favorable environment for innovation through improved regulatory frameworks, better financial alignment, a stronger educational foundation, greater regional coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as stronger medical oversight and enhanced data and telecommunications capabilities.

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Fire and Rescue Departments are “ ALL-Hazards ” Departments providing emergency medical response, fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, response to active shooter/hostile events, fire inspections, public education, investigation, community training and more. Effectively managing a fire department requires an understanding of and an ability to demonstrate how changes to resources in any of these areas will affect the overall safety of the community. The necessity of data collection, analysis and reporting cannot be overstated. Data, and the information gleaned from it, show the need for prevention, public education, and emergency response services including the number of appropriately staffed and deployed apparatus necessary to mitigate the emergencies that occur. This white paper also discusses the historical use of fire department annual reports and their limitations, guidelines for a detailed community risk assessment addressing hazards and their associated risks, and how to gather data necessary to conduct a community risk assessment. Other sections discuss fire department performance and the associated metrics found in industry standards and in the NFORS data system, as well as several other important sections.

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It is imperative that local fire and law enforcement departments have common tactics, common communications capabilities and a common lexicon for seamless, effective operations. Local fire and law enforcement departments should establish standard operating procedures to deal with these unusual, highly volatile, and extraordinarily dangerous scenarios. This Position Paper created by the Urban Fire Forum (UFF) addresses the importance of standard operating procedures that address preparedness, response and recovery. These standard operating procedures should be developed in accordance with NFPA 3000, and should include the objectives identified in this position paper.

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Mental health has often been overlooked by the medical community as part of a patient’s treatment plan. Issues such as depression, anxiety and addiction were sometimes considered failings in a person’s character rather than an illness or injury that can be treated and managed. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) – through the Everyone Goes Home® Program has researched and released the Fire Service Behavioral Health Management Guide to help fire departments in their efforts to implement a comprehensive behavioral health plan for their members.

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On December 8, 2016, member organizations of the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s (CFSI) National Advisory Committee (NAC) approved a resolution to develop a white paper that describes the current state of the American Fire Service in protecting the public, their property and the nation’s critical infrastructure from fire and other emergencies. Completed and published on July 24, 2017, this white paper is designed to help government officials and others better understand what is expected / required of firefighters nationwide and how specific federal programs enhance the readiness and response capabilities of these brave men and women. The information contained in the white paper addresses important aspects of the federal government’s role in supporting the mission of our nation’s fire and emergency services. It can be useful in many ways, and within various venues, to communicate current fire and emergency services issues and challenges, both internally and externally.

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This profile provides a wealth of data breaking down and detailing the make-up of fire departments in the United States and the services they provide. NFPA estimates there were approximately 1,160,450 firefighters in the U.S. in 2015. An estimated 345,600 (30%) of these were career firefighters and 814,850 (70%) were volunteer firefighters. Most of the career firefighters (71%) worked in communities that protected 25,000 or more people. Most of the volunteer firefighters (95%) were in departments that protected fewer than 25,000 people. There are an estimated 29,727 fire departments in the U.S. Of these, 2,651 departments were staffed by all career firefighters, 1,893 were mostly career, 5,421 were mostly volunteer and 19,762 were all volunteer.

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Heart health is a critical issue for first responders in the fire and emergency services. This document contains links to studies and reports that provide current information regarding firefighter health. This resource focuses on the following areas:

• Emergency Duties and Deaths from Heart Disease Among Firefighters in the United States
• USFA Firefighter Fatality Annual Reports
• NFPA Firefighter Fatality Report and Fact Sheet
• Working Inside the Firehouse: Developing a Participant-Driven Intervention to Enhance Health-Promoting Behaviors
• Addressing the Epidemic of Obesity in the United States Fire Service
• Obesity and Incident Injury Among Career Firefighters in the Central United States
• Physician Weight Recommendations for Overweight and Obese Firefighters in the Unites States (2011-2012)
• Critical Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service

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The United States is sometimes marred by occurrences of civil unrest. Riots and demonstrations are a reality and firefighters and paramedics, along with law enforcement, are called upon to respond and function in the midst of these difficult events. Chapter 8 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1500 requires that fire departments develop and maintain written standard operating procedures that establish a standardized approach to the safety of members at incidents involving violence, unrest, or civil disturbance. In response to this requirement, this White Paper and Sample Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) were created by the NFPA Responder Forum in 2015 – then released to the fire community through the Urban Fire Forum in 2016. Together, these excellent documents provide critical guidance to fire department personnel as they address these incidents in close cooperation with law enforcement.

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Read More (Sample SOP)

The 2015 National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium (RAS) was held November 15-18, 2015 in Arlington, Virginia. Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #7 calls for the creation and maintenance of a fire service research agenda. To that end, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has previously hosted two research agenda symposiums in 2005 and 2011. Although the publication of a new Fire Service Research Agenda causes great excitement in the academic and research community, the broader fire service often has very little interface with it, and may subsequently lack understanding of its true impact. They are often unaware that virtually every research project conducted by, or on behalf of the fire service, has its roots in the Research Agenda. In fact, demonstrating a project’s connection to its recommendations is often a gateway to grant funding for researchers.

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This report presents the results of a scientific study that included 48 field experiments and 48 complementary fire modeling simulations that collectively quantify the impact of differing crew size deployments (3-person, 4-person, 5-person, and 6-person crews), different alarm assignments, and different vertical response modes on occupant survivability, firefighter safety, and property protection for four potential high-rise fire response scenarios. For the high-rise fireground experiments, a 13 story vacant commercial building was used in Crystal City, Virginia. Props were built within the structure to closely resemble an occupied workplace including a mixture of employee cubicles and private offices. Each floor of the structure measured approximately 30,000 sq ft (2800 m2 ). This is a modest high-rise building that represents a baseline best case scenario for high hazard environments.

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