Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2008. / Thesis Advisor(s): Bergin, Richard ; Wollman, Lauren. "September 2008." Description based on title screen as viewed on November 5, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-128). Also available in print.

CHDS State/Local / Past history and recent intelligence have shown that New York City (NYC), a critical node of the U.S. economy, is clearly in the terrorist's crosshairs. In order to reduce the probability, lessen the risk, and minimize the consequences of a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD), or "dirty bomb," attack, NYC's first responders must be adequately prepared for its seemingly inevitable occurrence. This particular type of attack on NYC has the potential to create immense panic and confusion on behalf of the general public. Adding to the complexity of the problem is the notion that, since 9/11, the expected actions taken by employees in NYC high-rise office buildings in response to shelter-in-place instructions can be extremely difficult to predict. Therefore, a proposed public awareness campaign and a shelter-in-place plan are two cost-effective and easily implemented terrorism preparedness programs that would build the confidence and increase the capability of the citizenry. Since an RDD incident would likely result in a major inter-agency emergency operation, the unification of command, control, and coordination among NYC's first responder community is an essential element to its overall success. Hence, an informed and collaborative response by both public and private sector entities could potentially reduce casualties and save lives. / Deputy Chief, New York City Fire Department (FDNY)

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor: Singh, Gurminder. Second Reader: Das, Arijit. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 26, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: TwiddleNet, Mobile Web Server, cross network information sharing. Includes bibliographical references (p. 51). Also available in print.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Contents page lists "references" starting on p.118 but the bibliography is missing from the copy submitted.

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Bergin, Richard ; Simeral, Robert. "March 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on April 24, 2009. Author(s) subject terms: Fire, Intelligence, Firefighter Training, First Responders, Fire Service Intelligence, Open Source Intelligence, Fire Service. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-79). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2008. / Title from title screen (site viewed July 21, 2009). PDF text: 178 p. ; 1 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3342066. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

In response to the growing demands on emergency medical services, this project focused on enhancing communication tools to improve patient outcomes. By collaborating with Jabra and the Umeå Ambulance station, I’ve aimed to leverage advanced communication technology for more efficient and effective emergency care. The result is Jabra Assist, a high-bandwidth communication device that incorporates live video streaming. It is targeted at completely replacing the traditional hand-held radio, anticipating the possibilities unlocked by a transition from radio to wireless broadband infrastructure for emergency services.Paramedics wear the device on the chest, allowing remote medical specialists to assist and guide them in real time while they work with the patient. This method of remote assistance has been found to result in more accurate assessments, enhanced treatment capabilities, and fewer unnecessary hospital transports, saving precious emergency room capacity for those who truly need it.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Kinesiology / Katie M. Heinrich / Tactical athletes (e.g., law enforcement, military, firefighters) require a proportionate fitness level, along with specific technical and tactical skills, to achieve short-term objectives and disable various threats. Although these professions have unique job duties and workplace exposures, tactical athletes share many commonalities. A tactical athlete’s occupation requires her to be physically prepared for the unknown to protect the public. So what happens when the tactical athlete becomes pregnant? Benefits of physical activity throughout pregnancy for athletes, non-athletes, and baby have been well-documented. However, certain common tactical occupational conditions may result in adverse birth outcomes. These include shift work, high job stress, and exposures such as lead handling or high ambient temperatures. Additionally, extreme physical exertion around the implantation period may harm the developing embryo. In an unpredictable, potentially extremely physically demanding and stressful job environment, the pregnant tactical athlete may have higher risk for adverse birth outcomes compared to other women. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the reproductive health of physically active females with specific focus on tactical athletes. First, we wanted to determine any exercise limits for pregnant athletes. We were also interested whether reproductive health was an important concern for this population, and if their adverse birth outcomes were higher compared to the United States national average. Chapter one reviews the literature, examining the female athlete and tactical athlete, the physical and occupational demands of tactical professions, and the reproductive health concerns among law enforcement officers (LEOs) and firefighters. Chapter two is a comprehensive review on prenatal exercise. It highlights the lack of scientific rigor presented in earlier guidelines, and states the need for more research on the upper limits of exercise intensity for athletes. Female athletes can usually maintain regular exercise training during pregnancy. Chapter three uses grounded-theory to investigate reproductive health concerns among firefighters. Results indicate that reproductive health is unquestionably a large concern, with four resulting themes (i.e., decision-making, recruitment and retention, policy variation, and lack of research). Chapter four investigates adverse reproductive health outcomes in female LEOs. Miscarriage rates are compared with a large prospective linkage study, preterm birth rates are compared to a large systematic US review study, and links are explored between specific job exposures and pregnancy loss. Miscarriage rate for our population are 19.1%, and preterm birth rates are 16.4%, both significantly higher than US averages. Physical activity, including strenuous occupational demands during pregnancy, is not associated with pregnancy loss among female LEOs. Chapter five presents a findings summary and future research directions. Miscarriage and preterm birth appear to be higher than average for both female firefighters and LEOs. Exercise did not play a large role in the concerns of female firefighters, or findings from female LEOs. Future research should be conducted specifically on females working in tactical occupations, with an emphasis on reproductive health concerns. More education should be provided at the organization level on the potential occupational exposures that can cause increased risk of adverse birth outcomes in female tactical athletes.

Stigma about mental illness is often identified as one of the most prominent obstacles to seeking mental health services. This seems to be particularly true among first responders. Unfortunately, the research regarding stigma in first responders is lacking. This may be due, in part, to the absence of appropriate measurement tools to allow such research. Stuart’s Police Officer Stigma Scale (POSS) has recently been developed to address this issue, but its psychometric properties have gone largely untested. Therefore, this study sought to identify the underlying factor structure and internal consistency of the POSS. This paper used a sample of one hundred and thirty-five first responders. This paper used a sample of one hundred and thirty-five first responders. Sixty participants were police officers, forty-eight were firefighters/EMTs, three were dispatchers, and twenty-four did not complete some portion of the scale/training and were omitted. Using factor analysis with an orthogonal rotation on Stuart’s eleven-item POSS, the participant’s results revealed two main components. Component one is “maltreatment of colleagues with a mental disorder,” and component two is “fear of disclosing a mental disorder.” Findings from this research are similar to the results of previous studies with components such as unwillingness to disclose a mental health condition, fear of how the public will treat an individual with a mental disorder, and anger towards those who decide to seek treatment or get diagnosed with a mental illness. These findings imply that Stuart’s POSS is reliable but needs to include two components rather than one. With the two main components, further research can now be conducted to understand why and ultimately mitigate maltreatment or stigma against first responders with a mental health condition.