Effective emergency communications highlighted
08 September 2011
The importance of clear, accurate and timely information in emergency situations was the key message delivered by University of Canterbury academics at a specialist communication assessment in Australia recently.
The importance of clear, accurate and timely information in emergency situations was the key message delivered by University of Canterbury academics at a specialist communication assessment in Australia recently.
Dr Megan McAuliffe (Communication Disorders) and Professor Lucy Johnston (Psychology) from the New Zealand Institute of Language Brain and Behavior (NZILBB) at UC were invited by Australia’s New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) to conduct the assessment which was aimed at helping improve responses to emergency or disaster situations.
Dr McAuliffe and Professor Johnston worked on the assessment in collaboration with Dr Alan Murray and James Collett from Tait Radio Communications.
The NZILBB researchers were invited to undertake this assessment as a result of the prior work of four summer scholarship students who, funded by UC and Tait, worked with the New Zealand Fire Service over the summer period of 2010-2011.
“The importance of clear, accurate and timely information in emergency situations cannot be underestimated,” said Dr McAuliffe.
“Inaccuracy in message transmission reduces efficiency and can cost lives.”
She said the NZILBB was in a unique position to be able to provide such assessments in conjunction with industry. The institute adopts a systems-based approach to language and communication, bringing together experts from linguistics, communication disorders, psychology and related areas to consider not only the nature of the language used in various situations but also the relationship between language and other modes of communication such as gesture, facial expression and gait, and the influence of cognitive processes such as memory and information bias.
Professor Johnston said emergency service providers are seeking not only high quality equipment, such as two-way radios, “but also training in the most effective use of that equipment, especially in adverse conditions such as frequently encountered in emergency situations, for example high noise, high stress, and low visibility”.
The assessment with NSW SES took place over three days and involved assessment of communication in a variety of realistic maritime, vehicular and safety response emergency scenarios around North Sydney’s Balls Head Bay.
Communication between operation controllers and in-field volunteers was considered in situations of high and low noise in open air, enclosed and variable locations.
Dr McAuliffe and Professor Johnston said they hoped the recommendations from the assessment would help increase efficiency and safety among NSW SES staff and volunteers when responding to emergencies.
“Improvements in radio communication practices have the potential to lead to better protection of lives and property so it is critical we continue to understand and develop best practices,” said Professor Johnston.
For more information please contact:
comms@canterbury.ac.nz
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