Affiliations: Alma mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna,
Italy | Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcellona, Spain | Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald,
Greifswald, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Gabriele Prati, Scuola di Psicologia e
Scienze della formazione, Università di Bologna, Viale Europa 115, 47521
Cesena (FC), Italy. Tel.: +39 0547338507; Fax +39 0547338503; E-mail:
gabriele.prati@unibo.it
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Firefighters frequently incur injuries while providing
emergency services. Risk perception has been found to be associated with injury
and safety behavior. This study examined risk perception of different emergency
situations among firefighters. Along with risk perceptions, we investigated the
role of practical experience, perceived training, tenure, and acute stress
related to different emergency situations. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were a sample of 1324 firefighters from
Germany and Italy. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to participants on risk
perceptions, practical experience, perceived training, tenure, and acute
stress. RESULTS: The results showed that different levels of risk perception
are related to different practical experience, acute stress reactions, and
training. Higher risk perception was associated with higher perceived training,
practical experience, and acute stress reactions. A significant difference was
found between the German and the Italian sample in risk perceptions. More
specifically the Italian sample perceived disasters (e.g., earthquakes) as more
risky. Moreover, there were some differences in perceived training and
practical experience about the different emergency situations, in the two
samples. CONCLUSION: The results underline the importance of considering
organizational factors in the prediction of risk perception among
firefighters.
