Ch 39 Incident Management Flashcards
Disasters and mass-casualty incidents
MCI; Overwhelms resources
Three or more patients
Lack of resources
Incident command system
ICS; Makes it possible to do the greatest good for the greatest number
National Incident Management System
NIMS; Promotes efficient coordination of emergency incidents at the regional, state, and national levels
Implemented in 2004; Standardized terminology, resource classification, personnel training, certification
Components: Preparedness, communications and info management, resource management, command management, ongoing management and maintenance
Incident Command System
ICS or Incident management system; Limits span of control, controls effort and freelancing, divided into sections, branches, divisions and groups
Purpose: ensures responder and public safety, achieve incident management goals, ensure efficient use of resources
Roles and responsibilities of ICS
Command, Finance, Logistics, Operations, Planning, Command Staff
ICS Command
Incident commander is in charge of of overall incident - important to know their location, how to communicate with IC, who IC is
IC may turn command over to someone more experienced in critical areas
ICS Finance
Responsible for documenting all expenditures at an incident for reimbursement
ICS Logistics
Responsible for communications equipment, facilities, food and water, fuel, lighting, and medical equipment/supplies
ICS Operations
At large or complex incident, responsible for managing the tactical operations usually handled by the IC
Supervises people working at the scene
ICS Planning
Solves problems as they arise
Develops incident action plan
ICS Command Staff
Safety officer monitors: the scene for conditions or operations that may present a hazard
Public information officer (PIO): provides the media with clear and understandable information
Liaison officer: relays information and concerns among command, the general staff, and other agencies
Communication
Has historically been the weak point at most major incidents; Recommended that communications be integrated
All agencies should be able to communicate quickly and effortlessly via radios; Allows for accountability and instant communication
Mobilization and deployment
Check in with IC upon arrival; Report to supervisor for initial briefing; Record keeping allows for tracking of time spent on the actual incident for reimbursement purposes
Accountability in mobilization and deployment
Keeping your supervisor advised of your location, actions, and completed tasks
Once the incident has been stabilized, the IC will determine which resources are needed and when to begin demobilization
EMS preparedness within ICS
Decisions are made and basic planning done before an incident occurs
Decisions and planning about the most likely natural disasters for the area
Agencies should have written disaster plans that you are regularly trained to carry out
Scene size up
Make an initial assessment and some preliminary decisions
Driven by three basic questions:
What do I have?
What do I need?
What do I need to do?
Establishing command
Established by the most senior official
Notify other responders
Request necessary resources
Command must be established early
Communications (EMS response in ICS)
If possible, use face-to-face communications to limit radio traffic
Via radio: do not use 10-codes or signals
Equipment must be reliable, durable, and field-tested
Ensure backups are in place
The role of the medical (EMS) branch of ICS is to
Triage, treatment, and transport 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 for each priority of patient
Ensures that secondary triage is performed and that 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 the number of transport vehicles, patients transported, and the facility destination
