Exposure to traumatic events is rare for the general public but common for first responders. However, there is little proactive emotional health care occurring inside the first responder community. No preventive treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD exists. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a psychological readiness training intervention on 361 police officers and firefighters in a medium-size Midwestern city. A combined positive psychological capital and cognitive behavior therapy approach was used to frame the study. This study used a pretest, posttest quasi-experimental design. The participants were a convenience sample of 119 volunteers from a population of 361 first responders. The participants were first administered pretests using the DASS-21 and the Civilian PTSD Self-Report Scale which measured depression, anxiety, stress, and posttraumatic stress. They were then exposed to the psychological readiness training (PRT) intervention, after which the same posttests measuring depression, anxiety, stress, and posttraumatic stress were again administered. T-test results indicated a significant decrease in all 4 symptom categories post training intervention. Implications include providing first responders with the tools needed to process traumatic events to maintain mental health throughout their careers.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka upplevelser av arbetstillfredsställelse hos brandmän. Forskningen om brandmän har i ringa omfattning fokuserat på hälsofrämjande faktorer inom yrket och det finns begränsat med kvalitativ forskning kring arbetstillfredsställelse hos brandmän. För denna studie användes därför en kvalitativ metod. Data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer av tio brandmän verksamma inom heltidsstyrkan på en brandstation i Norge. Intervjuerna analyserades enligt en fenomenografisk ansats, för att kvalitativt undersöka olika upplevelser av fenomenet arbetstillfredsställelse. Studien visade att olika faktorer inom den psykosociala och organisatoriska arbetsmiljön har betydelse för arbetstillfredsställelse hos brandmän. De intervjuade brandmännen upplevde arbetet som meningsfullt och uttryckte att de ser fram emot att gå till jobbet. Lärande och säkerhet i arbetet relaterades till arbetstillfredsställelse, liksom tydliga krav och gemensamma strukturer i arbetet. Gemenskapen på arbetsplatsen kopplades till arbetstillfredsställelse, speciellt lyftes stödet från kollegor fram som viktigt. Brandmännen upplevde arbetstillfredsställelse genom styrning och stöd från ledare, men olika ledaregenskaper beskrevs som viktiga och det betonades att ledarskapet måste anpassas till situationen. Arbetstillfredsställelse vid operativt arbete relaterades till att vara förberedd inför händelser, att samarbetet vid insatser fungerar och att det ständigt dyker upp nya utmaningar som måste hanteras. Resultaten från denna studie kan understödja det hälsofrämjande arbetet på brandstationen där studien har genomförts och inom andra jämförbara verksamheter. / The purpose of this study was to examine experiences of job satisfaction among firefighters. The previous research on health-promoting factors within the fire service is scarce and there is limited qualitative research on job satisfaction among firefighters. A qualitative method was subsequently used for this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten full-time firefighters at a fire station in Norway. The interviews were analyzed using a phenomenographic approach, to qualitatively examine different experiences of the phenomenon of job satisfaction. The study showed that various factors within the psychosocial and organizational work environment are of relevance to job satisfaction among firefighters. The interviewed firefighters experienced their work as meaningful and looked forward to going to work. Learning and safety at work, as well as clearly defined requirements and shared structures within the organization were related to their job satisfaction. The firefighters experienced job satisfaction through support from colleagues and leaders. Job satisfaction in operational work was related to preparedness, cooperation and coping with new challenges. The results from this study may support the health-promotion efforts at the fire station where the study was carried out, as well as in other comparable organizations.

As the title suggests, this diploma thesis is focused on the activities of self-governing bodies in the event of extensive forest fires. First, the theoretical part describes general information about forest fires that concerns, among other things, the most common causes and kinds of forest fires. Drawing on this part, there is information on various ways of extinguishing fires, especially by means of the aerial fire-fighting service. The chapter of The Present State is further focused on legislation and the tasks of self-governing bodies in the event of extensive forest fires because the competences and duties of mayors have to be clearly defined in such serious situations, which consequently enhances the clarity of the situation. This diploma thesis follows two objectives. The first one is the evaluation of the activities of self-governing bodies in the event of extensive forest fires, and in connection with this, pointing out possible flaws. For this, a hypothesis has been established claiming that it is necessary to increase the readiness quality of the self-governing bodies for the possible occurrence of extensive forest fires. The other objective is to prepare a methodical process draft for solving an extensive forest fire. The output of the thesis is a methodical draft or manual, which should support the preparation for and solution of such situations. This final thesis will provided as a study material for students. The methodical draft will be further offered to mayors of municipalities that are endangered by forest fires.

CHDS State/Local / Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The planning methodologies used today by most U.S. fire departments are excellent for traditional missions, but wholly inadequate for the threats posed by terrorism. Planning in the fire service and the rest of the first responder community historically has relied on a one-dimensional approach that uses a scenario-based planning (SBP) methodology. This thesis argues that the fire service and others in the first responder community will be able to contribute to homeland security missions much more effectively, and efficiently, by switching to specially adapted versions of capabilities-based planning. This thesis proposes a new integrated planning methodology that combines the planning strengths of scenariobased planning, threat-based planning, and capabilities-based planning. The new method identifies capabilities that could be used to manage and mitigate the consequences of the different types of contingencies within the various response spectrums. It allows an organization to perform analysis and efficiency studies to evaluate the different spectrums of contingencies against existing capabilities and create a menu of capabilities necessary for the first responder to respond to all its missions, including immediate threats and terrorism, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. / Battalion Chief, Fire Department City of New York

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