Assessment of the Relationship Between the Risk Perception and Preparedness Attitudes of Search & Rescue and Firefighting Teams Against Event Site Hazards in CBRN Events: Adana Province Case

Abstract

KBRN olayları tehlikeli kimyasal, biyolojik, radyoaktif, nükleer ajanlarını içermesi bakımından ilk müdahale ekiplerini risk altında bırakabilmektedir. Bu çalışma, KBRN olaylarında ilk müdahalede yer alan arama & kurtarma ve itfaiyecilerin olay yerindeki tehlikelere karşı risk algılarını ölçmeyi ve olay öncesi hazırlığa yönelik tutumları arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında, KBRN olaylarına yönelik risk algısı ve hazırlıklı olma durumunu ölçen 5’li likert ölçeğine dayanan bir anket tasarlanmıştır. Çalışma, Adana ilinde KBRN olaylarına müdahale etme potansiyeline sahip ve anket doldurmayı kabul eden 134 arama & kurtarma ve itfaiye çalışanı üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, katılımcıların KBRN olay yeri tehlike risk algı düzeyleri ile hazırlık düzeyleri arasında anlamlı pozitif doğrusal bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. İlk müdahale ekipleri, herhangi bir KBRN olayında karşılaşabilecekleri tehlikeli maddeleri bilmeli ve tanımlamalıdır. Hazırlık sürecinde, KBRN tehlikeleri ile ilgili eğitimlerin ilk müdahale ekiplerinin risk algısını artırmasına dikkat edilmelidir.

Keywords

• Arama & Kurtarma
• KBRN Olayları
• İtfaiyeciler
• Risk Algısı
• Hazırlık

Assessment of the Relationship Between the Risk Perception and Preparedness Attitudes of Search & Rescue and Firefighting Teams Against Event Site Hazards in CBRN Events: Adana Province Case

Abstract

CBRN events can put first responders at risk in the form of hazardous chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear agents. This study aims to measure the risk perceptions of search & rescue and firefighters involved in the first response in CBRN events against the hazards at the scene and to evaluate the relationship between their attitudes towards pre-event preparedness. Within the scope of our study, we designed a survey to address the risk perception and preparedness for CBRN events based on a 5-Likert scale. The study was conducted on 134 search & rescue and fire brigade workers who had the potential to take part in responding to CBRN incidents in Adana province, who agreed to fill out a questionnaire. As a result of the study, participants were found to have a significant positive linear relationship between CBRN crime scene hazard risk perception levels and preparedness levels. First responders should know and identify hazardous materials they may encounter in any CBRN event. During the preparedness process, attention should be pay to the fact that the pieces of training on CBRN hazards increase the risk perception of first responders.

Keywords

• Search & Rescue
• CBRN Events
• Firefighters
• Risk perception
• Preparedness

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