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PRE-PLANNING NEEDS A PLAN
As the old saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Implementing a solid pre-plans program requires planning and buy-in from staff in advance of deployment. Begin by identifying which staff members are most appropriate to lead a pre-plans program. This could include pairing fire marshals from the inspections division with both company officers and field firefighters to demonstrate the value of pre-plans for those within the company.
After selecting the appropriate staff, create a training program which includes department policies on pre-plans (frequency, data collected, jurisdiction) as well as hands-on training for using pre-plans software. By offering training in advance, users will feel confident in developing pre-plans and using the tools at-hand for conducting them.
Finally, you should review your pre-plans program periodically to ensure staff can provide feedback and stay in the loop regarding any departmental changes or updates.
INTRODUCTION
A strong pre-plan system within a fire department can save both property and lives in an emergency situation but many times pre-plans are overlooked as mere paperwork — another item to check off on the “to-do” list at work. Properly performed, pre-plans can benefit not only property and occupants but providers who arrive on scene. Below we review five strategies you can use to strengthen your pre-plans and improve provider safety:
KEEP TRACK OF PROPERTY HISTORY & CHANGES
Buildings frequently change ownership and usage. In the fire service, those changes can have an adverse impact on provider and even occupant safety. For example, leftover chemicals from a manufacturing warehouse turned into residential apartments can be a hazard to occupants and leave residual chemical traces which effect firefighting strategies. Even new construction can be a good place to establish structure history. Outline potential hazards, locations for fire suppression systems and lock box locations. Although no one can predict every element of a fire, it’s important to document and track changes over time with structures so firefighters are as prepared as possible when arriving on scene.
In addition to tracking structural changes, occupancy records are also important to keep up with. Shifts in ownership can leave firefighters struggling to find the primary contact for a commercial unit. When pre-plans are in place, firefighters have accurate and updated records with key contact information in case of emergencies.
V I O L A T I O N
UPLOAD
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Bring occupant and contact data to life through photos and key information in ESO Properies and Inspections.
Learn more at esosolutions.com/fire
UNDERSTAND YOUR OCCUPANTS
There is a big difference between a non-occupied commercial building and a 150-bed skilled nursing facility during an emergency response. When developing a pre-plans program, take care to note occupancy types and needs to reduce risk for both occupants and providers.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, people over the age of 65 are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires compared to the population at large. Specialized populations such as those over 65, people with disabilities and children need advanced pre-plans documentation to ensure the appropriate response is granted during an emergency.
Providers will benefit from avoiding being caught off guard by unexpected search and rescue operations while occupants can have a plan of action in place for emergencies.
DEED
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Quickly assess property history changes within the Properties and Inspections module.
Learn more at esosolutions.com/fire
DOCUMENT PRE-PLANS VISUALLY
Photographs can help with visual memory of responders and establish locations of key fire safety elements prior to emergency response. When conducting a pre-plan visit, use photographs to highlight essential protection features such as standpipes, lock boxes, stairwells and occupant shelters.
A best practice is to use software that allows you to visually document safety components, so photographs stay attached to the specific pre-plan you’re developing. By attaching images to pre-plans, you’ll create a visual memory response which can trigger during emergency calls and get providers to the places they need to be more quickly.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
ESO Properties and Inspections makes it easy to take pictures from your tablet and add directly to your digital pre-plan.
Learn more at esosolutions.com/fire
SHARE AND DISTRIBUTE
Pre-plans are only truly useful if they become an active part of response plans. Rather than storing pre-plans in spreadsheets and binders, use software which allows you to easily capture and share notes with everyone in the organization. Software can also help make pre-plans accessible through features such as keyword search, fire code look-ups and checklists. Updates to pre-plans can also be expedited through software which tracks any changes and shares them out to the department. Additionally, pre-plans can be shared with EMS and 911-dispatch centers to help coordinate efforts across first response teams for a safer response by all parties involved.
By sharing pre-plans in advance and hosting reviews of the collected data, you’ll have insight into developing vehicle needs and crew assignments during an emergency response so providers can be safe on the job and offer the best protection possible.
CONCLUSION
Pre-plans are an excellent tool for community risk reduction and provider safety. By developing and institutionalizing an active pre-plans program within your department, you can enhance safety, minimize risk and increase awareness during emergency response. Tools such as ESO’s Properties and Inspections can help you document pre-plans with efficiency and ease – ensuring you capture exactly what you need to keep providers safe on the job. To learn more about the ESO Fire suite, visit esosolutions.com/fire.
ABOUT
The mission of ESO is to improve community health and safety through the power of data. ESO provides the industry’s most reliable, user-friendly and innovative software that are designed to meet the changing needs of fire departments, EMS agencies and hospitals across North America. Working with professionals in the industry, the company’s healthcare, public safety and technology experts deliver exceptional software and data solutions, including the industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR); ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind healthcare interoperability platform; record management system (RMS) for fire departments with ESO – Fire and ESO FIREHOUSE Software; and ambulance revenue recovery/billing software. Founded in 2001, ESO serves more than 14,000 departments and agencies.
