14 pieces of critical content for first responders

Fire department standard operating guidelines (SOGs) or standard operating procedures (SOPs) are two of the most critical forms of content you’ll use. The choice to use “procedures” vs. “guidelines” is largely subjective and depends upon the preference of your agency.

Some prefer guidelines because of the ever-changing nature of life in Fire/EMS, and the need to be flexible in all scenarios. Still, others stick to procedures to drive home the importance of strict adherence to policies and to discourage “wiggle room.”

The most important thing is not what you decide to call your policies, but the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of their content. So whether you decide to go with “guidelines” or “procedures” or something else entirely, the following principles still ring true.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of SOPs, because they truly are the values and mission of your department codified in written form. When written and communicated effectively, they provide a clear roadmap to employees and give them a North Star to follow in all scenarios.

A cloud-based policy management platform like PowerDMS lets first responders access these critical documents anywhere, even from a mobile device. Learn more about policy and procedure management for the fire service and first responders.

It’s easy to get SOPs confused with technical guidelines. The two can often overlap, but both of them serve entirely unique purposes.

Think of fire department SOPs as a means of procedural guidance. While technical guidelines provide technical instructions, SOPs explain performance expectations and requirements.

Since the development of SOPs is based on command policies, they help standardize all department activities, from administration to emergency response.

Unlike technical guidelines, SOPs don’t necessarily describe how to do the job; they describe your department’s rules for doing the job, ensuring compliance. This makes SOPs a great tool for training employees, and one they should be able to reference as needed.

For example, technical guidelines might explain what certain mechanisms on a fire engine do when activated, but SOPs will tell you when it’s appropriate to utilize those mechanisms in the field.

Whether responding to an emergency or dealing with repairs, your employees need the right information and resources at their fingertips. Having technical guidelines available in the cloud not only saves time but encourages compliance in operations across the board.

Understanding a building’s features and hazards is crucial for safety and efficiency when responding to calls. That’s why pre-plans are so important. If you are not currently using a cloud-based document management software, you probably have to file away pre-plans in a folder or in binders.

This means responding officers don’t have access to your pre-plans until you’ve filed them. For optimal safety, these documents need to be readily available at all times.

With a central repository like PowerDMS, you can assess the building and immediately implement the pre-plan as early as the day the building was assessed. If dispatch receives a call from that property, responders can immediately pull it up in PowerDMS without the turnaround time common with a paper-based process.

EMS personnel responding to emergencies are the trusted authorities for medical issues and medication. Unfortunately, many departments don’t have easy access to the information they need when they respond to medical emergencies.

First responders are only human, and sometimes after a long day of response calls they can forget crucial drug information.

Having medical references with common drugs and their intended usage on hand can help determine the best course of action for any scenario requiring narcotics administration.

When it comes to medication, there’s no room for error. Unpreparedness or confusion could cost someone their life. That’s why resources like pharmacology abbreviations, essentially a glossary for all things medicine related, are so important to have readily available.

Certain classes of medication can be lethal when given in the wrong dose. It’s the priority of emergency responders to dose medication with precision and accuracy. Having dosage charts in the cloud means employees can quickly access the information they need in critical moments.