0. South Carolina Fire Academy Fire and Life Safety Initiatives
Firefighter II
CTC Program
Chapter 21
Fire and Life Safety Initiatives

1. Private dwelling fire safety surveys are performed on a voluntary basis
Can provide information on amount, kind of safety equipment in home
Not subject to same requirements of local codes
Survey – Indicate hazards, suggest corrective action
Treat as educational opportunity – Not enforcement

2. The fire survey is an opportunity to achieve several goals
Look for common causes of fires
Complete survey form, provide copy to occupant
Look for common causes of residential fires
Educate public
Recommend actions for eliminating non-fire related hazards

3. Planning and public relations are also aspects of these surveys
Advanced planning
Required to gain full acceptance
Main objectives
Prevent accidental fires
Improve life safety conditions
Help understand and improve conditions
Benefits of surveys
Citizens know and can trust firefighters
Citizens feel department concerned about welfare
Increased goodwill can translate into budget support

4. These surveys offer several kinds of opportunities
Promote education after identifying hazards
Gain information through surveys
Use information gathered to meet community needs, generate specific messages
Post survey follow up or notification of survey

5. Firefighters should take the survey seriously and use several guidelines
Conduct surveys in teams of two or more
Dress appropriately and act professionally
Introduce yourself, your partner, provide proper identification
Explain survey procedure
(Cont.)

6. Firefighters should take the survey seriously and use several guidelines
Maintain a courteous, businesslike attitude at all times
Focus on preventing fires, eliminating life safety hazards
Compliment occupants when favorable conditions are found
Offer constructive suggestions for correcting or eliminating hazardous conditions
(Cont.)

7. Firefighters should take the survey seriously and use several guidelines
Ask to survey all rooms; including garage
If accessible, survey basement
Ask to survey attic if used for storage or contains heating or cooling unit, if accessible
Ask occupant to open any closed doors
(Cont.)

8. Firefighters should take the survey seriously and use several guidelines
Discuss survey results with owner/occupant, answer any questions
Thank owners or occupants for invitation into home
Leave behind educational materials appropriate for occupants
Keep results of survey confidential; do not share results with any outside entity

9. After the survey is completed, there are several actions to take
Post survey
Leave checklist
Give copy of recommendations
Follow SOPs to recommend repairs
Leave materials
To indicate you tried to contact
Unstamped materials should not be placed in mailbox
Document
Per local SOPs

10. There are several basic skills to use when presenting safety messages
Audience-centered
Good development of ideas
Good organization of ideas
Best choice of words
Good delivery skills
(Cont.)

11. There are several basic skills to use when presenting safety messages
Good vocal characteristics
Conversational tone
Positive attitude
Appropriate use of humor
Personal style
Know your topic

12. Audiences will vary and are divided into several categories
Present the message
Based on demographics
If more than one – Prepare for the more challenging
(Cont.)

13. Audiences will vary and are divided into several categories
Age
Educational level
Cultural diversity
Socioeconomic
Physical ability

14. Fire and life safety messages need to meet certain criteria to be effective
Accurate
Use developed resources
Guidelines for answering questions
Positive
Remember positive rather than negative
Instruct what to do, not what not to do
Targeted
Based on several factors
Life changing events
Seasonal messages

15. You should use one of several patterns to organize your message to help make it understandable
Known-to-Unknown
Simple-to-Complex
Whole-part-Whole
Step-by-Step

16. Classroom considerations
Presenting to young children requires addressing specific considerations
Classroom considerations
(Cont.)

17. Presenting to young children requires addressing specific considerations
Children’s common fears
Appropriate vocabulary
(Cont.)

18. Presenting to young children requires addressing specific considerations
Learning style

19. Fire station tours provide several opportunities you need to understand
Enhance department’s public image
Provide fire and life safety messages
Distribute safety awareness literature
May be spur-of-the-moment or scheduled

20. Fire station tours require planning and following of safety guidelines
(Cont.)

21. Fire station tours require planning and following of safety guidelines
Decide where group goes in case of alarm
Decide with Officer in charge
Explain before tour
Remember impressions left will be strong ones
Turn off TVs
Present professional workplace
(Cont.)

22. Fire station tours require planning and following of safety guidelines
Answer all questions
Courteously
To best of ability
Follow local SOPs regarding
Climbing on apparatus
Pictures
Trying on protective clothing
(Cont.)

23. Fire station tours require planning and following of safety guidelines
Do not allow to roam unescorted
Meet upon arrival
Keep together until tour begins
Demonstrate equipment, apparatus with caution
Position to prevent visitors from straying
Exercise caution when activating sirens
Station mascots
Can be liability
May need to restrict presence

24. Pre-incident planning surveys gather information before an emergency occurs
May assist with
Locating, controlling fire
Locating occupants
Determining potential hazards
Improving emergency operations
Improving both firefighter, occupant safety

25. Documentation for pre-incident planning surveys show specific details and are used to reach several goals
Details
Type of Construction
Floor plan or layout
Contents
Occupancy type
Hazardous materials storage
Special processes
Fire detection and suppression systems
Fuel load
Goals
Become familiar with structures
Recognize existing hazards
Visualize how standard tactics may or may not apply
Develop new tactics if necessary
Determine if occupants have conditions that may prohibit self-evacuation
Determine if occupants may require translators

26. Pre-incident and code enforcement surveys are separate types of surveys
Become familiar with structure
Inspections
See if occupants complied with codes

27. Pre-incident planning surveys generally follow the same steps
Follow local SOPs
Obtain floor plans
(Cont.)

28. Pre-incident planning surveys generally follow the same steps
Conduct thorough survey
May need more than one visit
Survey buildings separately
Discuss results with owner/occupant

29. Maps, drawings, and photographs can provide useful documentation
Helpful to firefighters
Contain information
May be prepared by insurance carriers
If unavailable or outdated
Include plot drawing
Note other important features, information
(Cont.)

30. Maps, drawings, and photographs can provide useful documentation
Use common symbols
(Cont.)

31. Maps, drawings, and photographs can provide useful documentation
May create with
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Other electronic mapping program
Take photographs if permitted
Captures detail not in drawings
Most useful in preincident plans
Take from elevated position if possible
Interior, close-ups effective
Video may be made for training if possible

32. Summary
Fire and life safety initiative programs benefit both the community and the fire department.
Firefighters are an important part of that initiative by providing information to the public and preparing to respond to emergencies by surveying occupied properties.