Health 

Our considerations include preventing firefighters from developing long-term physical and mental illnesses; the problem we’re trying to solve is that firefighters are constantly throwing themselves into dangerous scenarios, and we want them to feel more comfortable by ensuring their equipment is reliable. The physical health risks are rather evident – smoke inhalation and respiratory illness, overheating, and of course, persisting surface-level burns. Having reliable equipment also reduces the level of mental strain caused by the job – they won’t constantly be worrying that their life-preserving equipment is going to fail them. The mental strain of potentially losing the people they’re trying to rescue or one of their fellow firefighters is also huge, and ideally, we would reduce that strain directly by reducing the number of deaths that occur on the job [1].

 

Safety 

The problems that we are looking into solving aim to address the safety issues involved in the jobs of firefighters which in turn would make it a safer work environment for them. This would enable them to have longer careers as they would have a decreased chance of getting injured or killed. The lower risk would also motivate more people to work in the field which would lower the frequency at which each individual would have to put their life on the line.

 

Welfare 

With regard to the physical well-being of our stakeholders, our goal is to limit both the long-term long term health risks that firefighters face in their various operations. This may be addressed by providing firefighters with the necessary equipment, information, and preparation needed for  survival and well-being. Additionally, we’d like to ensure the mental well-being of firefighters by limiting things like fear of equipment or structural failure and the stress of putting one’s life on the line. The welfare of those affected by fires, search and rescue operations, etc. is also of concern to us. We’d like to ensure that those in need can receive the assistance that they need in a timely and effective fashion.

 

Global 

As of right now, the scope of our problem does not yet include a global impact. We are currently working with local stakeholders and personal connections only. From the information we gather there, we may extend our reach.

 

Cultural 

Fires disproportionately affect low-income communities, destroying their houses, and disrupting their development, and discourse in the broader scale. If firefighters are given the correct equipment to save lives, property, and the communities at large, they will be able to better thrive and hopefully get the help they need. With more effective equipment, firefighters could not only have better chances of surviving a call but be able to return to these communities that are often blighted with poverty and inequality [2].

 

Social 

Firefighters have a large impact on both their families and communities. The safety of firefighters is of huge concern to their families for understandable reasons. Additionally, making firefighters’ jobs safer means that they can save more lives and help more people efficiently. Our goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of both of these victims by making their job safer.

 

Environmental 

Firefighters respond to many types of emergencies; one being forest fires. The environmental impact of forest fires can be devastating. They kill not only living animals but also their external surroundings. The destruction of these surroundings makes it difficult for wildlife to survive even after a fire has been put out. Therefore, a fast well-executed response is needed to protect the environment and the species that live in it. After a building burns down, toxic fumes are released into the air which is bad for the environment. In addition, all the items destroyed in a fire need to be replaced. Equipping firefighters with the best tools that can be designed will allow them to protect themselves and the environment as best as they can. 

 

Economic 

Aside from the danger, injuries, and loss of life caused by fires, the financial damages are tremendous. Over the last 5 years, there were almost 7 billion dollars reported in property damage due to house fires in the U.S. alone [3]. A homeowner loses an estimated 10% of the initial value of their house after one fire, and 23% of the value after a second fire. California reported $148.5 billion in losses as a result of the 2018 wildfires [4]. Fires restrict transportation, communication, power, electricity services, water, and food supply, and cause loss of property, crops, resources, animals, and people. It costs over $13,000 to properly equip a single firefighter [5].