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Emergency Responders

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Firefighters, police, and paramedics play a critical role in protecting people and property during fires, medical emergencies, terrorist acts, and natural disasters. RAND has examined the risks that emergency responders face—physical injury, traumatic stress, and hazardous exposures—and has offered guidelines to better protect them, beginning with an integrated approach to safety management that includes cooperation among local and state agencies, improved training, and careful planning.

Essay
How to Prevent, Prepare for, and Respond to Mass Attacks
A new step-by-step guide can help communities prevent shootings and other mass attacks before they happen, and save lives when they do. It's written for a variety of public- and private-sector audiences—everyone from emergency responders and school officials to security personnel and community leaders.
Aug 30, 2022
Report
Strategies for Improving Prehospital Outcomes for Cardiac Arrest
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a common, life-threatening event that is a leading cause of death in the United States. RAND researchers identified 49 strategies to improve OHCA survival and the delivery of care.
Jul 20, 2022

Explore Emergency Responders

Report
Broadband Communications Prioritization and Interoperability Guidance for Law Enforcement: Critical Considerations in the Transition to the Public Safety Broadband Network
In this report, RAND researchers present practical knowledge to inform law enforcement agencies about available broadband options and opportunities, governance issues, funding options, costs, and barriers to implementation.
Aug 23, 2022
Tool
Mass Attacks Defense Toolkit
RAND researchers created this tool to advance efforts to prevent and reduce intentional, interpersonal firearm violence and public mass attacks in the United States.
May 31, 2022
Report
Translational Impacts of World Trade Center Health Program Research: A Mixed Methods Study
In this report, the authors describe the findings and recommendations of a four-year study of the World Trade Center Health Program's research portfolio and its translational impact. Recommendations are designed to help guide Program planning.
Oct 26, 2021
Research Brief
First Responder Claims for PTSD in Workers' Compensation: Assessing the Effects of Senate Bill 542 in California
Under California's Senate Bill 542, which creates a legal presumption that posttraumatic stress disorder in firefighters and peace officers is a work-related injury, additional costs to state and local governments could be large but are uncertain.
Sep 20, 2021
Report
Posttraumatic Stress in California's Workers' Compensation System: A Study of Mental Health Presumptions for Firefighters and Peace Officers Under Senate Bill 542
The authors evaluate the prevalence of mental health conditions among first responders in California and discuss policy implications, with a focus on how posttraumatic stress disorder is handled in the state's workers' compensation system.
Sep 20, 2021
Multimedia
From 9/11 to COVID-19: What Have We Learned About U.S. Preparedness?
RAND senior physical scientist Brian Jackson discusses emergency preparedness in the United States and lessons still being learned as the nation faces a global health crisis.
Sep 10, 2021
Report
Stress Control for Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responders: A Systematic Review
This report presents a systematic review of studies of interventions designed to prevent, identify, and manage acute occupational stress among military, law enforcement, and first responders.
Aug 16, 2021
Blog
Historic Lynchings and Voter Registration, China in Space, Firefighters' Mental Health: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the link between historic lynchings and voter registration, Afghanistan in the era of fentanyl, supporting firefighters’ mental health, and more.
Jul 30, 2021
Commentary
As Fire Season Heats Up, Burnout Looms
Increasingly intense fire seasons are taking a physical and mental toll on wildland firefighters. Without more direct attention paid to firefighters' mental health, burnout could decimate the ranks of those who protect lives and property across the West.
Jul 21, 2021
Research Brief
Promising Practices from Community Corrections Organizations' COVID-19 Response: Ensuring Safety in the Community
This brief highlights the challenges that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic posed for community supervision organizations, how they adapted to those challenges, and a discussion of which adaptations might hold promise after the pandemic.
Apr 30, 2021
Research Brief
Promising Practices from Law Enforcement's COVID-19 Response: Protecting the Public
This brief highlights the challenges that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic posed for law enforcement agencies, how they adapted to those challenges, and a discussion of which adaptations might hold promise after the pandemic.
Apr 30, 2021
Research Brief
Promising Practices from the Court System's COVID-19 Response: Ensuring Access to Justice While Protecting Public Health
This brief highlights the challenges that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic posed for the court system, how courts adapted to those challenges, and a discussion of which adaptations might hold promise after the pandemic.
Apr 30, 2021
Research Brief
Promising Practices from the Institutional Corrections System's COVID-19 Response: Managing Safety and Security on the Inside
This brief highlights the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic created, shows how corrections agencies adapted to the challenges, describes which adaptations may hold promise, and provides evaluations to demonstrate the efficacy of such adaptations.
Apr 30, 2021
Research Brief
Promising Practices from Victim Services Providers' COVID-19 Response: Protecting Victims and Those Who Serve Them
This brief highlights the challenges that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic posed for victims services providers, describes how they adapted to those challenges, and discusses which adaptations might hold promise after the pandemic.
Apr 30, 2021
Report
Lessons Learned from the Justice System's Pandemic Response
Incarcerated populations, corrections staff, court personnel, and law enforcement were hit hard by COVID-19. At the same time, national protests after the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans increased pressure for criminal justice reform. Insights from this time could help the justice system prepare for future challenges.
Apr 8, 2021
Commentary
Planning for a COVID-19 Hurricane
What if Hurricane Katrina had hit during a pandemic? Emergency planners can prepare for this scenario by evaluating current response system capacity, evacuation and sheltering procedures, food and supply issues, and more.
May 4, 2020
Commentary
The Justice System and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resources for Policymakers
From closed courts to increased risk for first responders, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges for the justice system. RAND research provides insights that may be helpful as decisionmakers try and address some of these issues.
Apr 20, 2020
Report
The Frequency and Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Disorders for California Firefighters: Trends and Outcomes over the Past Decade
The authors update analyses from a 2010 study on firefighters in California and consider the impacts of the 2013 workers' compensation reforms and the economic shocks of the late 2000s on outcomes for firefighters with musculoskeletal disorders.
Jan 31, 2020
Report
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Early Assistance After Disasters
After human-made disasters, early assistance from potentially responsible parties can sometimes fill gaps that are not always addressed by NGOs and first responders. But is providing such assistance a good strategy in terms of reducing future litigation or improving public opinion?
Nov 14, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Emergency Responders

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Donell Harvin

Senior Policy Researcher

Donell Harvin is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. His expertise is in complex homeland security issues, including domestic intelligence and information sharing, planning and response to terrorism, and countering weapons of mass destruction. He has been involved in public…
Aaron C. Davenport

Associate Director, Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program, RAND Homeland Security Research Division

Aaron C. Davenport is the associate director of the Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations (IISO) Program, part of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD), and a senior policy researcher. HSRD oversees the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a…

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