FIR JNL

FIR 2302, Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

7. Describe how grant programs should support the implementation of safe practices. 7.1 Illustrate how grant programs directly impact safety and health in an organization. 7.2 Explain how research informs grant programs.

8. Discuss how technology can produce higher levels of safety.

8.1 Recommend a new form of technology that will improve safety and health within an organization.

Required Unit Resources Chapter 7: Creating a Research Agenda Chapter 10: Blending Grants and Safety

Unit Lesson

Introduction Please view the Unit VIII Video. Closed captioning will be available once you access the video. In Unit VII, we discuss topics that directly benefit the safety and health of all fire and emergency service providers. Of all the topics covered in this course, these may be the least familiar to the masses. That is not to say these topics are the least important. The complete opposite could be argued. If we are going to move the needle on safety and health, it will require more information and more funding. As a student engaged in higher education and professional development, you are taking a key step toward being a part of the solution and a part of the future of the fire and emergency services.

Importance of Data When we first enter the fire service, we are focused on the task level, and rightfully so. We need to understand how to perform the basic skills necessary to provide emergency services as part of a team. Failure to understand these basic skills can result in injury or death. We understand this. If we respond to a house fire, we will participate in dangerous activities to protect life and property. That is the job, and that is our role as frontline firefighters. What may not be immediately apparent and understood is how the input and collection of fire (or other emergency incident) data informs the decisions around funding, staffing, and so on. “It's been said that one of the greatest problems with the advancement of the fire service is the lack of hard data available” (Zimmerman, 2021, p. 142). Times have changed and will continue to do so. No longer can the fire and emergency services rely on its proud history alone to guarantee its future relevance as a profession. It is time we recognized that we need to justify our existence through accurate data. The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is the nationwide system for data and information pertaining to fire and emergency services response. This data and information are available to fire and other organizations to guide decision making. In 21st Century Fire and Emergency Services, one of the critical issues identified for sustainability and relevance is the robust use of data (Critical Issue C). As this report states, having a great deal of data available to those serving in the fire and emergency services will help to improve the way these services

UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE

Research and Grants

FIR 2302, Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

operate, both in emergency situations and in its basic operations “Over the next 30 years, the amount of data available to the profession will transform the way the service operates, not only in emergencies, but in all the services provided” (Center for Public Safety Excellence [CPSE], 2020, p. 13). At times, we can be our own worst enemy by not taking the appropriate time and making the appropriate effort to document our activities appropriately. The information available is only as good (and as useful) as the information we entered. By engaging in strategic thinking, individuals are exposed to thoughts, ideas, and concepts that can truly have a significant and lasting impact on the fire service.

Research “In 2005, a group of fire service professionals with the goal of creating a national research agenda met on the grounds of the National Fire Academy (NFA)” (Zimmerman, 2021, p. 145). This effort, the National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium, laid the groundwork for Fire and Life Safety Initiative 7 (Zimmerman, 2021). In January 2022, the fourth research agenda was released. This document, the Recommendations Report, details more than 300 research recommendations broken into three categories: hiring, retention and advancement; effective operations; and health and safety (National Fallen Firefighters Research Agenda, 2022). It is through comprehensive research and collaboration that the solutions to our safety and health concerns will be addressed. This type of research also becomes the foundation upon which future grant funding will be allocated, which is why it is so important to understand the connection between research and grants. Some of the more recognizable research projects in the fire service were conducted by Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). There are numerous research projects that affect firefighter and occupant safety and health. The FSRI website contains links to research, training, and resources to assist fire and emergency services providers and agencies to improve their operational capabilities, reduce risks, and improve safety and health. There are other types of research that have an impact on the fire and emergency services. The National Fire Academy (NFA), which is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, has two professional development programs involving a research project: the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and the Managing Officer (MO) Program. EFO has an applied research project requirement, while MO has a capstone project requirement. Both programs require the participant to gather information about their specific organization or jurisdiction. The National Emergency Training Center Library website is an excellent resource for students and practitioners alike. Published applied research projects can be referenced using this online library catalog. Many EFO-applied research projects have led to or resulted in substantive change in communities and organizations. Some of these applied research projects laid the foundation for grant proposals and/or financial justification for funding. There are other types of research that have an impact on the fire and emergency services. The National Fire Academy (NFA), which is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, has two professional development programs involving a research project: the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and the Managing Officer (MO) Program; you can review the programs at the National Fire Academy Training Programs and Activities webpage. EFO has an applied research project requirement, while MO has a capstone project requirement. Both programs require the participant to gather information about their specific organization or jurisdiction. The National Emergency Training Center Library website is an excellent resource for students and practitioners alike. Published applied research projects can be referenced using this online library catalog. Many EFO-applied research projects have led to or resulted in substantive change in communities and organizations. Some of these applied research projects laid the foundation for grant proposals and/or financial justification for funding.

Grants All fire and emergency service agencies are funded by some type of funding source(s). Agencies vary in type, size, scope, population served, and so on. There is no single best way to staff and fund an agency. However, there are very few agencies that will claim to have all they need in terms of funding. Fewer still will claim they have too much funding. Many agencies need and rely upon some type of grant funding to meet their personnel, training, equipment, and apparatus needs.

FIR 2302, Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival 3

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

Although there are many types of grants available to the fire and emergency services, the most widely recognized grant programs are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are many grants available through FEMA to support the fire and emergency services. Perhaps the most popular or recognizable FEMA grants are the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), and Fire Prevention and Safety (FPS) grant programs; you can view the programs on the FEMA Grants webpage. These programs provide grant funding for various types of projects. Each grant cycle, a guidance document identifies the programs that are listed as a priority for funding. Therefore, each grant applicant must conduct research and utilize available data to complete a grant application that will be evaluated in a competitive process. Grant applications that demonstrate the greatest need and justification will receive higher scores than those applications lacking significant details demonstrating need. The AFG program generally funds projects like training program development/implementation, equipment purchase/replacement, personal protective equipment (PPE) purchase/replacement, and fire apparatus purchase/replacement. The SAFER grants fund projects for personnel. The FPS program generally funds projects for prevention-related initiatives. The application process requires a lot of research, data collection, writing, and political support, as there is generally some type of financial match required by the agency receiving the award. There are also private companies that provide grants to fire and emergency services agencies. Two examples are Firehouse Subs and Motorola Solutions. These companies provide grants to support first responders. The International Association of Fire Chiefs established an executive development program for new and aspiring fire chiefs. Please search their websites to learn more about these grants. The Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) is an example of how the fire service can benefit from a public/private partnership to develop leadership skills in chief fire officers. The FSEDI program submits a new grant application each year to justify the expense using data and information from the course outcomes. As you can see, research and grants are key components of the success and sustainability of our profession. As we continue to see technological advances throughout all sectors of our world, the fire and emergency services will need to continue to innovate to meet the needs of the public. Here is a list of resources where you can find more information about fire-related grants and research. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a starting point.

• National Fire Incident Reporting System webpage

• Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program webpage

• Fire Safety Research Institute website

• The Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research website

• National Fire Academy Training Programs and Activities webpage

References Center for Public Safety Excellence. (2020). 21st century fire and emergency services. International

City/County Management Association. https://www.cpse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21st- Century-Fire-and-Emergency-Services-White-Paper-Final-07.15.20.pdf

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. (2022, January). 2021 National Fire Service Research Agenda:

Recommendations Report. Fire Safety Research Institute. http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/wp- content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/research-agenda-symposium-4-report.pdf

Zimmerman, D. (2021). Fire fighter safety and survival (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781284206128

FIR 2302, Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

7. Describe how grant programs should support the implementation of safe practices. 7.1 Illustrate how grant programs directly impact safety and health in an organization. 7.2 Explain how research informs grant programs.

8. Discuss how technology can produce higher levels of safety.

8.1 Recommend a new form of technology that will improve safety and health within an organization.

Required Unit Resources Chapter 7: Creating a Research Agenda Chapter 10: Blending Grants and Safety

Unit Lesson

Introduction Please view the Unit VIII Video. Closed captioning will be available once you access the video. In Unit VII, we discuss topics that directly benefit the safety and health of all fire and emergency service providers. Of all the topics covered in this course, these may be the least familiar to the masses. That is not to say these topics are the least important. The complete opposite could be argued. If we are going to move the needle on safety and health, it will require more information and more funding. As a student engaged in higher education and professional development, you are taking a key step toward being a part of the solution and a part of the future of the fire and emergency services.

Importance of Data When we first enter the fire service, we are focused on the task level, and rightfully so. We need to understand how to perform the basic skills necessary to provide emergency services as part of a team. Failure to understand these basic skills can result in injury or death. We understand this. If we respond to a house fire, we will participate in dangerous activities to protect life and property. That is the job, and that is our role as frontline firefighters. What may not be immediately apparent and understood is how the input and collection of fire (or other emergency incident) data informs the decisions around funding, staffing, and so on. “It's been said that one of the greatest problems with the advancement of the fire service is the lack of hard data available” (Zimmerman, 2021, p. 142). Times have changed and will continue to do so. No longer can the fire and emergency services rely on its proud history alone to guarantee its future relevance as a profession. It is time we recognized that we need to justify our existence through accurate data. The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is the nationwide system for data and information pertaining to fire and emergency services response. This data and information are available to fire and other organizations to guide decision making. In 21st Century Fire and Emergency Services, one of the critical issues identified for sustainability and relevance is the robust use of data (Critical Issue C). As this report states, having a great deal of data available to those serving in the fire and emergency services will help to improve the way these services

UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE

Research and Grants

FIR 2302, Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

operate, both in emergency situations and in its basic operations “Over the next 30 years, the amount of data available to the profession will transform the way the service operates, not only in emergencies, but in all the services provided” (Center for Public Safety Excellence [CPSE], 2020, p. 13). At times, we can be our own worst enemy by not taking the appropriate time and making the appropriate effort to document our activities appropriately. The information available is only as good (and as useful) as the information we entered. By engaging in strategic thinking, individuals are exposed to thoughts, ideas, and concepts that can truly have a significant and lasting impact on the fire service.

Research “In 2005, a group of fire service professionals with the goal of creating a national research agenda met on the grounds of the National Fire Academy (NFA)” (Zimmerman, 2021, p. 145). This effort, the National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium, laid the groundwork for Fire and Life Safety Initiative 7 (Zimmerman, 2021). In January 2022, the fourth research agenda was released. This document, the Recommendations Report, details more than 300 research recommendations broken into three categories: hiring, retention and advancement; effective operations; and health and safety (National Fallen Firefighters Research Agenda, 2022). It is through comprehensive research and collaboration that the solutions to our safety and health concerns will be addressed. This type of research also becomes the foundation upon which future grant funding will be allocated, which is why it is so important to understand the connection between research and grants. Some of the more recognizable research projects in the fire service were conducted by Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). There are numerous research projects that affect firefighter and occupant safety and health. The FSRI website contains links to research, training, and resources to assist fire and emergency services providers and agencies to improve their operational capabilities, reduce risks, and improve safety and health. There are other types of research that have an impact on the fire and emergency services. The National Fire Academy (NFA), which is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, has two professional development programs involving a research project: the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and the Managing Officer (MO) Program. EFO has an applied research project requirement, while MO has a capstone project requirement. Both programs require the participant to gather information about their specific organization or jurisdiction. The National Emergency Training Center Library website is an excellent resource for students and practitioners alike. Published applied research projects can be referenced using this online library catalog. Many EFO-applied research projects have led to or resulted in substantive change in communities and organizations. Some of these applied research projects laid the foundation for grant proposals and/or financial justification for funding. There are other types of research that have an impact on the fire and emergency services. The National Fire Academy (NFA), which is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, has two professional development programs involving a research project: the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and the Managing Officer (MO) Program; you can review the programs at the National Fire Academy Training Programs and Activities webpage. EFO has an applied research project requirement, while MO has a capstone project requirement. Both programs require the participant to gather information about their specific organization or jurisdiction. The National Emergency Training Center Library website is an excellent resource for students and practitioners alike. Published applied research projects can be referenced using this online library catalog. Many EFO-applied research projects have led to or resulted in substantive change in communities and organizations. Some of these applied research projects laid the foundation for grant proposals and/or financial justification for funding.

Grants All fire and emergency service agencies are funded by some type of funding source(s). Agencies vary in type, size, scope, population served, and so on. There is no single best way to staff and fund an agency. However, there are very few agencies that will claim to have all they need in terms of funding. Fewer still will claim they have too much funding. Many agencies need and rely upon some type of grant funding to meet their personnel, training, equipment, and apparatus needs.

FIR 2302, Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival 3

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

Although there are many types of grants available to the fire and emergency services, the most widely recognized grant programs are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are many grants available through FEMA to support the fire and emergency services. Perhaps the most popular or recognizable FEMA grants are the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), and Fire Prevention and Safety (FPS) grant programs; you can view the programs on the FEMA Grants webpage. These programs provide grant funding for various types of projects. Each grant cycle, a guidance document identifies the programs that are listed as a priority for funding. Therefore, each grant applicant must conduct research and utilize available data to complete a grant application that will be evaluated in a competitive process. Grant applications that demonstrate the greatest need and justification will receive higher scores than those applications lacking significant details demonstrating need. The AFG program generally funds projects like training program development/implementation, equipment purchase/replacement, personal protective equipment (PPE) purchase/replacement, and fire apparatus purchase/replacement. The SAFER grants fund projects for personnel. The FPS program generally funds projects for prevention-related initiatives. The application process requires a lot of research, data collection, writing, and political support, as there is generally some type of financial match required by the agency receiving the award. There are also private companies that provide grants to fire and emergency services agencies. Two examples are Firehouse Subs and Motorola Solutions. These companies provide grants to support first responders. The International Association of Fire Chiefs established an executive development program for new and aspiring fire chiefs. Please search their websites to learn more about these grants. The Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) is an example of how the fire service can benefit from a public/private partnership to develop leadership skills in chief fire officers. The FSEDI program submits a new grant application each year to justify the expense using data and information from the course outcomes. As you can see, research and grants are key components of the success and sustainability of our profession. As we continue to see technological advances throughout all sectors of our world, the fire and emergency services will need to continue to innovate to meet the needs of the public. Here is a list of resources where you can find more information about fire-related grants and research. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a starting point.

• National Fire Incident Reporting System webpage

• Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program webpage

• Fire Safety Research Institute website

• The Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research website

• National Fire Academy Training Programs and Activities webpage

References Center for Public Safety Excellence. (2020). 21st century fire and emergency services. International

City/County Management Association. https://www.cpse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/21st- Century-Fire-and-Emergency-Services-White-Paper-Final-07.15.20.pdf

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. (2022, January). 2021 National Fire Service Research Agenda:

Recommendations Report. Fire Safety Research Institute. http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/wp- content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/research-agenda-symposium-4-report.pdf

Zimmerman, D. (2021). Fire fighter safety and survival (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781284206128