Fluent Essays

Review the ideas and share thoughts on literature and methodology to improve the quality and depth of work. Requirements:1-Write as second language.2-Use simple academic words.3-Use APA format. 4-Write your own thoughts to enhance the work. 5-In attached you will find four different drafts choose the best two and make response to it within 500 words. ali_alsiwar_capstone_most_recent_draft_2.docx first_draft.docx first_draft_edited.edited.docx my_first_draft_1.docx Unformatted Attachment Preview Running head: FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN Family Emergency preparedness plan for first responders in Saudi Red Crescent 1 FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 2 Family Emergency preparedness plan for first responders in Saudi Red Crescent A significant statement of the purpose of the project First responders face substantial risks in their line of duty quite often. However, most of the first responders do not have an emergency plan for their families in case things go wrong, and either succumb to injuries or become incapacitated. During a disaster, everyone is worried about their family, including first responders. In order to deal with this worry, the responders must develop a family emergency preparedness plan that allows them to ensure their families are safe while at the same time doing their jobs. It is not easy for first responders to concentrate on their work if they do not have the peace of mind that their families are in safety. Therefore, a family emergency plan for first responders is of vital importance because it enhances safety and security not only for the first responder but also for the family (Bullock, Haddow and Coppola, 2013). The first responders should have a written plan in advance that should be easy to coordinate between them and their families. A family emergency preparedness plan increases the first responders sense of security and peace of mind, and this will ensure that he or she is ready to offer quality work during an emergency. In order to deal with this gap, this project aims at using an educational program for first responders and the respective organizations. The program will target first responders, especially those working with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (Saudi Red Crescent Authority – IFRC, 2017). The program will provide information regarding the significance of a first responders family emergency preparedness plan for this group of professionals. The program will be achieved through a series of workshops and seminars for all first responders working with the Red Crescent in Saudi Arabia and their respective families. The program will educate first FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 3 responders and their families on how to secure valuables, ensure health safety, obtain insurance coverage, develop a family communication plan, and develop a family emergency kit. The participants will also be taught how to share information with the neighbors, take care of the vulnerable family members, plan on how to access evacuation services, seek safe shelter, and access evacuation during an emergency. Need for the project, including literature support First responders have a responsibility to their families just like everyone else. However, at the same time, the first responders must respond to an emergency due to the nature of their work. A first responder would be prone to trauma and stress if their families are not cared for in advance. This is why first responders need to develop a family preparedness plan that will allow them to focus on serving the public (Bullock, Haddow and Coppola, 2013). Indeed, first responders must take appropriate steps to prepare themselves and their families in advance so that they can perform their jobs when a disaster strikes. The first responders mental preparedness is affected by their families. Most of them are worried that their families may be vulnerable or affected by the emergency, and thus it may divert their attention from serving the public as stipulated. Hence, its essential for the first responders and the families to be guided on an effective family emergence plan for more safety. For example, the Saudi Red Crescent has at least 700 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and over 200 active volunteers (Saudi Red Crescent Authority – IFRC, 2017). These first responders work in close collaboration with other first responders such as World Health Organization to respond to emergencies whenever they happen. These individuals are also prone to attacks if the 9/11 attacks in the United States are anything to go by. Most of the first FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 4 responders faced significant danger because they were not aware of the impending attacks that were to follow. The first responders in Saudi Red Crescent lack the family preparedness plan for their families (Saudi Red Crescent Authority – IFRC, 2017). Hence, most of them and their families are prone to the uncertainty that occurs during emergencies. These individuals make up the first line of defense, and thus they require enlightenment that will provide the information on how to develop a family preparedness plan. First responders are more prone to stress and worry whenever they realize that they have not created an emergency plan for their family, pets, and their homes (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). This, coupled with the witnessing of human suffering, risk of personal harm, intense workload, making life and death decisions, and the thought of separation from their families can be traumatic for them. As a result, they may be subject to making the wrong decisions at work, lacking concentration, and making the wrong calls (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). This project should provide certainty and crucial information for first responders and their families. Indeed, prior planning is of great importance because it allows the first responders the space required to focus on public service with great assurance and zeal. A first responder plan enables the first responder and the family to identify the disaster and hazard that is most likely to affect their area. This way, they are then able to develop a viable warning system and know how to prepare for it when they face an unexpected situation. The first responder who obtains insurance for their family and home stands a better chance of working optimally as opposed to those who do not have such a plan (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). Developing a family communication plan will be an important lesson for first responders since most of them do not have a plan to contact each other. Most often, at times, the first responders family may be in different locations at work, school, or FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 5 even within the city (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). The family preparedness plan allows the family members to develop a strategy on how they will communicate with each other, seek rescue services, and an evacuation plan if needed (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). A family communication plan is a vital part of this program that will enhance the safety and continuity of the first responder. This education program will also train first responders about how to make a family emergency supply kit. This prepares the family members on how they can survive on their own for a certain period of time before they can get the necessary assistance. For example, during an emergency, the family members need to know how to collect food, water, and clothing supplies before they can be evacuated to a safer location. A family preparedness plan program will enable the first responders to feel at ease with their familys preparedness and, most importantly, with themselves (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). One’s thought about the family presence provides personal sense of security, peace of mind, and fulfillment, and thus, one can work undeterred. First responders performance is based on knowing their family safety before they focus on their jobs. This program aims at ensuring a more resilient team of first responders at Red Crescent. The family preparedness plan training is important since it allows the first responders to give their job the first priority instead of their families in case of an emergency. This increases the efficiency in dealing with public hazards and developing a strategy to respond to hazards and other threats in their line of work. Involving families in the program allows them to access vital information that will be developed from the first respondent to the entire family. Early family involvement allows them to stockpile the required amount of food, water, and clothing and even secure the most valuable property. This will alleviate the first responders concerns from their families to their jobs. FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 6 Family involvement allows the first responder to feel confident that in case things get out of hand, their families will still be safe. Thus they do not have to make dilemma decisions between their jobs and family obligations because they will always choose the latter (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). This education program will allow the first responders to deal with the impact of family concerns and the ability of the responders to report faster to the scene of the disaster. The first responder will plan with their families and eliminate the fear that their family members may be dead, injured, or unable to reach out to help during a disaster. First responders and their families will benefit from this program because they will know how to develop an emergency plan, how to identify hazards, inform their families, prepare, implement the plan, and how to stay alert for emergency information. Literature review The world is full of uncertainties and unforeseen threats. At any given time, calm can be replaced with chaos and unimaginable uncertainty from a natural disaster, shooters in malls, nuclear poisoning, or terrorist attacks. In an emergency, there are always people who are the first to arrive and help with the rescue efforts to save lives and enhance the security and wellbeing of the victims. First responders are individuals, volunteers, organizations, and professionals who are among the first people to respond to an emergency. Their main objective is to provide the necessary assistance to affected parties during an emergency, either due to an accident, a natural disaster, a terrorist attack (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). First responders may include paramedics, emergency medical professionals, police officers, firefighters, rescuers, and volunteers from the general public. There is no doubt that first responders play a crucial role in disaster preparedness and response. FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 7 A family emergency preparedness plan is, without a doubt- a valuable strategy for first responders (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). However, what is of more significant concern is the lack of support for first responders from their parent organizations (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). First responders find it challenging to separate their personal lives and their jobs. For example, a first responder may have to choose between family and duty during disasters. This creates an unhealthy dilemma that affects the morale and concentration of the first responder. The mental health of first responders is always under severe pressure during emergency times. Further, letting them worry about their familys safety is a sure strategy to fail on their part as most of them will always prioritize their familys safety at the expense of their essential jobs (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). The training program for first responders will aim at instilling knowledge and sensitize the first responders on another aspect of how disasters affect their wellbeing, especially with their families on the line. According to the research conducted by Management Association, first responders are frequently involved in high stress and threatening situations and are well connected to their families stood at an elevated risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. The children of first responders are also more likely to experience high-stress levels whenever their parents attend their jobs (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). This shows that the tie of first responders to their family is stronger more than their job. This means that the family members of the first responders are always concerned not only about the first responder but about their own fate in case of a disaster. This relationship is also similar to the part of the first responder since they fear that the disaster may affect their families as well. The effectiveness of this program will rely on the ability of the trainers passing vital knowledge to the first responders in a way they can replicate the same information to their FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 8 families. This is because the information is the power that can be used to empower not only first responders but also their families and the local community. The first responder needs to learn to acquire the information so that the information can be passed on to their families. Past studies show that specialized training and preparedness during disasters are vital as they enable individuals to be emotionally ready for the realities that may be faced during disasters, and hence, better outcomes become more likely (Haddow, Bullock and Coppola, 2010). For the first responders, personal preparation is vital when it comes to determining their ability to perform on the job. The effectiveness of their performance is directly determined by their preparation, including having a family preparedness plan that hence reduces the occurrence of stress during the work (Management Association; Information Resources, 2018). First responders and their families are therefore closely linked. This shows that for the organization to get the best out of employees, it should gather as much information as possible regarding their collective responsibility as a family to develop resilience. Also, to settle the first responders mind, it is vital to ensure that the information is tailored for them and their families. First responders base their response speed on the ability to train and rehearse in advance (First Responders, 2019). A training program is therefore based on a similar strategy whereby the first responders will be taken through a training session that will empower them to make better decisions with regards to taking care of their families during emergencies. One of the most important strategies is accessing a safe environment. This can only be accessed if there is a plan in place, and everyone in the family knows the drill. The relationship between the first responders willingness to respond to emergencies and concern for their families has been well documented. According to a recent study on Israeli hospital personnel showed that emergency workers are more likely to turn up for work if their FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 9 families are safe in the first place (Healthcare workers? willingness to respond following a disaster: a novel statistical approach toward data analysis, n.d.). Most of the responses showed that the family wellbeing and the presence of a spouse and children were precise determinants of the need to leave a good plan just in case of anything when one went to work in an emergency setting. This shows that most first responders are aware of the hazardous nature of their work, and they are willing to develop a family preparedness plan for the safety and continuity of their families (Scott, L. A. (2009). Indeed, a recent study at the University of Delaware proved this theory that first responders are willing to respond during emergencies as long as they get some help with family matters (Clay et al., 2019, p. 34). This shows that it is risky that first responders will give their family safety the priority at the expense of serving the public. Emergency planners must bear with the fact that the first responders are equally affected by the emergency, and their absence from work may be caused by triggered if the region they reside in is affected by a disaster. Thus organizations are increasingly under pressure to help first responders with family matters so that they can focus on providing valuable service to the public. The main reason the first responders may actually abandon duty to the public and focus on their families is that they might be the victims themselves. A similar incident occurred during Hurricane Katrina when the first responders became victims hence rendering the response difficult due to the severe shortage of manpower (Lipton and Schmitt, 2005). Some of the officers went missing during the hurricane and thus abandoned their sacred duties. This shows how the first responder may be distracted from doing their job because of family concern. This incident could not have occurred if there had been a family preparedness plan. In a similar study in 2007, police officers in Washington admitted that their FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 10 family preparedness and overall safety is a crucial determinant of whether they would show up for duty or not in the event of a chemical or a biological attack (FEMA - Emergency Management Institute (EMI) | National Preparedness Directorate National Training and Education Division, 2018). According to the US Department of homeland security, 66\% of police officers admit that they would easily abandon their positions if the safety of their family was at risk in the event of a disaster (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2019). This shows that a family preparedness emergency plan can be effective in ensuring the officers morale in turning up and giving their all during emergencies is achieved. This also shows that individual preparedness of a first responder is directly related to their family preparedness by extension. A family emergency preparedness plan cannot be successful if resilience is not emphasized in the first responders. Mental preparation is directly associated with the successful completion of missions during emergencies (Carrizales, 2014). First responders require optimal mental wellbeing before going into a more stressful environment, such as in a disaster response area. Large scale disasters require intense effort and focus on the part of first responders. However, the threat exists when the responder has not created a plan for their family just in case they are affected by the disaster. The lack of a plan is a recipe for disaster since the extra stress surely increases the level of fatigue and thus causes the individual to fail to perform during such operations. This can create workplace burnout, which is associated with low performance and the lack of optimal coordination in such a sensitive exercise (Boyle, 2018). The presence of a family preparedness plan allows the first responder to deal with workplace stress alone but not family and workplace stress. This enhances better workplace performance, which is associated with better public service. FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN 11 One of the fundamentals of a family preparedness plan is to develop an emergency plan together with their families. This allows the family members to participate in the creation of an emergency supply kit, create a communication plan that is easy to use, and agree on a post hazard meeting point (Carrizales, 2014). Therefore working as a first responder comes with a deep connection to the work and family. These dynamics affect the performance of the first responder in so many ways. Working as a first responder requires a strong family support system made up of colleagues and the family unit. This allows a healthy relationship that ultimately reflects on the morale of the first responder. The importance of training has never been underestimated to boost the effectiveness of the first responder operations. Training is a significant part of the first responders operation manuals. Through proper training, it is possible to enhance their effectiveness in making prior preparations for their families in advance. This program will aim at teaching the Saudi Red Crescent the main components of a family preparedness plan (Finazzo, 2015). The program will focus on how to gather information, detecting warning signals, developing an evacuation plan, insuring t ... Purchase answer to see full attachment