THE VIEW OF BRAZILIAN MILITARY FIRE DEPARTMENTS TOWARDS THEIR MEMBERS EMPLOYED IN DISASTER RESPONSE

Abstract

The relationship between public safety and human rights is not limited to the services that institutions and their members provide to society. Beyond the discussion of the service provided, there is also the necessary recognition that public safety operators are also subjects of rights. These individuals are often exposed to severe scenarios, such as disaster response. Among public safety professionals, the most frequent disaster responders are firefighters. Aiming to understand the designation of firefighters who respond to disasters, from the perspective of their institutions and the care they provide to their service members, this study collected information from all military fire departments (CBMs) in Brazil through questionnaires. These questionnaires revealed institutions highly committed to their mission, which prepare and employ their agents to fulfill their duty, but which still find room for improvement in recognizing these individuals as human beings who will invariably be impacted by their exposure to complex disaster scenarios.