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Portuguese Volunteer Firefighters in the Context of the Challenges Posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Fernando Almeida

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto and INESC TEC, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • José Morais

    (Polytechnic Higher Institute of Gaya (ISPGAYA), 4400-103 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)

  • Ana Pereira

    (Polytechnic Higher Institute of Gaya (ISPGAYA), 4400-103 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is producing not only epidemiological consequences on a global scale, but also political, economic, and social repercussions. The health care professionals that have been on the front lines fighting the pandemic need the support and assistance of other organizations to meet the many daily challenges. Volunteer firefighters stand out for their outreach approach and implementation of the Human2Human paradigm that has enabled them to meet the needs of the most vulnerable population that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic. This study adopts an ethnographic-action method considering Portuguese volunteer firefighters to explore the characteristics and relevance of these initiatives in areas such as combating isolation, medical assistance, containing the spread of COVID-19, and promoting public–private partnerships. The findings reveal that factors associated with altruism are central elements in the emergence of these initiatives, although some locally or nationally coordinated initiatives have been replicated in other contexts. It is also noteworthy that volunteer firefighters also present initiatives that can be fit into more than one category.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Almeida & José Morais & Ana Pereira, 2022. "Portuguese Volunteer Firefighters in the Context of the Challenges Posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:7:p:285-:d:852043
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ruta Clair & Maya Gordon & Matthew Kroon & Carolyn Reilly, 2021. "The effects of social isolation on well-being and life satisfaction during pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Flanagan Barry E. & Gregory Edward W. & Hallisey Elaine J & Heitgerd Janet L. & Lewis Brian, 2011. "A Social Vulnerability Index for Disaster Management," Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, January.
    3. Cutter Susan L. & Burton Christopher G. & Emrich Christopher T., 2010. "Disaster Resilience Indicators for Benchmarking Baseline Conditions," Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 1-24, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cátia Martins & Saul Jesus & José Tomás da Silva & Conceição Ribeiro & Maria Dulce Estêvão & Helena Mocho & Elias Ratinho & Cristina Nunes, 2023. "The Volunteer Motivation Scale (VMS): Adaptation and Psychometric Properties among a Portuguese Sample of Volunteers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.

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