Violence/Aggression Against Crews

Do you experience violence or aggression when attending calls? Here in Dublin, Ireland it is a regular occurrence in certain areas of the city. Sometimes they will set a car fire just to lure us in and then throw stones & bottles at the crew. Mindless I know - but it has caused numerous injuries to our firefighters. One recently had to get over 40 stitches to his face and was badly scarred.

We record these incidents within our accident reporting system and have CISM in place also to help if required. How does your department deal with the issue?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by SHAWN FORINGER on November 30, 2009 at 10:12pm

Have you ever tought of useing 2 1/2 and crancking the pressure up to 130 psi and hitting those pricks.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michelle Quaranto on December 1, 2009 at 8:22pm

That's crazy and said to see this occur! Do the police clear the scene prior to your arrival?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steven C. Hamilton on December 4, 2009 at 7:58am

Check out www.scfirewire.com. I have posted an article that deals directly with this issue and it would be easier for me to steer you to it as opposed to posting a lengthy reply. Stay safe and keep the Jameson and Guinness flowing!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter Barriscale on December 5, 2009 at 5:31pm

Hi Steven,
That is an excellent article, full of practical advice, common sense and good examples to relate to. Thank you very much. Particularly crews who seldom have to deal with these types of incidents can really gain an insight from it. Be assured the Guinness is flowing here - we've had a wave of retirements from the Brigade in the last few weeks - an ideal excuse for a pint or two (not that we need one)!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steven C. Hamilton on December 7, 2009 at 11:51am

My pleasure.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Justin Stoneham on October 6, 2010 at 7:06am

Hi Peter,

Just a message to say that over here in East Sussex in the U.K. we run Staff Safety Training Courses for our inspecting officers Home Safety Teams etc with regards to dealing with aggressive and violent incidents. If I can be of any help if your still researching this please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards

Justin

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter Barriscale on October 6, 2010 at 4:07pm

Hi Justin,

Thanks for your interest. I completed the project last May and received a lot of information from UK brigades which was extremely helpful. Basically it boiled down to many UK brigades using innovative, properly targeted programs to address the situation and us having nothing comparable here at all. My recommendations at the end were to study best practice from all the UK regions and develop our programme from there but I fear it will never be done in the current economic climate.

Interestingly, the problem does not exist in the USA, Canada or Australia according to the many brigades I contacted as part of my research. It must be a culture thing.

I have decided to go on to degree level now and will have to do another research project next year for that. I don't know what the topic will be just yet but I would like to keep you in mind for any assistance you might be able to give me, if you wouldn't mind.

Many thanks,

Peter.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Justin Stoneham on October 6, 2010 at 5:04pm

Hi Peter,

If I can be of any assistance with your future projects please do not hesitate to get in touch. We currently have a busy period coming up with regards to our Staff Safety Training. In East Sussex we run two courses - Staff Safety Training which is for our Inspecting Officers, Home Safety Teams, Juvenile Fire Setter Advisors etc & TACSEP for our Youth Engagement (LIFE) Instructors. Both courses have been very well received by all attending & I think this is down to our focus on behaviour management as opposed to conflict management & the research behind the training also supports your culture theory.

I appreciate that your research has finished with regards to this subject, however if you would like to come and view the training you would be more than welcome. The offer would also extend to your services' Youth Engagement Officer with regards to the TACSEP training.

If you would like details send me a private message and we can set it up.

Kind regards & best wishes for your next project

Justin

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter Barriscale on October 6, 2010 at 6:09pm

Hi Justin,

Not much chance of a programmme being set up here at the moment as they are looking for 6 million euros in cuts here at the moment, but if that changes, I'll recommend you kind offer to management.

Another thing I am interested in though - and I might use in my next project - is your incident reporting system. Is it used to quantify/estimate the value of property destroyed by fire and/or saved by the brigade? Is it fully computerised to keep statistics on the number of responses, rescues fatalities, hazmats etc?

Do you publish your performance stats each year set against the cost of running the service - i.e. prove what good value for money you are?

If you can give me some information in this regard I would appreciate it. There's no rush as I won't be doing a project for quite a while yet.

Thanks again,

Peter.