Improving Focus and Concentration - Identifying Strategies to Improve Focus and Concentration at the Fort Worth Fire Alarm Office - Applied Research

Sep 14, 2026

Applied research examines how the Fort Worth Fire Alarm Office (FAO) handles attention demands in technical roles where communications personnel may experience reduced focus during extended work shifts. The study aims to identify techniques and practices that improve focus and concentration to minimize mistakes and strengthen support for Fire Operations and the public. A descriptive research method addresses what other PSAPs and industry communications professionals do, what FAO currently implements, and what feasibility-based recommendations follow from pooled findings.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages39

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Table of Contents

Introduction

Background and Significance

Literature Review

Procedures

Results

Discussion

Recommendations

References

Appendices

Appendix A: FWFD Run Totals

Appendix B: Target City Population Chart

Appendix C: Interview Questions

Running Head: Improving Focus and Concentration Identifying Strategies to Improve Focus and Concentration at the Fort Worth Fire Alarm Office Rafael Diamond Fort Worth Fire Department Fort Worth, Texas CERTIFICATION STATEMENT I hereby certify that this paper constitutes my own product, that where the language of others is set forth, quotation marks so indicate, and that appropriate credit is given where I have used the language, ideas, expressions, or writings of another. Signed: Rafael Diamond ABSTRACT The problem was that the Fort Worth Fire Alarm Office (FAO) included technical positions in which the focus and concentration of communications personnel could possibly suffer during extended periods of work activity. The purpose of this applied research project was to consider possible techniques and practices to improve the focus and concentration of the communications personnel at the FAO to minimize mistakes and improve support provided to Fire Operations. The descriptive research method was employed to find answers to the following questions: 1. What are other Public Safety Answering Points doing to improve the focus and concentration of their personnel during extended periods of work activity? 2. What practices are in place at the FAO that address communication personnel’s focus and concentration during extended periods of work activity? 3. What are other industry communications professionals doing to promote focus and concentration amongst their communications personnel during extended periods of work activity? The research for this paper was conducted by utilizing the Learning Resource Center (LRC) at the National Fire Academy, internet research; other Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) were consulted, personal interviews, as well as local data from the FAO Computer Aided Dispatch system. The results from the research revealed that while FAO management had put in place several strategies to limit distraction and improve the focus and concentration of the staff, other PSAPs and industry communications professionals implemented supplementary methods to limit distractions. The subsequent recommendation was that all of the additional strategies be carefully reviewed by Support Services and FAO Management to be considered and implemented if found to be feasible and beneficial to the citizens of the City of Fort Worth and the members of the Fort Worth Fire Department. TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION STATEMENT 2 ABSTRACT 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 INTRODUCTION 6 BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE 7 LITERATURE REVIEW 11 PROCEDURES 16 RESULTS 20 DISCUSSION 28 RECOMMENDATIONS 32 REFERENCES 34 APPENDICES APPENDIX A: FWFD Run Totals 37 APPENDIX B: Target City Population Chart 38 APPENDIX C: Interview Questions 39 INTRODUCTION The Fort Worth Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Office (FAO) answers both 911 emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatches the necessary resources, and provides logistical support to said resources in the City of Fort Worth (City) on a daily basis. The dynamic nature of the emergency services industry with its periods of high workloads followed by slower periods require that the men and women who are on shift at the FAO maintain an increased level of thoroughness so that mistakes are avoided. The problem is that the FAO included several technical positions in which the focus and concentration of communications personnel could potentially suffer during extended work shifts and increased activity. The purpose of this applied research project is to gather and study information using the descriptive research method to answer the following research questions and consider possible techniques and practices to improve the focus and concentration of the communications personnel at the FAO to minimize mistakes and improve support provided to Fire Operations and ultimately the customer. 1. What are other Public Safety Answering Points doing to improve the foc

FAQs

What problem does the research identify at the Fort Worth Fire Alarm Office?

Technical positions at the FAO may cause communications personnel’s focus and concentration to suffer during extended work shifts and increased activity, increasing the risk of mistakes.

Which research method and questions guide the study?

The study uses a descriptive research method to answer what other PSAPs do, what practices exist at the FAO, and what industry communications professionals do to promote focus and concentration during extended work activity.

What recommendation results from the research findings?

Additional strategies identified through the research should be carefully reviewed by Support Services and FAO Management and implemented if feasible and beneficial to citizens and Fire Department members.

Sep 14, 2026

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