Public safety

Public Safety

Public safety (/ˈpʌblɪk ˈseɪfti/), from the Latin publicus (public) and the Old French safety (safety), refers to the welfare and protection of the general public. It is usually expressed as a governmental responsibility. Most states have departments for public safety. The primary goal of the department is prevention and protection of the public from dangers affecting safety such as crimes or disasters.

Etymology

The term "public safety" is derived from the Latin word publicus meaning "of the people" and the Old French word safety meaning "condition of being safe, state of being preserved from harm".

Related Terms

• Law Enforcement: The system by which some members of society act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society.

• Emergency Management: The organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.

• Fire Department: An organization that provides primarily emergency firefighting services for a specific geographic area.

• Public Health: The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.

• Disaster Response: The second phase of the disaster management cycle. It consists of a number of elements, for example; warning/evacuation, search and rescue, providing immediate assistance, assessing damage, continuing assistance and the immediate restoration or construction of infrastructure.

See Also

• Emergency Services
• First Responders
• Public Safety Network
• Public Safety Officer

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