Introduction to the Public Safety System Created by Curt Harrell & Jesse Kuzy for

Public Safety O Public Safety is the protection of members of the public from injury, especially due to crime and natural disaster. O The public safety system exists to: O Ensure the safety of the general public O Educate citizens about safety, injury prevention, and disaster response.

Departments The public safety systems consists of numerous departments, including: Law Enforcement Fire Departments Emergency Medical Services The Department of Homeland Security

Fire Departments Fire departments provide a wide range of services, including: Protecting lives and property from fire Providing emergency medical services

Fire Departments [cont’d] Protecting against exposure to hazardous conditions and substances Educating the public about fire safety and prevention Fire Departments are usually organized at the local level.

Law Enforcement O Law Enforcement agencies ensure the public safety by: O Maintaining public order O Responding to emergency situations O Protecting public property and officials O Investigating crime to assist in prosecution

Law Enforcement [cont’d] O Agencies can be organized at the state, local, or national level. O Officers may be patrol officers or may belong to a number of specialized teams, such as S.W.A.T., narcotics, K-9, CSI, and others.

Emergency Medical Services O Emergency Medical Services, often abbreviated to EMS, provide on-site emergency care and evacuate seriously injured persons to hospitals for additional emergency care.

Emergency Medical Services [cont’d] O Minimum standards for EMS providers are regulated by the federal government, but services are usually organized at the local level. O Some areas may be serviced by private EMS providers; these providers are subject to the same standards as public EMS.

The Department of Homeland Security O The Department of Homeland Security was founded in 2002 to ensure the safety of the public from terrorist attacks, in part as a response to the 9/11 attacks.

The Department of Homeland Security [cont’d] O Homeland Security coordinates and centralizes a number of previously disparate national security activities, including: O Counterterrorism O Immigration O Border Security O Preparedness, Response and Recovery O Cyber terrorism

Summary O Public Safety System O Ensure and educate safety to the general public O Several Departments of Public Safety O Fire Departments O Law Enforcement O Emergency Medical Services O Department of Homeland Security