Political Science

Roles and responsibilities in emergency management disaster from a first responders aspect

    Disaster management is one of the most crucial activities carried out by various departments and sectors in an organization. Disasters are of many types including with the most common being fire and various forms of accidents. Disasters are emergency issues requiring immediate attention from all the various sectors in a community. They may occur at any given time and at any place and these calls for alertness of disaster management team at all times. They can be as a result of act of man or an act of nature. Communication in times of disaster is one of the most crucial aspects of disaster management (Haddow, Bullock  Coppola, 2007).

    Disaster management involves a number of players including hospital, communities, fire fighters and the police. Preparedness of these groups is essential in emergency management. During emergencies, first responders are the main group that attends to an emergency case. First responders are composed on law enforcement agencies including the police, emergency medical technicians, fire fighters and the voluntary helpers from communities where an emergency occurs. First responders have various responsibilities and roles to play during emergencies depending on their areas of specialization and the nature of the emergency (Pinkowski, 2008).

    The main role of law enforcers is to keep curious public at bay to enable emergency personnel carry out their work with little disruption. Emergencies usually result in injuries and the number of injuries may increase if the public is not controlled. The role of law enforcers is to ensure that other first responders have sufficient space to carry out their duties. They may also help out other first responders in evacuating individuals deemed to be in danger as a result of the emergency. Law enforcers also alert the public in case there is more anticipated emergency situation. They help in evacuating people from buildings and warning people to keep off from emergency or anticipated emergency areas (Rasey, n. d).

    Firefighters role and responsibility is to put off fire in case an emergency concerns fire outbreak. Upon receipt of information concerning fire outbreak, the firefighters must ensure that they do all they can to put out the fire to ensure that the damage caused is mitigated. Before the firefighters gets into the scene, voluntary first responders from an area of emergency usually carry out this role as they await the firefighters. Firefighters role and responsibility arises if the emergency involves fire (Hafen, 1990).

    Emergency medical technicians are the third category of first responders. The main role of this response team is to offer first aid services to victims of emergencies thus mitigating the number of deaths during an emergency. This group has ambulances that immediately transport critically injured persons to the nearest hospital or health center upon giving them first aid for further observation and treatment. Apart from giving first aid services, the emergency medical technicians also help in evacuating injured persons from an emergence area. This may be done with the help of public volunteers (Toews, n. d).

    From the perspective of a first responder, the main duty and responsibility is to ensure that as many people are rescued during emergencies and thus mitigating the number of death. It is also the duty of a first responder to ensure that those exposed to further danger are evacuated immediately and that already injured persons are given first aid and subsequently transferred to a hospital or health center for further observation. The role of first responders in not to actually treat the injured persons but to ensure that they are removed from danger zones and taken to places they can obtain further medical help. Though during the process of saving life first responders may mitigate the loss of property, this is not their main duty or responsibility. Their role and responsibility is to save as many lives as they can (Hafen, 1990).

    Communication is also another important aspect in emergency or disaster management for a first responder. One of major causes of failure of disaster management is poor and ineffective communication avenues. Communication is quite essential during communication as this aid in easier coordination. In emergency cases, all first responders do not arrive at the same time. Usually, community or public volunteers are the first to arrive at the scene. It is the duty of such first responders to notify other relevant responders of the incident and to do so immediately giving all the details of the incident or accident and its location. It is also the role of first responders to carry out any activity that may help in mitigating the injuries and helping injured persons to safety (Hafen, 1990).

    First responders also have a responsibility of taking all the necessary precautions to protect themselves from any injuries that may befall them while attending to an emergency. While undertaking the role of helping the injured persons from emergency areas, first responders should not engage in unnecessary risks which may jeopardize their lives or their safety. First responders have a role of protecting themselves and taking all the necessary precautions while attending emergency cases. They should not sacrifice their lives for the lives of those in danger (Haddow, Bullock  Coppola, 2007).