Disaster Mgt & Incident Command Flashcards
national incident mgt system (NIMS)
a standardized approach to incident management and response in the U.S. that was established by the Department of Homeland Security in 2004 as a result of 9/11
incidents included in the NIMS mgt response include
Natural Disasters: hurricanes, fires, flooding, ice storm
Acts of Terrorism: 9/11, public shootings
Failing infrastructure: building collapse, bridge collapse
Transportation incidents: plane crash, train crash, multi-vehicle wreck
benefits of NIMS
Standardized organizational structures, processes, and procedures.
National standards for planning, training, and exercising.
Personnel qualification standards.
Interoperable communication processes, procedures, and systems.
Information management systems with a commonly accepted architecture.
Supporting technologies and infrastructure, including communication systems, information systems, and specialized technology.
what is an incident commander
The incident commander is responsible for creating a unified command between responding agencies
Evaluates the incident
Creates and oversees plan of action
Determines needs based on size of incident
benefits of incident commander
use common language & clear text ensures better communication
point of command for modular organizational structure limiting duplications in efforts
has final operational say and control
safety officer
The safety officer is responsible for monitoring hazards in day-to-day operations.
Responsible for enforcing safety plans for scene operations.
Assist in developing emergency response plans should further incidents ensue.
public information officer
Responsible for communicating information to the public and media.
Communicates facts and viewpoint of responding/controlling agency.
Usually only speaks to response efforts and operation -> Disclosure /announcement of deaths is normally left to the PIO within local agencies to release to press/media.
Liaison Officer
Relays information between incident commander, general staff, and other agencies.
On large scale responses there is normally a group of LNO that report to a chief LNO.
Key purpose is to assist in communication between departments and field response efforts.
Finance / administrative section
Responsible for documenting all expenses that should be reimbursed.
Normally reimbursed with state and Federal dollars.
This department is responsible for tracking:
- Time units-hours worked
- Cost of supply procurement
- Cost of compensation and claims
logistics sections
two groups: service branch and support branch
-Facilities
-Medical response
-Food and water
-Equipment and supplies
-Movement of equipment and supplies
planning section
In charge of problem-solving issues as they come up during response
Planning is responsible for predicting and planning next phase of incident response
development of:
- demobilization plan starts as soon as response is initiated
-incident / emergency action plan
operations section
Manage and plan day to day response
Oversee all field operations
Have chain of command with system of reporting to communicate field operations back to command
standardization communication
All responding units use a standardized radio frequency for incident response
This standardized form came to be after 9/11/01
Not only were radio frequencies standardized, naming of equipment assets was standardized as well
The National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG) is the document that outlines naming and frequencies
staging supervisor
Runs staging location
Established entrance and exit to site, main job to prevent traffic congestion
physician on scene
Provides onsite medical direction
rehabilitation supervisor
In charge of onsite rehab and monitors personnel for signs of stress and fatigue
open incident MCI
Unknown amount of casualties
Search and rescue required
Incidents are normally long and ongoing
closed incident MCI
Number of patients not expected to change
Patients triaged, treated and removed from scene
multiple casualty incidents (MCI)
-3 or more patient
-requires mutual aid and strains resources
-declare MCI if more resources are needed
-mass casualty event (greater than 100 patients)
what is triage
The process of prioritizing or sorting of sick or injured people for treatment according to the seriousness of the condition or injury
sorting pts in triage
You can’t commit to “one-on-one” care
You must be fast- 30 seconds or less per patient
Provide very limited treatment:
-Manually open airway
-Clear air way with finger sweep or head positioning
-Instruct patient or bystander to control major bleeding
types of triage
MASS: “Move, Assess, Sort, Send”
ESI: “Emergency Severity Index”
SALT: “Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Intervention, Treat/Transport”
Start/JUMPStart: “Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment” -> Gold standard in US
primary triage
On scene prior to transport
At hospital if arrived by foot or personal vehicle
secondary triage
Incident dependent, probably prior to or during transport
At receiving facility
Triage is an ongoing process
Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START)
Developed in 1983 by the staff members of Newport Beach Fire Department:
- Easy to use
- Focus is on signs and symptoms
- Fast
4 Focus Points of START
-Ability to follow directions and walk
-Respiratory effort
-Pulse/perfusion
-Mental Status
review triage colors
START triage & relisten to steps of the triage process
who do you want as your triage person
the medically trained because they will follow the color tags without second guessing it
what you do always tag a child in triage who is under the age of 1
immediately red or yellow
never green
part 3 lecture is practice questions
do closer to the exam
