First responders play a critical role in the health and safety of citizens in every community across the United States.
ORAU has a proud history of working with and supporting first responders in various ways in recent years. ORAU’s work with first responders has focused on safety culture, communications and research into important public health issues, like the opioid overdose crisis.
First responder safety culture
First responders often find themselves in dangerous settings as part of their jobs. Ensuring that safety remains at the forefront of their life-saving actions is critical not only for themselves and the individuals they support, but for the community as well.
ORAU has helped to assess firefighter safety by administering and analyzing survey data to assess implementation of safety recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at fire departments across the country.
Our team refined a comprehensive 508-compliant (accessible) questionnaire, gathering in-depth insights from fire departments nationwide on topics such as department background, health and safety information sources, standard operating procedures and guidelines, non-fireground operations, and firefighter training, health and safety practices.
ORAU performed an extensive analysis to assess the adoption and implementation of NIOSH recommendations by conducting surveys across three levels of personnel and multiple fire departments nationwide.
Emergency planning and response communications
ORAU has also worked with first responders to develop communications materials used in emergency planning and response operations. Over a four-year period, ORAU engaged with emergency medical services personnel, emergency management professionals, and other first responders. Our efforts focused on strategic community engagement, specifically designed to meet the unique challenges, and needs of emergency personnel.
A series of workshops funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and tailored for emergency managers served as a platform for gathering first responder and community feedback to develop communication materials and tools for emergency response scenarios.
ORAU developed more than 200 communications products, including guides and comprehensive planning frameworks, designed to enhance healthcare delivery during emergencies. These materials were crafted with an acute awareness of the operational realities faced by first responders, ensuring their accessibility, engagement and utility.
First responders and the opioid crisis
The nature of calls faced by first responders has changed over the last decade as the numbers of calls related to opioid overdoses have grown in communities across the country.
To best equip local fire departments, law enforcement and other emergency services with knowledge and tools for managing opioid overdoses in their communities, ORAU conducted in-depth interviews gathering insights from emergency personnel to develop Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution campaign materials as part of a longitudinal National Institutes of Health program. The materials included practical information for fire and emergency services personnel to enhance preparedness and response capabilities for the communities they serve.
The ORAU team conducted similar formative research activities in support of CDC sponsored syringe services programs (SSPs) to prevent the spread of disease and protect the community. Our involvement was marked by a deep commitment to engaging with first responder communities, notably law enforcement agencies, which are vital to the SSPs' operational success.
ORAU’s approach included conducting in-depth interviews with law enforcement, policy, harm reduction, and faith-based stakeholders. These interactions were essential to understanding the unique perspectives and concerns of first responders regarding SSPs. The insights gained and our understanding of emergency services terminology and procedures informed the resulting CDC Syringe Services Programs Communications Toolkit.
ORAU is proud to partner with emergency services personnel and first responders. Addressing national priorities at the local level through robust research, impactful safety practice and effective communications materials remains a primary focus of our organization.