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Section Six: Time and On-Scene Performance SECTION SlX: Time and On-Scene Performance The rapid and effective performance of highly coordinated assigned tasks is the hallmark of a successful emergency response force. Time and on-scene performance expectations are the target indicators established for measuring the operational elements (individuals, crews, and work units) that comprise Eugene Fire & EMS response-ready resources. Task performance standards and time requirements have been established by the department, and are evaluated annually through company and work unit evaluations. These performance standards reflect a number of essential competencies established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the American Heart Association (AHA), the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), the Oregon Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA); and others. Time Points and Intervals - The Cascade of Events Over the years, response time data has been analyzed by the fire service industry using a variety of methods. In order to standardize the terminology used by departments around the United States and Canada, the Center for Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) has developed the following set of definitions to be used for describing the individually recognized components of response time. These elements can be appropriately viewed as an interrelated cascading sequence of events, consisting of a series of points in time separated by intervals. Eugene Fire & EMS has adopted the following definitions, which are consistent with the CFAI. Event Initiation - the point at which events occur that may ultimately result in an activation of the emergency response system. Precipitating events can occur seconds, minutes, hours, or even days before a point of awareness is reached. It is rarely possible to quantify the point at which event initiation occurs. Emergency Event Awareness - the point at which an individual or technological sentinel (e.g., smoke or heat detector) becomes aware that conditions exist which require an activation of the emergency response system. Alarm - the point at which awareness triggers an effort to notify the emergency response system. An example of this time is the transmittal of a local or central alarm to a designated public safety answering point (PSAP). Notification - the point at which an alarm is received by the PSAP. This transmittal may take the form of an electronic or mechanical notification process to the point at which a call is received and answered within the PSAP. Call Processing Time - the interval between the first ring of the 9-1-1 telephone at the dispatch center and the time the dispatcher activates station, company, and/or individual alerting devices. This interval can also be broken down into two additional sub-intervals: "call-taker interval," which is the time from the first ring of the 9-1-1 telephone until the call-taker subsequently 55