Designation:F1268−90(Reapproved2012)StandardGuideforEstablishingandOperatingaPublicInformation,Education,andRelationsProgramforEmergencyMedicalServiceSystems1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF1268;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.INTRODUCTIONTheEmergencyMedicalService(EMS)systemexistsforonlyonereason—toservethepublic.Ifthesystemistoperformitsfunctions,thepublicmustbeawareofitandmustuseittothefullestextent.BecausethepublicisanessentialpartoftheEMSsystem,everyEMSsystemmustsupportapublicinformation,education,andrelations(PIER)component.However,becauseotherelementssuchascategorization,criticalcareprotocols,communications,andprovidertrainingrequireasmuchtimeandenergy,plusthefactthatmostadministratorslackorientationtopublicinformationprinciples,thereisatendencytoapproachthepublicinformation,education,andrelationscomponentinalessorganizedandscientificway.Consequently,PIERmaysufferalowerpriorityandmaybecomearandomorfragmentedactivity.Thefactisthatpeopledonotreadilychangetheirattitudesandbehaviorunlessitisspecificallyandimmediatelydemonstratedtothemthatthereisaneedtodoso.Inthisdayofcomplexmediamessagesending,itisoftendifficulttogettheattentionofthegeneralpublicinthefirstplace.ToachieveasuccessfulPIERprogram,itshouldbeanorganizedandsystematiceffort,including:(1)Anassessmentoftheattitudes,awarenessandknowledgeaboutone’shealthandaccesstothehealthdeliverysystem;(2)Adeterminationoftheknowledgeneedsandidentifiablecomponentsofthegeneralpublic;(3)Amethodfordeliveryofinformationthatisrelevant,accessible,understandable,acceptable,usable,timely,andcost-effective;(4)Ensurethat,asmuchaspossible,theinformationisintegratedintoattitudesandbehaviorsofdailyliving;and(5)EvaluatePIERobjectivestoassesswhetherornotbehavioralchangeshaveoccurred,withbeneficialef...
