Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire Officers Using Microsoft Excel

The FireStats Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire Officers Using Microsoft Excel consists of several discrete components that build on each other. The curriculum is designed to introduce some basic statistical concepts that are then reinforced with actual fire service data. The data is then analyzed by the students using Microsoft Excel tools that are also introduced in the class curriculum. By the end of Day Two, the students have a new perspective on basic statistics, new Excel tools to use in their analyses, and practice using both theoretical and practical analytic approaches to their own fire departments' data and experiences.

The class includes guided discussion of the problems faced by participants' departments in data management and different approaches to possible resolution of those problems.

The following topics are covered in each Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire Officers class:

In Microsoft Excel

• The use of Microsoft Excel Data Analysis Tool Pack, a very powerful summary statistics tool,
• Averages,
• Standard deviations,
• Descriptive statistics -- std. error, median, mode, count, max, min, kurtosis, skewness,
• Blended/weighted averages,
• Correlation -- examining data points, evaluating and discarding outliers,
• Decision trees -- downloading the add-in, expected values, roll-back calculations, risk benefit,
• Flow charts -- using flow charts and trees, benefits and draw backs,
• Data sorting and summary statistics tools including Pivot Tables, Filtering, Sorting and Sub-totaling,
• Charts and graphs -- best charts and graphs by data type, identifying the points you want to make and choosing your chart/graph accordingly, misleading graphics.

Requirements for taking the Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire Officers Using Microsoft Excel

Each student must bring with them to the class a laptop computer with Microsoft Excel and a basic calculator. The student should have a basic comfort with Microsoft Excel and be able to manipulate data in a spreadsheet, copying formulas and data from columns and cells.

Basic Excel for the Fire Service
Microsoft Excel is a computer program found in virtually every fire department in the United States. Excel is an extremely powerful tool that can be used in countless ways every day in the fire house and in Fire Service administration. Every day fire officers are asked to use this tool yet few fire departments adequately prepare their personnel to use it or understand the power and potential of the program. The FireStats Basic Microsoft Excel for the Fire Service class is an introduction to Microsoft Excel developed by and for Fire Service personnel. The curriculum is designed to introduce students to the basic functions of Excel using actual Fire Service data and problems. Students will design, build, and modify spreadsheets and databases using Fire Service data common to all firehouses and fire department administrations. By the end of this class, students will be able to create spreadsheets and databases and manipulate databases that have been exported to Excel from Fire Service software such as Firehouse, FireRMS/BioKey/Sunpro, Emergency Reporting, Fire Programs, and more. This class is not a prerequisite to the Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire Officers class, but is highly recommended for those who wish to use Excel effectively and are not yet intermediate users. The following topics are covered in each Basic Microsoft Excel for the Fire Service class:

In Microsoft Excel

• Starting the program
• Defining its fundamental and functional uses
• Designing simple spreadsheets and databases and the differences between the two
• Basic mathematical functions in Excel
• Basic coding and programming
• Formatting spreadsheets and tables
• Charts and Graphs with DOs and DON'Ts
• Database lookup functions
• Introduction to basic statistical tools
• Creating and using templates for Fire Service applications

The three-day Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire Officers class is a comprehensive combination of the Basic Excel and two-day Data Analysis classes. In this class we cover all of the materials in the other two classes plus additional materials as time permits. Additional materials often include data migration from RMS programs and data collection techniques for command and company officers.

This one-day class is an introduction to the common, normal and appropriate statistical measures for fire department performance. This is not a hands-on class, but, rather a participatory academic approach to understanding how statistics can and should be employed in the Fire Service.  Attendees are typically chief officers who will be directing the preparation of performance-measuring projects and will be responsible for making presentations to board members, council members, public and other stakeholders in department performance.

FireStats’ founder and president, Paul Rottenberg, is an experienced conference presenter who gives engaging, dynamic and relevant presentations on fire service statistical methods, the need for management sciences to be embraced in the Fire Service, and his own statistical observations of Fire Service operations through statistics.