Perceptions of community risk assessment and challenges to implementation

Abstract

Quick, easy access to data-driven community risk assessment principles and to related community risk reduction activities can encourage fire departments to learn about, conduct, and complete district risk reduction practices. With the ultimate goal of creating web-based community risk assessment and community risk reduction resources, we first evaluated fire department needs. Over an eight-month period, a quantitative online survey was administered to officers from 45 unique fire departments in 44 Kentucky counties, with follow-up qualitative telephone interviews administered to 11 fire officials. Mixed-methods, sequential analysis of the data clarified the "what," "who," and "how" of risk analysis/reduction activities, noted what specific reduction activities departments used to prepare for and mitigate risk, and named specific facilitators and barriers to risk assessment and reduction. Respondents described data use for community risk assessment and for planning community risk reduction activities; how a lack of time, personnel, and funding impacts community risk assessment and community risk reduction activities; and how to involve both firefighters and the community in the process. Innovative solutions such as a website containing resources on how to assess community risk information along with resources such as community risk assessment/ reduction education, program planning, and tools, can assist departments to use community risk assessment data in the development of community risk reduction activities.

Keywords: Community risk assessment; Community risk reduction; Fire department; Mixed methods; Prevention; Risk mitigation.