In this research, I have attempted to develop and analyze the effectiveness of emergency and non-emergency response mode criteria. Current and past literature was reviewed looking for similar systems currently in use and studies examining the effectiveness of those programs. National standards and laws were examined to attempt to find criteria establishing what types of dispatched calls for fire or EMS deserved an emergency (use oflights and sirens) or non-emergency (no lights and sirens) response.
Data from a volunteer fire department were then analyzed and compared to criteria established under a Fire Officer Discretionary System (FODR) and the more traditional Blanket Lights and Siren (BLAS) response. The results revealed that the FODR system significantly decreased the use of lights and sirens, and still satisfied the response time requirements based on NFP A 1720.
As such, the results from this effort suggest that the FODR system was successful in reducing the use of lights and sirens. Additionally, I also developed criteria to assist fire officers in the response mode decision-making process.
","abstract_html":"<p>In this research, I have attempted to develop and analyze the effectiveness of emergency and non-emergency response mode criteria. Current and past literature was reviewed looking for similar systems currently in use and studies examining the effectiveness of those programs. National standards and laws were examined to attempt to find criteria establishing what types of dispatched calls for fire or EMS deserved an emergency (use oflights and sirens) or non-emergency (no lights and sirens) response. </p> <p>Data from a volunteer fire department were then analyzed and compared to criteria established under a Fire Officer Discretionary System (FODR) and the more traditional Blanket Lights and Siren (BLAS) response. The results revealed that the FODR system significantly decreased the use of lights and sirens, and still satisfied the response time requirements based on NFP A 1720. </p> <p>As such, the results from this effort suggest that the FODR system was successful in reducing the use of lights and sirens. Additionally, I also developed criteria to assist fire officers in the response mode decision-making process. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sobaski, Branden J."],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Justice Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:13Z","subjects":["emergency management","emergency medical services","firefighters","Criminology and Criminal Justice"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2008 Branden J. Sobaski"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/100","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sobaski, Branden J."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Justice Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["emergency management","emergency medical services","firefighters","Criminology and Criminal Justice"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2008 Branden J. Sobaski"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/100"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In this research, I have attempted to develop and analyze the effectiveness of emergency and non-emergency response mode criteria. Current and past literature was reviewed looking for similar systems currently in use and studies examining the effectiveness of those programs. National standards and laws were examined to attempt to find criteria establishing what types of dispatched calls for fire or EMS deserved an emergency (use oflights and sirens) or non-emergency (no lights and sirens) response.
Data from a volunteer fire department were then analyzed and compared to criteria established under a Fire Officer Discretionary System (FODR) and the more traditional Blanket Lights and Siren (BLAS) response. The results revealed that the FODR system significantly decreased the use of lights and sirens, and still satisfied the response time requirements based on NFP A 1720.
As such, the results from this effort suggest that the FODR system was successful in reducing the use of lights and sirens. Additionally, I also developed criteria to assist fire officers in the response mode decision-making process.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["You Make the Call: Using Officer Discretion In Selection of Emergency Response Mode for Fire and EMS"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Sobaski, Branden J."],"dc:description.abstract":["In this research, I have attempted to develop and analyze the effectiveness of emergency and non-emergency response mode criteria. Current and past literature was reviewed looking for similar systems currently in use and studies examining the effectiveness of those programs. National standards and laws were examined to attempt to find criteria establishing what types of dispatched calls for fire or EMS deserved an emergency (use oflights and sirens) or non-emergency (no lights and sirens) response.
Data from a volunteer fire department were then analyzed and compared to criteria established under a Fire Officer Discretionary System (FODR) and the more traditional Blanket Lights and Siren (BLAS) response. The results revealed that the FODR system significantly decreased the use of lights and sirens, and still satisfied the response time requirements based on NFP A 1720.
As such, the results from this effort suggest that the FODR system was successful in reducing the use of lights and sirens. Additionally, I also developed criteria to assist fire officers in the response mode decision-making process.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/100"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2008 Branden J. Sobaski"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["emergency management","emergency medical services","firefighters","Criminology and Criminal Justice"],"dc:title":["You Make the Call: Using Officer Discretion In Selection of Emergency Response Mode for Fire and EMS"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Justice Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:13Z"}