Tactical Operations Manual #29: Response to High Risk Law Enforcement Incidents

Flashcards covering medical and fire department procedures for high-risk law enforcement and active threat incidents based on Baltimore County Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures.

Tactical Operations Manual #29

The Baltimore County Fire Department Standard Operational Procedure (S.O.P) regarding the response to high-risk law enforcement incidents, revised on 11/23/18.

Active Threat Incident (ATI)

An incident, defined in part by the Department of Homeland Security, as an individual or individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.

Rescue Task Force (RTF)

A mixed asset team of $2-4$ fire department personnel deployed into the warm zone to provide rapid lifesaving treatment and evacuate victims under indirect threat.

Hot Zone/Direct Threat

Any operational area where there is a direct or immediate threat to safety or health; primarily the area where Law Enforcement Contact Teams operate.

Warm Zone/Indirect Threat

Any operational area where there is an indirect or potential threat to safety or health, requiring identification by unified command and approval by the Fire Department IC for entry.

Cold Zone/Evacuation Zone

Any operational area outside the warm or hot zone where personnel can operate without threat to safety or health.

Casualty Collection Point (CCP)

An area outside the hot zone where casualties are gathered for rapid trauma assessment and life-saving treatments (hemorrhage control, sealing chest wounds, primary airway control).

Casualty Transfer Point (CTP)

A location on the exterior adjacent to the RTF staging area used for moving victims from the warm zone to the triage and treatment area.

Unified Command

An Incident Command System structure established when an incident involves more than one responding agency with responsibility; it utilizes a single command post staffed by representatives from all involved agencies.

Contact Team

The initial deployment of law enforcement personnel tasked with active threat contact and elimination, primarily operating in the Hot Zone.

SALT Triage

A four-step triage method used in the warm/indirect threat zone consisting of: Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Treatment, and Transportation.

T.H.R.E.A.T.

An acronym for incident priorities: Threat suppression, Hemorrhage control, Rapid Extrication to a safe area, Assessment, and Transport.

Level II Accountability

A strict personnel tracking process required prior to deployment into a known warm/indirect threat zone to ensure safety and prevent self-deployment or free-lancing.

Staging Officer

The role assumed by the 3rd arriving suppression unit, responsible for apparatus/personnel staging, planning egress routes, and conducting safety sweeps for IEDs.

Point of Entry Control

The role assumed by the 4th arriving suppression unit, responsible for monitoring the entry/exit times of crews and maintaining an accountability board.

Medical Group Supervisor

The role assumed by the 1st arriving EMS District Officer to coordinate RTF staging, Casualty Collection Points, and notifications to EMRC.

Rescue Group Supervisor

Fire Department personnel who assumes the lead role in directly coordinating the assembly and deployment of Rescue Task Force (RTF) teams.

Evacuation Team

A Fire Department team deployed specifically to move victims to a safe zone of operation, utilizing TECC principles.

NOT FOR OVER AIR DISPATCH

Specific instructions entered into the CAD incident remarks for high-risk details to prevent verbal or Tone Alerts, maintaining operational security.

SORT 50

A specific resource included in a First Alarm MCI response alongside engines, transport units, and district officers.