PUBLIC SAFETY DATA TRANSPARENCY SUMMARY

An integral part of evaluating public safety is by utilizing data. Data transparency is important and useful for cities, departments, and citizens. Cities take pride in understanding the data collected by their public safety departments in order to make decisions to improve public safety. Each department utilizes data to better understand their day-to-day practice and to continually provide effective and professional public safety. Finally, citizens can utilize this data when making decisions such as where to live, work, and raise a family.

Data transparency is important for all stakeholders mentioned above. Unfortunately, many local governments do not currently have a standard set of data that can be viewed objectively. The agreed upon data definitions should be based upon standards such as NFPA 1710 which determines call time recommendations and includes concrete definitions on data items such as travel time which fire departments use to see how they measure up to national and local standards.

Exact data is not readily available to stakeholders and oftentimes requires a public records request. The goal of the PFFA is to develop legislation that mandates data transparency on city websites to include items such as: annual call volume, average emergency response travel times, and per capita staffing.

DATA TRANSPARENCY KEY POINTS

• -  Fire department data is useful for cities/towns/districts, fire departments, and the citizens that live and work within these jurisdictions.

• -  At times, data is marketed by jurisdictions but can be skewed to support a particular ideal rather than reporting straight statistics or data.

• -  Public records requests can be the only way for citizens and stakeholders to see data such as call volume, response time, crime statistics and staffing for their public safety departments.

• -  The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona support legislation requiring that data transparency and data availability be made to stakeholders on jurisdictional websites.

  Reference:

  NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments. National Fire Protection Agency. 2016 Edition. NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY (PTSI) - TREATMENT AND PRESUMPTION SUMMARY

Firefighters take pride in serving and providing emergency services to their community. Over a 20+ year career, a firefighter will have been involved in thousands of calls for service that range from fighting structure fires to a gambit of medical emergencies. Many calls that can have a negative impact on firefighters are drownings, child trauma and death, and homicide/suicide scenes. According to an article on the correlation between firefighters and PTSI diagnosis, the author states, “Considering this high exposure to traumatic events, emergency workers constitute a high-risk group regarding the development of post traumatic stress disorder,” (Pinto, et al 2015).

Experiencing and seeing scenes that many people cannot fathom can build up and affect responders differently. Many are able to process what they see and feel and continue the job without issue. However, more are learning that they need help in dealing with the repetitive traumatic events before it negatively impacts their lives and the lives of their families. Suicide and drug dependencies are on the rise nationally. Specialized treatment is available using professionals that understand the uniqueness of the career and how a traumatic call or repetitive traumatic calls affect public safety members.

With adequate PTSI diagnosis procedures and more importantly, specialized treatment, members will have a solid option to be treated for an injury that is impacting more and more people all over the world. Through legislation, the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona’s goal is to allow for the proper channel of diagnosing and receiving specialized treatment for members who suffer from PTSI.

PTSI PRESUMPTION/TREATMENT KEY POINTS

References:

• -  An increasing number of firefighters are suffering from and being diagnosed with PTSI

• -  A single, intense call for service and/or being repetitively exposed to traumatic calls for service are contributing to PTSI symptoms

• -  Studies show that firefighters are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from PTSI compared to the general public (Boffa, et al 2017)

• -  The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona support legislation that provides presumptive protections to firefighters suffering from PTSI as a result of job related exposure for the purposes of workers’ compensation and disability

• -  The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona support the idea that a group of specialized treatment professionals be created for the diagnosis and treatment of PTSI

• Pinto, R., Henriques, S., Jongenelen, I., Carvalho, C., & Maia, A. The Strongest Correlates of PTSD for Firefighters: Number, Recency, Frequency, or Perceived Threat of Traumatic

• Journal of Traumatic Events. Vol 28(5), Oct, 2015 pp. 434-440.

• Boffa, J., Stanley, I., Hom, M., Norr, A., Joiner, T., & Schmidt, N. (2017). PTSD Symptoms and

• Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Firefighters. Journal of Psychiatric Research. Vol 84, Jan, 2017 pp. 277-283.

LUKE’S LAW SUMMARY

On January 21, 2017, Luke Jones, a member of the Daisy Mountain Fire Department, lost his life as a result of a tragic and completely unacceptable act of violence. Luke, an off-duty firefighter, was assaulted by a bouncer at a nightclub. Luke did not instigate the violence and had his arm immobilized in a sling due to a recent surgery. The bouncer assaulted Luke to the point that Luke was rushed to the hospital and declared dead from injuries suffered during the assault.

Luke’s family, along with the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona are supporting legislation requiring positions such as “bouncers” obtain training and certification much like licensed security guards in the state of Arizona in order to be employed. Bouncers, who are hired by establishment owners to enforce rules and provide security, can find themselves in intense situations, which can result in bodily harm to the patron, other customers and/or the bouncer. Currently, there is no formal training or accountability required for these positions.

Nobody deserves the treatment given to Luke. Bouncers should be given the proper training and communication techniques to de-escalate situations before they lead to physical altercations. It is of this belief that legislation should be created to require that bouncers, or anyone hired to provide security to a business or establishment, be required to hold a license equal to that of a licensed security guard in the state of Arizona as recognized in Arizona Revised Statutes.

LUKE’S LAW KEY POINTS

• -  Currently, bouncers, doormen, or other positions providing security or surveillance of an establishment are not required to hold a license/certification or attend training

• -  Licensed security guards must attend an 8 hour course recognized by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and focuses on communication, criminal law, use of force, etc. (ARS 32-2601 through 32-2642)

MILITARY LEAVE SUMMARY

As it stands, municipalities/departments differ in how shifts/work days translate to military leave. For example, a firefighter that works 24-hour shifts may have a different benefit conversion than a firefighter that works a 40-hour week. This affects items such as pay rate, sick and vacation accrual, etcetera. The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona supports legislation that clarifies military leave conversion across the board.