Incident Management

ICS purpose is to ensure responder and public safety, achieve incident management goals, ensure the efficient use of resources.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Command, finance, logistics, operations, planning, command staff

Incident Command System:

  • Command:

    • Incident commander is in charge of overall incident. IC may turn over command to someone with more experience in a critical area.

  • Finance:

    • Responsible for documenting all expenditures at an incident for reimbursement

  • Logistics:

    • Responsible for communications equipment, facilities, food and water, fuel, lighting, and medical equipment/supplies

  • Operations:

    • At a very large or complex incident, responsible for managing the tactical operations handled by the IC. Supervises people working at scene.

  • Planning:

    • Solves problems as they arise

    • Develops an incident action plan

  • Command Staff:

    • The safety officer monitors the scene for conditions or operations that may present a hazard

    • PIO (Public information officer) provides media with clear and understandable information

    • The liaison officer relays info and concerns along command, the general staff, and other agencies.

Mobilization and Deployment:

  • Check in with IC when you arrive

  • Report to supervisor for initial briefing

  • Record keeping allows for tracking of time spent on the actual incident for reimbursement purposes

  • Accountability means keeping your supervisor advised of your location, actions, and completed tasks

  • Once incident is stabilized, IC will determine which resources are needed and when to begin demobilization

Medical Branch of Incident Command:

  • Medical incident command is also known as the medical branch of ICS, with primary roles of triage, treatment, and transport of injured people

  • Triage Supervisor:

    • In charge of counting and prioritizing patients. Ensures that every patient receives initial assessment of his or her condition

    • Do not begin treatment until all patients are triaged

  • Treatment Supervisor

    • Locates and sets up the treatment area with a tier of priority of patient

    • Ensures that secondary triage is performed and adequate patient care is given

    • Assists with moving patients to the transportation area

  • Transportation Supervisor

    • Coordinates the transportation and distribution of patients to appropriate receiving hospitals

    • Documents and tracks number of transport vehicles, patients transported, and facility destination

  • Staging Supervisor

    • Should be assigned when scenes require a multivehicle or multiagency response

    • Emergency vehicles must have permission to enter the scene and only drive in the directed area

    • The staging area should be established away from the scene

  • Physicians on scene:

    • Make difficult triage decision

    • Provide secondary triage decisions in treatment area

    • Provide on scene EMT direction

    • Provide care in the treatment sector as appropriate

  • Rehabilitation Supervisor:

    • Establishes area that provides protection from elements and situation

    • Rehabilitation is where responder’s need for rest, fluids, food, and protection from the elements are met

    • Monitors responders for signs of stress

  • Morgue Supervisor:

    • works with area medical examiners, coroners, disaster mortuary assistance teams, and law enforcement agencies to coordinate removal of bodies and body parts.

    • The morgue area should be out of view of the living patients and other responders

Triage:

  • Primary triage is done on field, secondary is done as patients are brought to treatment area.

Disaster Management:

  • A widespread event that disrupts the functions and resources of the community, threatening lives and properties

  • Respond when requested and report

Introduction to Hazardous Materials:

  • According to the HAZWOPER, first responders at the awareness level should have the following competencies:

    • An understanding of what hazardous substances are and risks associated with them; An understanding of the potential outcomes of an incident

    • Ability to recognize the presence of hazardous substances

    • Ability to identify the hazardous substances if possible

    • Understanding of the role of the first responder awareness individual

    • Ability to determine the need for additional resources to notify the communication center

References:

  • Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC) is operated by American Chemistry Council; serves as invaluable technical information resource for first responders of all disciplines who are called upon to respond to chemical incidents

Classification of Hazardous Materials:

  • NFPA 704, Hazardous Materials Classification standard classified hazardous materials according to:

    • Health hazard or toxicity levels

    • Fire Hazard

    • Chemical reactive hazard

    • Special hazards

PPE Level:

  • Level A - Most hazardous, requires fully encapsulated, chemical resistant protective clothing that provides full body protection, SCBA and special, sealed equipment

  • Level B - Requires nonencapsulated protective clothing or clothing that is designed to protect against a particular hazard. Also requires breathing devices with their own air supply like SCBA and eye protection

  • Level C - Requires nonpermeable clothing and eye protection, and face masks that filter all inhaled outside air

  • Level D - Requires work uniform, such as coveralls, that affords minimal protection

  • All levels require use of gloves