Punctuality

Punctuality in the Fire Department
Student’s name
University
Abstract
Firefighters undertake critical roles in the society. Fire incidences in the USA have to lead to the loss of more than $10 billion worth of property annually while hundreds lose their lives. Fire departments put out fires using fire engines, inspect properties and cars to ensure all meet regulatory requirements, educate citizens on modes of safety, carry out practical drills in the society and enhance their response reactions through research. Past records indicate that punctual fighters were able to put out fires unlike when the responses were late. Riverscourts v Niagara-on-the-lake demonstrates why it is important for firefighters to be punctual. Researchers have confirmed that by being punctual, the fighters can breed teamwork, honesty, and respect. The qualities ensure the team undertakes their duties efficiently, ensuring that every individual’s talent assist in putting off the disaster. Firefighting requires participants to ensure high levels of punctuality to ensure the department succeeds in putting out fires with little or no loss.
Fire disasters have destroyed thousands of properties and lives globally. Insurers are keen to insure individuals against the risk of fire destruction and their property. Fire losses have been decreasing gradually in the last decade, though the nation still records more than 2500 deaths caused by fire accidents. The Fire Administration has released data indicating that cooking for most of the fire outbreaks in the country though electrical faults and heating are also leading causes of fire outbreaks.

Businesses have lost more than $100 billion in the decade due to fire losses. The US boasts of 30,000 fire departments and more than 1 million firefighters across the nation. However, the recent increase in the number of deaths among firefighters has led to the clamour for the reorganization of the department’s culture. The district primarily includes firefighters, drivers, lieutenants and captains and in some cases, the emergency medical services are integrated within their department. The department strives to be punctual to save lives. The essay evaluates the importance of punctuality in the fire department.
Functions of the Fire Department
Firefighters play diverse roles in preventing and limit the effects of fire outbreaks during fire incidences. Primarily, the department fights against fire occurrences in the society. The department uses its fire engines and other equipment to rush to the scene of the incident and put out fires to limit losses to be incurred. The fighters undergo rigorous training to ensure all members of the team are capable of withstanding the pressures of the job (Klinoff, 2013). Furthermore, the department has also diversified to provide emergency medical services to victims. The department has revealed that it has been able to save lives after introducing its emergency medical services in some nations. Some fire departments across the globe educate companies, students and individuals on fire safety through seminars and talks to ensure minimal loss after fire outbreaks. Furthermore, Germany has allowed its fire department to carry out period inspections on properties and cars to ensure all meet requirements on fire safety. Fire incidences are scary, destructive and emergent, thus requiring that firefighters always be ready to put out fires at any time of the day or night.
Punctuality within the Department
The Department espouses on the importance of punctuality at all times to ensure its smooth running. The department divides its company into teams to ensure various groups coordinate during the incidence. After reporting of a fire incident, an in-house team guides the fire engine on the best route to use to reach the spot. The team ensures that the fire engine reaches the burning spot at the earliest possible time to put out the fire. The coordination between the groups is ensured by having all members being punctual in arriving at their places of work. The call center is always a nerve center for any emergency system in the nation. The members work in shifts to ensure none is fatigued by the harrowing duties expected of the job. Trainers train the fighters always to be punctual to ensure fatal accidents never take place under their watch. Riverscourts Farms in 1992 sued the Niagara-on-the-lake municipality for being negligent in investing in the fire department to avert fires in the district. Furthermore, the plaintiff suggested that the fire rescue did little to put out the flames. The cases were brought against the defendants as negligent actions by the municipality and the firefighters. The courts dismissed the case and ruled that the district were neither negligent since the town lacked finances to update is firefighter machines.
The department has been critically promoting a culture of punctuality among its members. Proponents believe the model breeds teamwork, respect, and togetherness. Researchers have indicated bonding and friendships are important in departments such as the police and firefighters to ensure all individuals work coherently to achieve the same goal. The hazards involved in mitigating the risks may discourage or disorient members of the team; thus others can ensure the team spirits are heightened to enhance performance. Currently, the department ensures that experienced fighters lead the others since experience is an important quality in the career. The trainers identify the different talents each member embodies and ensures through team building each member works cohesively to ensure a task is completed. The rigorous training enables the coaches to match each member’s skills with the right partners to ensure efficiency in service delivery. The trainers believe that individuals accustomed to punctuality are likely to perform better than others deficient of the quality. Lawsuits against municipalities or fire departments have always questioned the strategy used by the firefighters to put out the fire. Riverscourts had questioned the strategy used fighters evoking questions about how passionate the fighters were about their job. However, researchers believe that since the fighters are likely to give differing opinions about an occurrence, the plaintiff is likely to use such weakness to malign the department. Law scholars believe punctuality ensures that the team members can bond and share similar thoughts of solving a problem. Conclusively, it timeliness is critical in the fire department.
References
Klinoff, R. (2013). Introduction to Fire Protection and Emergency Services. Jones & Bartlett
Publishers.