Operations - NREMT

Incident Commander (IC, If you’re first on seen YOURE the IC)

• The individual who essentially runs the entire incident

• Responsible for coordinating the many activities that occur

Singular Command

• One individual person acts as incident commander. Span of control < 7 people. 

• Most useful in smaller, single jurisdictional incidents

Unified Command

The position of incident command is held by multiple individuals at once. Often seen in complicated or multi-jurisdictional responses

Fire, EMS, law enforcement

What does the General Staff (C(SPL)-FLOP) stand for?

Can’t Stop Playing Legos, Can Fappers Learn Over Planners

Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, Liaison Officer

Command, Finance, Logistics, Operations, Planning

What does Command section do?

Command: The incident commander and the staff that report directly to the IC

• Safety officer: Monitors the incident scene for hazardous conditions and situations. Has the authority to stop unsafe operations

• Public information officer: Provides the public and media with information and updates regarding the incident

• Liaison officer: Relays information between command staff, general staff, and outside agencies participating in the MCI response

Finance section

tracks costs, personnel time, contracts, claims, and reimbursement documentation during an incident. It is especially important during large, prolonged, or multi-agency responses where expenses and records must be managed carefully.

Logistics Section

provides the support needed for the incident, such as personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, communications, and food/water. It does not perform hands-on tactical operations or direct patient care; it supports those who do.

Operations Section

responsible for executing all tactical activities at the scene to achieve the incident commander’s objectives. This includes deploying resources, managing patient care, and directing the hands-on work of the response. At an MCI, EMTs and other responders provide direct patient care work. 

Planning section

collects and analyzes information about the incident, tracks resources, and helps develop the incident action plan. It supports decision-making but does not directly carry out tactical field operations.

What are the EMS/Medical Branch Functions?

TT-TSRM: Ti Ti - Try Stop Ragebaiting Me

Triage Supervisor: Counts & prioritizes patients. Ensures no treatment begins until triage is done.

Treatment Supervisor: 

• Sets up treatment areas: Immediate (Red), Delayed (Yellow), Minor (Green).

• Secondary triage. Moves patients to transport area.

Transportation Supervisor: 

• Distributes patients to hospitals appropriately. Tracks patients, ambulances, and destinations.

Staging Supervisor: Controls vehicle entry/exit; prevents overcrowding.

Rehab Supervisor: Monitors rescuers for fatigue, stress, dehydration; provides rest area.

Morgue Supervisor: Coordinates with medical examiner; keeps deceased out of view.

Type I Ambulance

Conventional truck cab and chassis with a modular patient box mounted on back.

No internal passageway between driver compartment and patient compartment.

Common in fire-based EMS and heavy-duty systems.

Type II Ambulance

Standard van body and cab form one integral unit.

Typically has lower roof and smaller interior space.

Frequently used for interfacility transports, transfers, and systems prioritizing fuel efficiency.

Type III Amulance

Cut-away van chassis with a specialty integral box.

Has a passageway between the driver’s compartment and patient compartment.

Very common in 911 EMS because crew can move between compartments while en route.