Human Behaviour - Factors Classified as Relevant to the Individual - Essay Example

1. A discussion of the factors which can be classified as relevant to the individual There are many factors that can be classified as relevant to the individual’s behavior in case of fire incidence. These factors are enumerated as below. As far as the Knowledge of the physical setting, individual limitations, psychological dispositions and cognitive understandings are concerned, the detail is as under. All of these factors directly affect the behavior of individual regarding the understanding of the hazards and possible risks regarding a fire incidence or an explosion. These factors also help an individual to respond to the hazards in an appropriate manner. The factors are described in detail. 1- Physical limitations; Physical limitations are all those hindrances which do not allow an individual to recognize and respond to the hazards of a fire incidence in an effective way. These limitations include, the age of an individual, the physical disability, intoxication by the fire incidence, other in capabilities which limit the individual’s mobility. These limitations are given full importance while studying human behavior related to fire incidence (Bethesda, MD, 2003). Because, these are the hindrances and limitation that limit and confine the individual mobility while responding to an fire incidence or an explosion. 2- Cognitive understanding; Cognitive understanding is the most effected characteristic, by the physical limitations, which can limit the individual and group structure’s response in a fire incidence. Most of the researches conducted, have indicated that the groups like, family, tribe, clan and sports team respond differently and in a more appropriate way to a fire incidence than an individual. The response and behavior noticed in groups in a fire incidence or explosion was much more consistent and effective than the one observed in individuals. 3- Knowledge of physical settings; A physical setting is that characteristic which affects the speed, spread and development of fire, when a fire occurs. Fire-related behavior is also affected by the characteristic of fire setting. 2. A discussion of factors which are relevant to groups and the additional dimensions which come into play when family members are assembled together Characteristics of the individuals would definitely change when they would interact with the others in groups. The interaction of the people in the group, the durability of interaction, the intensity and frequency of the interaction changes the characteristics of individuals in groups (Prolix, G. MA, 2002.). The attributes of the group characteristics are described as below. 1- group size The number of the people presents in a group determines the group size. The tendency of the action of the fire incidence and explosions increases with the increase in the size of the group. Research has suggested that appropriate action can diffuse the intense reactions of the people in the group particularly when the group size is big. 2- group structure; It is the attribute of the group that gives knowledge about the gender, age, education, occupation and individual characteristics of the people present in the group. Since, group in Sociology is defined as two or more people interacting with each other in a particular social setting. Therefore, the structure of the group tends to react to the disasters like fire incidence in a quick and orderly manner. Research has suggested that people react with a sense of responsibility in groups. People generally warn others and strangers about the threats to be cohesive and orderly in the face f such facts. 3- Group permanence It is the last and most important characteristics which establish that for how long the individual can interact with each other. Research has suggested that more established groups can stay longer and formalized structured and they more responsibly react at their own. It can therefore, be said that the individual’s fire related behavior in groups is entirely different than their behavior as individuals and such group behavior depend upon the group size, group structure and group permanence etc. Similarly, roles and norms of the people and group are very much important particularly when they are responding to fire incidence in groups. The norms, ethos, and actions of the group are generally influenced according to their gender, the social class they belong to, their educational level and the occupation which they come from. Similarly it cal be said that the roles of the male and female individuals predominately factors around the explosion incidences. The research in this connection has suggested that the women would be more immediately reporting upon a fire or such another incidence in comparison with their male counter parts that would be waiting till the mitigation signs appear at the spot of the incidences. 3. A discussion on the impact of the physical setting The most important aspect of a fire incidence or explosion is seen with respect to the physical settings. This essentially means that the characteristics of physical settings determine the particular fire incidence occurs and it consequently affect the development and s[spread of fire into blazes flames and fumes. Such characteristics of physical settings essentially affect the fire related behavior of individual s and groups. 1- For instance the physical settings include those locations where from the exits can be made, the number of such exists, the structure of the heights, control and superset for the fire extinguishing. As far as the location of exist is concerned these locations must be available in convenient place where from the occupants of a particular building under fire can not only escape but should also be rescued. The location of such exits should also be properly known o the occupants because ignorance about such exits creates anxiety and confusion about the rescue in the inmate. It is equally important that the number of exits should be enough ands sufficient for the out flush of all the inmates. Inadequate number of inmate or particularly when the exits are blocked, unprotected or restricted, such condition such unhealthy and the occupant can be exposed to the fire or its by products. And the same time it is very important that the location of the exits their number and their height should be fairly enough during a fire or explosion incident, there are many people who genuinely believe that they feel unsafe in taller buildings during fires (http;//www.ifsta.org) It is therefore, very important that he fire alarm systems should be unfailingly and critically available for the awareness of all the individuals of fire. Research has suggested that the fire alarm systems should not only be verbal and directive but they must also be able to create effective responses in comparison to the sirens, alarms and bells. It is extremely important that the false alarm and alarming system should never be allowed to work so that the real alarm notification should have a reduced effect. The fire alarm systems should always work on actual basis. As far as suppression system of fire is concerned, research has suggested that the presence of automatic systems affects the individual and group behavior (Cote and Bugle, 1976). The presence of automatic suppression systems may affect the human behavior both in the positive and negative way. As far as the positive affect is concerned it can increase the margin of safety of inmates involved with the more response time in the hazardous situation (Nelson, Hand Mower, and F. 2002). However, the negative effect is also possible because of the decreased visibility. This is supposed to be discharged by the suppression agent, thereby, impeding egress. 4. A discussion on the impact of the characteristics of the fire As far as the characteristics of fire are concerned, these are extremely important to be considered, for the study of fire related behavior. It is very important because of the reason that fire in it self tends to shape up the perceptions of the individuals and their fire related behaviors. The characteristics of the flames and smokes and affect of toxic gases and oxygen depletion has its own behavior. There are many individuals who are usually uneducated, uninformed and ignorant about the perceptions of those hazards that are associated with fire and explosion incidences (Fire and Life Educator1997). The perceptive problems truly relates to the individuals and their close observations in the presence of visible flames. Most of the people became aware about the flames when they see it. And the sight of the flame smoke the individuals aware but the irony of fact is that all the people do not know abut the dynamics of fire and fire behavior. Although the presence of small flames is not an immediate threat, however the knowledge about the fire dynamics is always extremely important to understand. For instance the presence of smoke also affects the fire related behavior of individuals and groups. The absence of the knowledge of the fire dynamics behavior usually results in the wrong perceptions relating to the smoke. For example most of the individuals think that a dense and black smoke is an immediate threat to the physical well being of the individuals. The light and grey smoke is not regarded as a threat. This is a totally wrong perception. Similarly, during the explosion incidences and fire eruption most of the victim individuals become devoid of oxygen as they inhale the by products of combustion mostly including toxic gases that are present in the smoke. Similarly, as the fire progresses and develops the toxic gases further deplete the oxygen that is usually present in the ambient air. When the toxic gases are inhaled the oxygen goes down and when it is below 15 % the individual’s behavior will dramatically change (Bryan, J. 2002). This change will result in delayed reaction or inappropriate responses. Their mental activity is ceased and their ability to perceive the environment also substantially decreases. If this continues the result would be the death. 5. A reference and critique of specific fire incidents where particular characteristics have influenced the outcome. A particular case study of the individual and group behavior in the fire incidence can be the 9/11 attack on the Twin Tower World Trade Centre in USA, that have witnessed more than 30000 deaths. It has been reported that in this great human disaster those people who are killed by the terrorist attack by the hitting of plans with the towers and those who are killed by the collapse of the building and under the debris where less than the number of people who died due to the human and group related behaviors in this great disaster. 2- Much of the people died due to suffocation, loss of oxygen and inhalation of toxic gases. Due to the panic the inmates of the building could not properly perceive the threat and it was not possible for to immediately respond to the physical settings of the fire. The disaster, death, destruction and fire took these people in the worst manner. The deaths that occurred immediately after the incident also ran into hundreds. More destruction of human lives occurred due to the chaos and unmanaged human response in wake of fire and devastation. As a case study many people believe that it was not possible to control the human bizarre reaction(http;//www.nfpa.org). But critique has proved that the situation could have been less destructive if angle of human behavior in the incident could have been controlled. It can, therefore, be concluded that the most important factor in fire situation is the behavior of individual and members of their families in particular situation. The desirable human behaviors are timely perception of fire threat, calling fire safety department, instant use of fire safety equipments, informing others, helping others in evacuation and assessing the situation as per procedure narrated above and reacting to it in a positive manner. It is most important that physically and psychologically unfit people should be given special consideration in a fire situation. Reliable alerts systems like emergency lighting, alerting messages, sirens and exit routes in the bigger building should be clearly displayed. A positive human behavior is more important than any fire equipment in a fire situation (Quincy 2000). The case study of 9/11 terrorist attacks on Twin Tower building has also set an example of the panic, failure of recognition of the physical settings of the fire and inhalation of toxic gases. Although that was a compound and complex tragedy but all the factors discussed in this essay also contributed to the loss of human life. Sources 3- NFPA.1997.18th Edition Fire Protection Handbook, 4- Cote and Bugle, 1976. Principles of Fire Protection, , NFPA 5- Fire and Life Educator1997, 2nd Edition, , IFSTA 6- http;//www.nfpa.org 7- http;//www.ifsta.org 8- Bryan, J. 2002., "Behavioral Response to Fire and Smoke," SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 9- Prolix, G. MA, 2002., "Movement of People: The Evacuation Timing," SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, 10- Nelson, Hand Mower, F. 2002. "Emergency Movement," SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 11- Bethesda, MD, 2003. SFPE Engineering Guide to Human Behavior in Fire, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Read More