SFD.076 Outreach Events (Harris County ESD No. 7 - PDF)

# Standard Operating Guideline: Outreach Events ## Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 **Revision:** 0 **Issue Date:** 22 July, 2024 **No.:** 1 **Review Date:** 1 July, 2025 **Effective Date:** 22 July, 2024 **Reviewed by:** Strategic Services **Approved by:** Scott C. Seifert ## Outreach Ev...

# Standard Operating Guideline: Outreach Events ## Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 **Revision:** 0 **Issue Date:** 22 July, 2024 **No.:** 1 **Review Date:** 1 July, 2025 **Effective Date:** 22 July, 2024 **Reviewed by:** Strategic Services **Approved by:** Scott C. Seifert ## Outreach Events ### 1. Executive Summary - **Purpose:** Events aim to strengthen community ties, improve public perception, and enhance safety behaviors and outcomes. - **Staffing:** Events may be staffed by various personnel, coordinated with the District Chief. - **Types:** Includes open houses, demonstrations, risk reduction education, partnership events, and special events hosted by the department. - **Scheduling:** Prioritizes maintaining effective emergency response, with events not significantly impacting deployment abilities. - **Requests:** Must be submitted through the website with at least 10 days' notice, preferably 21 days. - **Timing:** Events should be a maximum of 1.5 hours, with exceptions approved by the Outreach Coordinator and District Chief. - **Safety:** All interactions during events must be respectful and professional, enhancing the department's public image. - **Waterflow Events:** Specific guidelines ensure safety and minimal impact on the emergency response system. ### 2. Purpose The purpose of this guideline is to provide guidance to the members of Spring Fire Department when scheduling, managing, and attending Outreach Events on behalf of the organization. ### 3. Scope This guideline applies to all members. ### 4. Definitions See Glossary. ### 5. Procedures and Responsibilities - **Outreach Event Purpose:** - **Community Engagement:** Events that strengthen ties with the community, improve public perception and trust in the fire department. - **Risk Reduction:** Targeted programs to improve safety behaviors and outcomes within the community. - **Outreach Events Staff:** Outreach Events may be staffed by on-duty personnel, Outreach and CRR personnel, extra hours personnel, or volunteers based on scheduling and availability. Staffing Outreach Events with on-duty personnel will be coordinated with the appropriate District Chief. - **Event Types:** - There will be some overlap in the function and type of events. For instance, some events will be special events that also have risk reduction education. Risk Reduction activities should be included in events whenever possible. - **Open Houses/Station Tour:** Invite the public to tour the fire station, meet firefighters, and learn about equipment. - **Demonstrations:** Show firefighting techniques, rescue operations, and equipment use. - **Risk Reduction Education:** Targeted education programs that reduce risk and improve safety behaviors. - CRR Targeted Education Events - Car Seat Events - Smoke Alarm Blitz - **Partnership Events:** Collaborate with local businesses, schools, or civic groups for joint initiatives. - Blood Drives - Toys for Tots - Pet Microchip Clinics - Share Your Holidays Food Drive - **Special Events:** Spring Fire Department hosted events. - Safetober - Spring Fire Safety Expo - Badge Pinning Ceremonies - Truck-or-Treat - Haunted Firehouse - Santa Drive Through - Parades - Any other event types must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Fire Chief or designee. Generally, the Spring Fire Department does not fill pools, attend private parties, or engage in events that do not align with the organizational mission. The Outreach Coordinator will routinely approve events. The Chief of Strategic Services may be contacted for additional approvals. - **Scheduling:** - **General:** Working apparatus maintain busy schedules with emergency calls, maintenance, training, and other essential duties. The priority of the Spring Fire Department is to maintain a safe and effective emergency response system, and Outreach Events should not create a significant impact on deployment abilities. - If an Outreach Event creates an undue impact on response capabilities, the District Chief should notify the Outreach Coordinator or Chief of Strategic Services as soon as possible so that the requestor can be notified and the event can be rescheduled. - Apparatus may be late to events due to emergencies, and they may leave early, or they may not arrive at all. Every effort should be made to contact the requestor and notify them if the schedule changes. - **Event Requests:** Events requests must be submitted through the website at least 10 days prior to the event, with a preference for 21-day notice. Exemptions may be made on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the Outreach Coordinator, Chief of Strategic Services, and District Chief. The Outreach Coordinator should only schedule 2 events per 48-hour shift, per station. - **Timing:** - **Length:** - Maximum length: 1.5 hours - Any exceptions should be approved by the Outreach Coordinator and District Chief. - Exceptions may be made in-person by company officers if it is in the best interest of the organization's relationship with the requestor and will not cause undue impact on the response system. - High volume dates such as National Night Out or 4th of July should be limited to 30 minute visits when possible. - **Time of Day:** - Events may be scheduled from 0700-2100, with evening events ending by 2100. - Exceptions must be approved by the Outreach Coordinator and District Chief. - Mealtimes should be generally avoided. - Outreach Events should not conflict with or detract from other regularly scheduled duties. - **Location:** Typically, the closest station to the geographic location of the event should be scheduled for the Outreach Event. However, with approval from the Outreach Coordinator and District, a different station may be assigned based on scheduling needs. ### 6. Interactions - All interactions with the public during events or otherwise must be respectful and professional. - It is the intention of all Outreach Events to enhance the reputation and public image of the organization, behavior should be aligned with this goal. - Uniforms should be worn per department policy. - Exceptions may be made by the Fire Chief or designee. Requests to utilize alternative uniforms should routinely be made by the District Chief to the Chief of Strategic Services. Exceptions will be based on activity type, heat index, and other factors (waterflow events, soiling of uniforms, etc...) ### 7. Out of Territory Events - Requested events that are outside of the geographic territory of Spring Fire Department will be approved by the Fire Chief or designee on a case-by-case basis using the following process: - Outreach Coordinator approves event. - Outreach Coordinator submits event to Chief of Strategic Services for approval. - Chief of Strategic Services submits event to Chief of Operations for approval. - Outreach Coordinator notifies appropriate District Chief. ### 8. Operational Events - Some event requests are for first responders to stand by or provide first response at an event. These should be forwarded to the Chief of Strategic Services and then coordinated with the Chief of Operations. This may include but is not limited to: - Fireworks events - Safety standby events - Unified command ### 9. Waterflow Events - Flowing water for public events has specific risks and impacts on the emergency response system, and also utilizes managed water supply systems intended for firefighting use. - Spring Fire Department takes the safety of citizens seriously and does not conduct events where hose streams are directed at people due to the health and safety risks. - **Drought Conditions:** Waterflow Outreach Events will not be conducted during drought conditions or other circumstances that make gratuitous use of water irresponsible. This does not apply to training or incidents. - **Water Supply:** - Apparatus should be connected to a positive water supply and maintain a full tank during water flow events in order to stay response ready. - If there is no water supply available, the District Chief should be notified and the apparatus should be placed out of service with TECC until it is able to replenish water supply. - If placing the apparatus out of service creates an undue risk to the community, the waterflow event should be canceled. - If necessary based on staffing, a CRR Specialist may be available to attend the waterflow event with a Booster apparatus. - Water supplies are typically managed by organizations such as Municipal Utility Districts. Use of water is generally reserved for emergency firefighting. Waterflow events should be coordinated with the water supplier. - The apparatus crew should inform the District Chief and Outreach coordinator of the amount of water in gallons flowed at any event. All waterflow events should utilize only small diameter hose lines (1.75” or less) at minimum operating pressures. Master streams should never be used for waterflow events.. Nozzles should be inspected prior to use to ensure that they are secure and will not break free from the hose and become a hazard. All hose streams will be narrow or wide fog, never utilizing smooth bore nozzles. Hose streams will never be directed at people due to the potential to injure a person, especially the eyes and face. Water from a fire apparatus' tank or water that has moved through firefighting pumps or equipment is not potable and may have unsafe contaminants that make it unsuitable for drinking or skin exposure. ### 10. References & Related Policies This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. | **NFPA** | **Applicable State or Federal Statutes** | **OSHA** | **Spring FD** | |-----------|----------------------------------|--------|-------------| | TCFP | CPSE PI | ISO | TFCA | ### 11. Contact Office The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: - Company Officer - District Chief - Deputy Chief of Strategic Services - Assistant Chief - Fire Chief ### 12. List of Changes | **Revision No.** | **Description of Changes** | **Approved by** | **Effective Date** | |-----------------|-----------------------------|----------------|-------------------| ### 13. Errors See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member's legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline.