Secondary user relations in emerging mobile computing environments

Mobile technologies are enabling access to information in diverse environ.ments, and are exposing a wider group of individuals to said technology. Therefore, this paper proposes that a wider view of user relations than is usually considered in information systems research is required. Specifically, we examine the potential effects of emerging mobile technologies on end-­‐user relations with a focus on the ‘secondary user’, those who are not intended to interact directly with the technology but are intended consumers of the technology’s output. For illustration, we draw on a study of a U.K. regional Fire and Rescue Service and deconstruct mobile technology use at Fire Service incidents. Our findings provide insights, which suggest that, because of the nature of mobile technologies and their context of use, secondary user relations in such emerging mobile environments are important and need further exploration

Career Fire Fighter Dies After Ejection From His Fire Engine When It was Struck By a Vehicle

On February 7, 2007, a 47-year-old male career fire fighter died after he was ejected from his fire engine when it was struck by a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The decedent was driving the fire engine with its lights and sirens activated enroute to a structure fire. The fire station lieutenant was seated in the front passenger seat. Two additional fire fighters were seated in the back seats behind the fire engine's front compartment. As the fire engine proceeded through an intersection, a speeding SUV struck the passenger side of the fire engine near the windshield. The decedent was ejected along with the lieutenant through the passenger front windshield. The lieutenant landed in the street in front of the SUV approximately ten yards away from the fire engine. After the decedent was ejected, he rolled underneath the fire engine. The fire engine came to rest on top of the decedent's chest. The decedent expired as the fire engine was removed from his chest. Although the other two fire fighters were not ejected, they sustained serious injuries. These two fire fighters and the lieutenant were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. Recommendations: 1. The use of seat belts should be mandatory when driving or riding in a fire engine or any emergency vehicle that is in motion. MIOSHA General Industry Safety Standard Part 74, Fire Fighting requires seat belt use when the apparatus is in motion. 2. Fire engines and other fire apparatus should be equipped with automatic seat belt systems or warning signals that require seat belt use for operation of the vehicles. 3. In accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1451, Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, driver training should be provided as often as necessary, but not less than twice a year. 4. In accordance with the NFPA 1451, formally written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should be developed and implemented for safe driving, defensive driving techniques, and riding within and operating fire department vehicles during an emergency and non-emergency response. 5. The SOP should have a procedure to evaluate the effectiveness of this training every three years in accordance with NFPA 1451. 6. All fire apparatus driver/operators shall meet the requirements as outlined in NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications. 7. In accordance with the NFPA 1451, all fire department vehicle drivers/operators should possess a valid vehicle operator's licensed as required by the State. 8. The SOPs should be communicated, applied and enforced by all fire fighters to ensure "Everyone Goes Home" as promoted by the National Fallen Fire Fighter Foundation. 9. All fire fighters should be encouraged to sign the "National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge" to re-enforce the importance of wearing seat belts.Cooperative Agreemen

LIVINGSTON COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES ANALYSIS

Rapid population growth challenges the ability of local government to keep pace with increasing and changing demand for public services. These challenges may be physical or organizational in nature. Physical challenges arise from the need to upgrade public infrastructure such as water and sewer service, roads, schools, and emergency services. Although installation of new infrastructure is always expensive, growth-related increases in the tax base provide new revenue for installation of new services. However, when slowing growth rates, againg infrastructure, and addition of expensive new services pressure local government to increase revenue from existing resources decision-makers may then seek to reduce per-capita costs by reorganizing the method or structure of providing community services.Public Economics,

Using plenary focus groups in information systems research: More than a collection of interviews

Standard data collection techniques in qualitative research have included surveys, interviews and observations. The Focus group technique is a more recent addition to the empirical researcher's repertoire and is highly appropriate to Information Systems research in particular circumstances. This paper introduces a focus group approach to the study of information systems using a case study scenario and employing a structuring technique borrowed from Soft Systems Methodology designed to shape the discussion and organize group attention on specific aspects of the descriptive process. The paper describes the conduct of focus groups with respect to individual incidents and defines a particular type of Focus Group which involves all persons attendant at an event, thereby removing problems of sampling and representativeness. The unique properties and advantages of this type of focus group in respect to IS research emerged from the case study and an example of the use of story elicitation technique is described. The case study scenario is a regional fire service and any fire or rescue related incident is unique, dynamic, live and real-time, in addition it requires the combined skills and actions of a group of individuals, none of whom may have a full overview of the situation until after the event. These factors are present in other events such as any emergency procedure, artistic or sporting performance, construction and demolition events. Recording of such events presents genuine problems for information systems and the elicitation technique helped the group members to think in different ways about the impact of their incident recording systems. As the technique has broader use across research disciplines, an attempt is made to identify the attributes and properties of these 'Plenary Focus Groups' in information systems research scenario that might lend themselves to focus group research as a useful and successful technique

Career Female Fire Fighter Dies After Becoming Lost and Running Out of Air in a Residential Structure Fire \u2013 Pennsylvania

Death in the line of duty\u2026A report from the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention ProgramOn December 9, 2014, a 37-year-old female career fire fighter/EMT died after becoming lost and running out of air in a residential structure fire. The fire fighter/EMT was the third fire fighter on a hoseline crew attacking the fire when the fire overran their position. One fire fighter and the officer escaped, but the fire fighter/EMT was trapped and radioed a Mayday. However, before she could be located, her buddy breather hoseline burnt through and she lost her available air. At 02:49 hours, two engines, two trucks, and a battalion chief were dispatched to a residential structure fire. Four minutes later, the first arriving engine, Engine 73, reported nothing showing but was informed by Dispatch that a resident might be trapped. The Engine 73 officer investigated and informed Command, who was on-scene, that they had a possible fire in the basement. The battalion chief investigated the first floor and noticed only light smoke. The battalion chief walked upstairs, found an elderly woman in the bedroom, and carried her outside. The Engine 73 officer and two fire fighters stretched a 1\ube-inch hoseline into the kitchen and requested water. Engine 63 was in the rear of the structure and reported fire in the first-floor kitchen window. Engine 73 flowed water towards the basement door then advanced but the hoseline came up short at the door. Command upgraded the response to a full box. Command ordered Ladder 8 to ventilate the structure but Ladder 8 was still en route. Engine 63 made entry into the basement from the rear. Command made several attempts to contact the Engine 73 officer over the radio. Ladder 21 reported a negative primary search on the second floor. Command radioed Engine 73 to back out. At 03:02 hours, a Mayday was heard and believed to be from Engine 63. Command radioed the Engine 63 officer, then the Mayday was repeated by the Engine 73 fire fighter/EMT that she was trapped on the first floor. Over the next several minutes, the Engine 73 fire fighter/EMT called for help several times. The Engine 73 officer went inside to search for her. Engine 63 was advancing on the fire in the basement, and Ladder 21 was ventilating the roof and windows. Engine 51 and Engine 72 were fighting fire on the first floor and searched for the Engine 73 fire fighter/EMT. At 03:16 hours, Engine 72 found the Engine 73 fire fighter/EMT and brought her out. The Engine 73 fire fighter/EMT was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Contributing Factors: 1. Fireground tactics; 2. Unrestricted flow path of the fire due to uncontrolled ventilation; 3. Crew integrity; 4. Mayday training of fire fighters and officers; 5. Thermal degradation of SCBA; 6. Personal protective equipment not donned before entry; 7. Adequate resources not arriving in a timely manner; 8. Lack of rapid intervention team assignment and activation. Key Recommendations: 1. Fire departments should ensure that fire suppression is initiated on the floor level of the fire whenever possible. 2. Fire departments should ensure that officers and fire fighters are trained in the latest fire behavior research affecting fireground tactics. 3. Fire departments should ensure that crew integrity is maintained. 4. Fire departments should ensure that all fire fighters and officers are trained in the use of hose nozzles and hoseline management skills. 5. Fire departments should ensure that all fire fighters and officers are trained in Mayday techniques and communications. 6. Fire departments should consider upgrading their SCBA and PASS to the latest edition of the NFPA standards to benefit from the increased thermal protection characteristics. 7. Fire departments should ensure that rapid intervention teams are on-scene and activated before interior operations begin. 8. Fire departments should ensure that adequate resources respond in a timely manner. 9. Fire departments should ensure that personal protective equipment is donned prior to entering a structure. 10. Fire departments should ensure that a stationary command post is established and the command team communicates effectively

Take Off to Superiority: The Evolution & Impact of U.S. Aircraft in War

Military aviation has become a staple in the way wars are fought, and ultimately, won. This research paper takes a look at the ways that aviation has evolved and impacted wars across the U.S. history timeline. With a brief introduction of early flight and the modern concept of an aircraft, this article then delves into World Wars I and II, along with the Cold, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars. The current War on Terrorism is then investigated, and finally, a look toward the future. Topics covered include the newest aircraft of each era, technological advancements, and how strategy and war planning was changed with these evolutions

Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-81-059-1045: Newburgh Fire Department; Newburgh, New York

Hearing loss from noise exposure in firefighting operations at the Newburgh Fire Department (SIC-9224), Newburgh, New York were investigated. The study was requested by the International Association of Fire Fighters and was conducted on June 3 to 5, 1981. Fifty-five fulltime firefighters were employed in the department. Hearing and audiometric examinations were performed. Noise levels emitted by sirens and fire engines during simulated response calls ranged from 99 to 116 decibels (dBA) at various riding positions on the fire vehicles. For an 8-hour time weighted average, noise exposure ranged from 62.8 to 85.3dBA. NIOSH recommends an 85dBA level. There were marked hearing losses in the noise sensitive frequencies. The authors conclude the firefighters are being exposed to high noise levels and show significant hearing losses. The authors recommend reducing noise exposure and conducting further research to determine if noise exposure and apparent hearing loss are related