What does the Unit do?
The Crisis Response (CR) Team responds to emergency scenes to provide assistance, guidance, referral and grief support to citizens during a crisis or tragedy.
Here are examples of when they are called:
- Fire loss… residential and commercial
- Drownings, involving children and adults
- Death notification
- Grief Support
- Homicides
- Domestic violence
- Fatalities involving children and adults
- Suicide involving children and adults
- Mental and/or physical abuse involving children and adults
- Alternative means of transportation to a nearby hospital
Why do we need the Crisis Response (CR) Team?
The CR team was designed to assist firefighters and police officers during 911 calls. Once the team arrives on-scene, it allows the firefighters to “go back in service” and to provide police officers with additional assistance and respond to the needs of the citizens. The team remains on-scene to provide emotional assistance and referrals, as well as sometimes transporting family members to the hospital if they are not capable to drive themselves.
Are there other programs like this in existence?
Yes. Crisis response teams have been a focus of fire departments throughout the Valley for several years. Many cities have their own similar crisis response teams, including: Phoenix, Tempe, Avondale, Surprise, Mesa and Chandler.
How does it work?
1. House is on fire, 911 is called.
2. Firefighters arrive to put out the fire and rescue people.
3. Crisis Response Team arrives to assist citizens with their needs such as calling insurance company, going to the hospital and finding shelter.
4. Firefighters go back to fire station and are ready for the next call. The crisis response team stays on scene until the home owners have either made contact with their insurance company or have secured shelter for the day/night.
Why does the Glendale Fire Department need such a program?
In 2007, Glendale Fire Department (GFD) responded to 41,439 calls. Many of those calls involved families who were faced with a devastating personal crisis. The Glendale Fire Department is proud of our reputation of providing the highest level of service to our community. And with that sense of wanting to provide those we serve with the best, the Glendale Fire Department developed a program specifically designed and modeled to provide assistance to those families who are in need of immediate crisis intervention. Thus enabling our engine and ladder crews to go back in service so they can go on the next call and help another family.
What is the call volume for the C.R. Program?
During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, our volunteers responded to 1,723 calls with a total of 22,540 hours donated. The estimated total volunteer time is $439,755.40 (at the federal rate of $19.51 an hour for that fiscal year).
*The value of volunteer time is based on the average hourly earnings of all production and non-supervisory workers on private non-farm payrolls (as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Independent Sector takes this figure and increases it by 12 percent to estimate for fringe benefits.
What’s the bottom line?
The Crisis Response program is a benefit to the community, the Glendale Fire Department and nearby cities. Our volunteers make a huge difference in the lives of those experiencing a crisis. Not everyone knows what to do during an emergency or crisis. That’s why our trained volunteers are a benefit to those they service during their shift. Volunteers are able to answer questions, resources and referrals, a cold bottle of water and a caring ear to listen.
What is CR 155 and CR 158?
CR 155 is the training unit that is in service from 6 PM to midnight (1800-0000) and is stationed in north Glendale. This unit is used mostly for training new volunteers, allowing a new volunteer to experience working with both firefighters and police officers.
CR 158 is Glendale Fire Department’s primary crisis response vehicle that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CR 158 is housed at fire station 158, located near U of P stadium.
Both CR units are stocked with supplies such as coolers with cold bottles of water, burn out boxes, a resource box, Fido Bag, EMT box (for certified EMTs), as well as other supplies that might be needed during a call.
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