5026 - Safety At Violent Incidents

Question 1

Who shall maintain this document?

Answer 1

The TFD Safety Officer

Question 2

Incident Commanders, when identifying a violent incident, shall:

Answer 2

1. Immediately contact Fire Communications to ensure that Law Enforcement is responding
2. Be responsible for the safety of the on-scene Fire/EMS personnel

Question 3

Who shall maintain an awareness of their surroundings and exercise extreme caution so as to avoid placing themselves in any situation involving or potentially involving the use of weapons?

Answer 3

All Personnel

Question 4

What is a Code Blue?

Answer 4

A situation in which someone is in danger of suffering bodily harm from a violent act, a felony is in progress, or a crime suspect or other dangerous person is present. This also includes situations in which TFD personnel are being physically abused or are about to become involved in a major altercation. Immediate response by Law Enforcement is warranted.

Question 5

What shall be done Whenever on-scene TFD units identify a situation that meets the definition of a Violent Incident:

Answer 5

1. Fire Communications shall be contacted immediately to ensure that Law Enforcement is responding.
2. Fire/EMS personnel shall remain together as a group and treat only those patients that are in plain view.
3. Searches for other victims shall not commence until Law Enforcement Officers arrive and secure the area.
4. Fire/EMS personnel should withdraw from the unsafe area and stand-by if no patient contact has been made, notifying Fire Communications of that action and the stand-by location.

Question 6

If Law Enforcement Officers are needed immediately to ensure scene safety, TFD personnel what should transmit to Fire Communications?

Answer 6

“Code Blue.”

Question 7

Code Blue procedure:

Answer 7

1. On-Scene Unit
   a. Transmit to Fire Communications your unit identity followed by “Code Blue.”
   b. Example: “Tacoma; Engine 12, Code Blue.”
2. Fire Communications a. Do not question the unit further.
   b. Immediately request Law Enforcement to back-up TFD personnel in a Code Blue situation.

Question 8

Where should responding units Stand-by?

Answer 8

at least 500 feet from the scene, out of line of sight or fire (around a corner of an intersection, for example.)

Question 9

When may TFD Personnel elect to enter an unsafe scene in order to provide medical aid?

Answer 9

only after conferring with on-scene Law Enforcement personnel and reaching a mutual agreement that, without medical intervention, death of the patient is imminent.

a. Ask Law Enforcement personnel if their In-charge Officer approves of TFD personnel entering the unsafe area.
b. Ensure that the TFD Incident Commander is aware that firefighters are about to enter the unsafe area.
c. Enter the unsafe area, escorted by Law Enforcement personnel. d. Wear full protective clothing, including body armor if available and previously fit- tested.

Question 10

Violent Incidents: Fire Communications procedures:

Answer 10

1. When dispatching units to a Violent Incident, direct all units to stand-by until Law Enforcement confirms scene safety.
2. When the first-arriving unit announces a stand-by location, repeat the location for units en route.
3. Advise LESA of the stand-by location.
4. When LESA relays a report by the on-scene Law Enforcement officer “to have aid units at staging report to the incident scene,” direct Fire/EMS units to proceed.