Chapter 4
Response Considerations
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Objectives
•
•
•
•
Know your response area
Understand how to establish incident command
Understand unified command
Understand how to answer the question: What’s
your plan?
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Introduction
• The foundation of emergency response is to
take control of a tragic situation and provide a
favorable outcome
• Plan and re-evaluate responses for a myriad of
emergency situations
• Preplanning response options and tools are
essential steps
• Acquire detailed familiarity of your local
response area
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Knowing Your Response Area
•
•
•
•
Roads
Waterways, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs
Terrain
Facilities, departments and co-agency
capabilities
• Know your resources
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Roads
• Knowing your area prepares you to use
alternative roads
• Several factors need to be considered:
– Weight restrictions
– Narrow roads “pinch-points”
– Coordination with authorities
• Bridges also need to be considered for weight,
narrowness and height
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Waterways, Lakes, Rivers and
Reservoirs
• Accidents involving water are more hazardous
–
–
–
–
Consider how you will reach the scene
The fire needs to be suppressed
Hazardous materials may spread quickly
Containment and reduction of contamination from
hazardous materials may cause problems
– Patient recovery may be hindered
– Useful evidence may also be lost in the water
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Terrain
• Accidents that occur in rural areas may cause a
fire
• Remote settings may delay additional aid units
• Hilly, swampy or sandy terrain also create
access difficulties
• Military aircraft accidents pose dangers
– Watch for external fuel tanks and munitions
– High-explosive material (HE) is shock-sensitive
• Consider areas for an emergency landing
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Facilities, Departments and Co-Agency
Capabilities
• Determine which facilities can help with
emergency landings
• Find out what services are available
• Consider all topics before an emergency
happens
• Identify potential responding agencies
capabilities as well as limitations
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Know Your Resources
• Be aware of all potential resources in your
region
• Know agency jurisdictions within and adjacent
to your community
• Consider additional key resources and disasteraid groups
• Make a list of telephone numbers for every
agency and facility and update it frequently
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Establishing Incident Command
• Establishing incident command determines the
success or failure of an emergency response
• Only one person should manage the scene
• Establish a unified command system, if possible
• Cooperation is critical for success
– Freelancing disrupts the operation’s efficiency
• Different tasks may be assigned to sector leads
– Autonomy is given to perform the mission
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Unified Command
• All emergency response personnel must be
trained to work within a unified command
structure
• Many agencies have lists of contingency plans
for emergencies
• The National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) can assume authority
– An independent agency responsible for safety
– Studies causes and makes recommendations
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
What Agencies are Needed?
• Goal: save lives and protect property
• May be necessary to request help from other
response agencies
• Until the NTSB arrives, allow only the following:
–
–
–
–
–
FAA
Police (or other law enforcement
Fire
Medical examiner/coroner
Airport fire department, if available
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Roles of Agencies Within the
Command Structure
• Responsibility of the incident commander to
coordinate among the agencies involved
• Each agency has a specific role
• Team leaders establish sub-goals
• Incident commander coordinates these goals
• When everyone understand the overall goals,
each one should carry out their role in the plan
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
What’s Your Plan?
• Serious emergencies need a plan
• Use PORT to divide the plan into segments
–
–
–
–
P Problem
O Objective
R Resources
T Time
• Keep it simple and safe (KISS)
• Preplan for determining resources and access
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Your Existing Standard Operating
Guidelines
• Consider the fire equipment you have
• Know what firefighting equipment is nearby
• List pumping capabilities, radio call signs and
estimated response time of all equipment
• Suppressing large fires require guidelines for:
– Foam concentrate delivery and transport
– Sources for extra foam concentrate
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Your Existing Standard Operating
Guidelines (con’t.)
• In case of mass casualties:
–
–
–
–
Specialized equipment is likely required
Additional emergency medical personnel (TRIAGE)
Lighting equipment for night operations
Contact information for additional agencies
• The nearest military installation may not also have
resources, consult the local government
– Explosives disposal
– Specialized personnel
– Other emergency equipment
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Your Existing Standard Emergency
Management System
• Has unique characteristics from other systems
• Training is important:
– Identify and correct flaws in the systems before
an incident occurs
• When a plan is developed:
– Practice, evaluate and refine it continually
• Consider weather when developing plans
• Study plans that are similar to yours
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
The Impact of Terrorism on Your Plans
• Aircraft are inviting targets for terrorists
• Examples of aviation terrorism:
– September 11, 2001: World Trade Center
– Summer 2004: bomb detonation in Russia
– 2006: terrorist plot was foiled in England
• Emergency response agencies at all levels are
training for aircraft terrorism
• Be familiar with all NIMS terrorism terminology
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
The National Incident Management
System
• The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5
directed the development of the National
Incident Management Systems (NIMS) in 2003
• NIMS provides a nationwide template to enable
all organizations to work together during
domestic incidents
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
The National Incident Management
System (con’t.)
• The FEMA study program
– Available at http://www.trainingfema.org
– Should be completed in conjunction with IS-100,
Introduction to Incident Command System
• ICS-100 provides the foundation for higher level
ICS training
• Describes the history, features, principles and
organizational structure of ICS
• Explains the relationship between ICS and NIMS
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Figure 4-2 The National Incident Management Structure
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Summary
• Knowing your response procedures is crucial for
a successful outcome
• We, as emergency responders, need to know
the fastest response routes as well as alternate
routes to any accident site
• By regular training, and preplanning, we will be
better prepared for what to expect when we
arrive
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Summary (con’t.)
• Responses to waterways can take on a new life
because of the challenges posed by gaining
access to an accident in a lake, river, or the
ocean
• A unified command system is the best means to
link different agencies so they can work together
towards a common goal: Managing the Incident
• Your plan is your plan: you should train all
personnel who use, practice, and evaluate it
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Summary (con’t.)
• It is up to you to ensure your agency is able to
perform as expected within the NIMS Structure
• Chapter 5 covers several response tactics and
strategies
© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning