Survey

We sent out a survey to the Westerville Fire Department and the Lakewood Fire Department. (Columbus Fire Department could not distribute it due to administrative reasoning’s)

Five Questions were asked and left open-ended to encourage honest and specific results. Additionally an optional question was asked at the end to provide contact information if interested in the project’s progress.

The following questions were asked:

1. What emergency situations are challenging and/or most dangerous?  Why?
2. Describe a time when you ran into an unexpected situation in the field.
3. Are there any tools that you have had to modify in order to effectively perform a function?  If so, what did you modify and how?
4. Are there any situations that you have used a tool for other than its intended purpose?
5. Where do you feel more training could be beneficial? (for emergency responders, civilians, etc.)

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Results

Pie charts are used to show the main ideas of answers and trends. Some answers were omitted from question to question due to them being not usable information.

Question 1:

Question 2:

Victim-Related:

• Victim in fire when reported out
• Shooting victim, no idea where shooter was
• Went to assist strangled victim, passed attacker in hallway with no police support
• Woman had no idea who to contact, no phone or identification

Environment-Related:

• Fell through a burned-out floor after being tangled in wire
• Basement fires
• Need specialized equipment
• Multiple cars drove around barricades into wet cement

Question 3:

Halligan Bars:

• Weld on rings
• Grind axe or cut notches to marry with Halligan
• File shoulders onto tool
• Accommodate for forced entry

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

• Elevator sticks
• Putty knife
• Painting ladders
• Scene lights

Question 4:

• Only 4 responders had never done this
• 7 responders said they modify tools all the time
• Some misuse instances:
  • 1. Hydraulic cutters used to remove tree debris to get to a vehicle
  • 2. Pipe wrench to pull lock cylinders
  • 3. Trunk spring rod to open doors
  • 4. Putty knife to open locks
  • 5. Halligan bar to stand on
  • 6. EMS bed sheets for splinting bones, lifting patients
  • 7. Backboards used to cross ditches
  • 8. Ladders used to carry equipment in bulk

–    Many tools are intended to serve multiple functions

Question 5:

For Civilians:

• General fire safety
• Importance of smoke detectors
• Traffic laws
• Self-Rescue
• Watching firefighters

For Operations:

• Awareness and prevention
• Transportation to scenes
• Fire ground operations

• Inconceivable events