NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES APPENDICES NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY This glossary includes ICS terminology and other terms. A-1 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES A-2 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES GLOSSARY AGENCY EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATOR – Chief executive officer (or designee) of the agency or jurisdiction that has responsibility for the incident. AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE – An individual assigned to an incident from an assisting or cooperating agency who has been delegated authority to make decisions on matters affecting the agency’s participation at the incident. Agency Representative report to the Liaison Officer. ALLOCATED RESOURCES – Resources dispatched to an incident that have not checked-in with the Incident Communications Center. AREA COMMAND – An organization established to: 1) oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an Incident Command System organization; or 2) to oversee the management of a very large incident that has multiple Incident Management Teams assigned to it. Area Command has the responsibility to set overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources based on priorities, ensure that incidents are properly managed, and ensure that objectives are met and strategies followed. ASSIGNED RESOURCES – Resources checked in and assigned work tasks on an incident. ASSIGNMENTS – Tasks given to resources to perform within a given operational period, based upon tactical objectives in the Incident Action Plan. ASSISTANT – Title for subordinates of the Command Staff positions. ASSISTING AGENCY – An agency directly contributing tactical or service resources to another agency. AVAILABLE RESOURCES – Incident-based resources which are ready for deployment. BASE - That location at which the primary logistics functions are coordinated and administered. As differentiated from Staging, resources in Base are not generally ready for immediate deployment. This element is typically staffed at large scale incidents such as high-rise fires where non-essential resources are marshaled and essential resources are staged. Base is a Logistics function. BRANCH - The organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility for major segments of incident operations. This functional level falls between SECTION and DIVISION/GROUP in the Operations Section, and between the SECTION and UNITS in the Logistics Section. A-3 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BRIEF INITIAL REPORT - The initial status report which includes all of the information necessary to establish the operations at an incident. BRIEF PROGRESS REPORT - Periodic information on the status of an incident designed to keep interested parties informed as to the progress of the incident. CAMP – A geographical site, within the general incident area, separate from the Base, equipped and staffed to provide food, water, and sanitary services to incident personnel. CHIEF - Functional title of the individual in COMMAND of any of the functional sections of the General Staff: Operations, Plans, Logistics, or Finance/Administration. CLEAR TEXT – The use of plain language in radio communications. COMMAND – The act of directing and/or controlling resources by virtue of explicit legal, agency, or delegated authority. May also refer to the Incident Commander. One of the Sections that comprise the General Staff COMMAND POST - A fixed location at which primary COMMAND functions are executed. COMMAND STAFF - The collective functions of Safety, Liaison, and Information which report directly to the Incident Commander. Assistants may be designated as required. COMMUNICATIONS UNIT - Functional unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for the incident communications plan, the installation and repair of communications equipment, and operation of the incident communications center. COMPANY - A ground vehicle providing specified equipment capability and personnel. COMPENSATIONS/CLAIMS UNITFunctional unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for financial concerns resulting from injuries, fatalities, or property damage at an incident. COMPLEX – Two or more individual incidents located in the same general area which are assigned to a single Incident Commander or to a Unified Command. COOPERATING AGENCY – An agency supplying assistance other than direct tactical or support functions or resources to the incident control effort (e.g. Salvation Army, Utility Company, etc.). COORDINATION CENTER – Term used to describe any facility that is used for the coordination of agency or jurisdictional resources in support of one or more incidents. A-4 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COST UNIT - Functional unit within the Finance/ Administration Section responsible for tracking costs, analyzing cost data, making cost estimates, and recommending costsaving measures. COST SHARING AGREEMENTS – Agreements between agencies or jurisdictions to share designated costs related to incidents. Cost sharing agreements are normally written but may also be verbal between authorized agency or jurisdictional representatives at the incident. CREW - A specific number of personnel not to exceed the recommended span of control of 5 assembled for an assignment most often used when company assignments are not available. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY – A statement provided to the Incident Commander by the Agency Executive delegating authority and assigning responsibility. DEMOBILIZATION UNIT - Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for assuring orderly, safe, efficient demobilization of resources committed to an incident. DEPUTY – A fully qualified individual, usually assigned to General Staff positions or Branch Directors, who can function in their absence or provide relief for a superior. DIRECTOR - Functional title of the individual responsible for supervising a Branch. DISPATCH – The implementation of a Command decision to move a resource or resources from one place to another. DISPATCH CENTER – A facility from which resources are directly assigned to an incident. DIVISION - That organizational level having responsibility for operations within a defined geographic area. This functional level falls between BRANCH and CREWS, TASK FORCES, STRIKE TEAMS, and/or SINGLE RESOURCES. They are identified by alphabetic characters (A,B,C,D) for horizontal applications and by floor numbers for vertical application. DOCUMENTATION UNIT - Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for recording/protecting all documents relevant to an incident. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR – The individual that has the responsibility to coordinate emergency management within each political subdivision. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) – A pre-designated facility established by an agency or jurisdiction to coordinate the overall response and provide support to an emergency. A-5 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EMERGENCY TRAFFIC – A term used to clear designated channels used at an incident to make way for important radio traffic for a firefighter emergency situation or an immediate change in tactical operations. NOTE: The term Mayday should not be used for fire ground communications which could cause confusion with the term used for aeronautical and nautical emergencies. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN – A jurisdictional plan developed and maintained for responding to appropriate emergencies. ENGINE COMPANY – A ground vehicle providing specified levels of pumping capacity, water, hose, and personnel. FACILITIES UNIT - Functional unit within the support branch of the logistics section responsible for providing fixed facilities at an incident, including base, feeding areas, sanitary facilities, and a formal command post. FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION SECTION - That section of the General Staff directly responsible to the Incident Commander for all costs and financial considerations of the incident. This Section is also responsible for legal issues related to the incident. FIRST RESPONDER – Personnel who have responsibility to initially respond to an emergency. FOOD UNIT - Functional unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for providing meals to personnel involved in an incident. GENERAL STAFF - The collective Section Chiefs of the OPERATIONS, PLANNING, LOGISTICS, and FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION Sections. GROUND SUPPORT UNIT - Functional unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for fueling/maintaining/repairing vehicles and the transportation of personnel and supplies at an incident. GROUP - That organizational level having responsibility for a specific functional assignment. This functional level falls between BRANCH and CREWS, TASK FORCES, STRIKE TEAMS, and SINGLE RESOURCES. INCIDENT ACTION PLAN/S - General control objectives reflecting the overall incident strategy, and specific action plans for the next operational period. Action plans identify the problem/s (strategies), the solution/s (tactics), and the tactical operation/s (who, where & when). INCIDENT BASE – Incident location where the primary logistical functions are coordinated and administered. There is only one BASE per incident. A-6 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM – The incident commander and appropriate Command and General Staff personnel assigned to an incident. INCIDENT OBJECTIVES – Statements of guidance and direction necessary for the selection of appropriate strategies and tactics. Incident objectives must be based on realistic expectations, achievable, and measurable. INCIDENT COMMANDER - That individual responsible for the overall management of incident activities, specifically responsible for determining incident priorities; developing goals and objectives; developing and implementing incident action plans; developing appropriate command structure; resource management; incident scene safety; liaison with outside agencies; and release of appropriate information to the media. LEADER - Functional title of any individual in command of a Crew, Task Force, Strike Team, or functional unit. LIAISON OFFICER – A member of the Command Staff that serves as a point of contact for coordinating with assisting or cooperating agencies. LOBBY CONTROL - A high-rise logistics function responsible to coordinate the movement of resources between Base and Staging. Also responsible for control of elevator and air handling systems. Works for the Logistics Section Chief. LOGISTICS SECTION - That section of the General Staff responsible directly to the Incident Commander for providing facilities, services, and materials for the incident. MEDICAL GROUP/BRANCH – An organizational element providing an expandable system for handling patients at the emergency scene. MEDICAL UNIT - Functional unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Function responsible for developing the Medical Emergency Plan and for providing emergency medical treatment of on-scene emergency personnel. Responder Rehab is a function of the Medical Unit. MULIT-AGENCY INCIDENT – An incident where one or more agencies assist a jurisdictional agency. May be single or unified command. MULTI-CASUALTY – An incident where the numbers of casualties and the types of injuries exceed the resource capability of the responding agency. MULTIJURISDICTION INCIDENT – An incident requiring action from two or more agencies that have legal responsibility for mitigation. These incidents should be managed under a Unified Command System. A-7 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT – A written agreement between agencies and/or jurisdictions in which they agree to assist one another upon request, by furnishing personnel, equipment, and/or apparatus. OFFICER - Functional title of any individual responsible for the Command Staff functions of Safety, Liaison, or Information. OPERATIONAL PERIOD – The period of time during which a given set of operational actions, as specified in the Incident Action Plan, are carried out. Operational period may vary in length but should not be longer than 24 hours. OPERATIONS SECTION - That section of the General Staff responsible directly to the Incident Commander for management of all tactical operations at an incident. PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY – The ability to track the location of personnel and account for their welfare. PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTS (PAR) – Personnel accountability reports of emergency personnel and companies assigned to an incident. PLANNING MEETING – A meeting held as needed throughout an incident, generally prior to the next operational period. The strategies and tactics as well as support and service needs for the next operational period are planned at these meetings and become part of the Incident Action Plan. PLANNING SECTION - That section of the General Staff responsible for the collection, evaluation, dissemination, and use of information about the development of the incident and the status of resources. PROCUREMENT UNIT - Functional unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for financial matters involving vendors. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER – A member of the Command Staff responsible for interface with the media or other appropriate agencies requiring information directly from the incident scene. While they may have assistants, there is only one Information Officer per incident. RAPID INTERVENTION CREW (RIC) – A crew or company designated to stand-by , with necessary tools and equipment, to rescue firefighters should it become necessary. RESOURCE UNIT - Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for recording the status of resources committed to an incident. A-8 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RESPONDER REHABILITATION – Functional unit within the Medical Unit of the Logistics Section responsible for monitoring, evaluation, and appropriate action with respect to the medical condition of emergency personnel on the incident scene. Also known as “REHAB”. SAFETY OFFICER - Responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and developing measures for ensuring personnel safety. The Safety Officer is a member of the Command Staff and may have Assistants. SECTION - That organizational level having functional responsibility for primary segments of the incident such as: Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. SERVICE BRANCH - A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for service activities at an incident, including Communication, Medical, and Food Units.. SINGLE COMMAND - Command structure in which one individual has sole responsibility for COMMAND functions. SINGLE RESOURCE - An individual company or crew. SITUATION UNIT - Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for the collection, organization, and analysis of incident information, and for analysis of a situation as it progresses. SIZE-UP - The mental evaluation of the various factors at an incident that lead to the determination of the problems that must be solved. SPAN OF CONTROL – The supervisory ratio of three to seven individuals (or companies) with five generally being considered the optimum. STAGING AREA - That location or locations where personnel and equipment are pooled and ready for immediate deployment in an incident. STAGING AREA MANAGER - Responsible for the coordination, support, and distribution of incoming resources. STRATEGY - The overall plan that will be used to control the incident. The purpose towards which all incident activities are directed. Strategic goals are broad definitions of incident problems. Examples: Rescue, Extinguishment, Salvage, etc. Strategy is achieved by the completion of tactics. STAIRWELL SUPPORT - A high-rise logistics function responsible for the movement of equipment from Base to Staging when utilizing the stairwell. A-9 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES STRATEGIC MODE - The mode of attack as specified by the availability of resources compared to the resource requirements of the incident. I.E., Offensive Mode - Aggressive attack due to the fact that available resources exceed that required by the incident. Defensive Mode - A protective attack or defense due to the fact that the incident requires more resources than are available. STRIKE TEAM - A functional element of up to five (5) units of the same kind and type, with common communications and a leader. SUPERVISOR - Functional title of any individual in command of a Division, Group, or Sector. SUPPLY UNIT - Functional unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for ordering equipment/supplies required for incident operations. SUPPORT BRANCH - A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for providing the personnel, equipment, and supplies to support incident operations. Includes Supply, Facilities, and Ground Support Units. TACTICS - Specific operations that must be accomplished to achieve the strategy. Tactics are both specific and measurable. TASK FORCE – A combination of single resources with common communications and a leader. May be resources of different types, generally assembled for a specific assignment. TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS - Personnel with special skills specifically activated for those skills. These personnel initially report to the Planning Section but can assigned anywhere within the Incident Command Organization to meet incident needs. TIME UNIT - A functional unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for record keeping of time for personnel and hired equipment working at an incident. TYPE – Refers to the capability of a specific resource, with Type 1 having the greatest capacity, then Type 2, etc. Typing aids in selecting the best resource for the job. UNIFIED AREA COMMAND – Unified Area Command is established when incidents under an Area Command are or become multijurisdictional. A-10 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES UNIFIED COMMAND - The organizational method which allows all agencies or individuals having jurisdictional or legal responsibility for an incident to be involved in the COMMAND function, by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies. UNIT - That organizational element having functional responsibility for a specific incident's planning, logistics, or finance/administration activity. UNITY OF COMMAND The principle by which each individual in the organization reports to only one designated person. WATER TENDER – Any ground vehicle capable of transporting specific amounts of water. A-11 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES APPENDIX B: ADOPTING THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM B-1 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES B-2 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADOPTING AN INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM Why Adopt: A Review The need to provide increased effectiveness in emergency management--coupled with new laws, regulations and standards, including the NIMS--is resulting in increased use of Incident Command Systems (ICS's). Use of the ICS improves safety by providing proper supervision, accountability, coordinated efforts, and improved communications. Effective incident management also minimizes "freelancing," and can reduce the department's or jurisdiction's liability, as well as the financial impact of emergencies on the community. The NIMS requires that all jurisdictions “institutionalize” the use of ICS as taught by DHS, including the National Fire Academy (NFA) and Emergency Management Institute (EMI). They understand that when a jurisdiction makes the decision to adopt the ICS, a commitment must be made to provide the required resources (money, personnel, and time to develop, train, and implement) to support the program. Adoption/Implementation Process What steps are necessary to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the ICS? Here is a suggested process: 1. First, the chief of department issues a written policy statement on the decision to adopt the ICS for all incidents--after training has been completed. 2. The chief selects an ICS Implementation Committee. 3. The committee identifies departmental needs that the ICS can meet, as well as present resources. 4. The committee develops an ICS Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Manual. 5. ICS training is implemented--both initial and continuing--according to agreedupon priority order. 6. Everyday ICS usage by department personnel is constantly monitored, reviewed, and evaluated to provide ongoing feedback that can lead to revision of the ICS SOG Manual or training materials/procedures. B-3 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ESTABLISHING AN ICS COMMITTEE Effectiveness of Committee Approach The committee approach to ICS adoption and implementation is usually the most effective method in adopting an ICS. It's a process that has been used by many departments, and proved highly successful. Initial Work First, the chief selects the committee. Membership selection criteria will be discussed shortly. The chief then meets with the committee and provides a clear description of its task: analyze the department's existing command system; compare it to the ICS (included in the NIMS document); develop an ICS SOG Manual; and implement ICS training. Selection Criteria Those selected for the committee should know the ICS and be experienced in command, as well as in training and course development. All department ranks and assignments should be represented, if possible. Three to six members are an ideal number. In smaller departments with limited resources, however, perhaps only two or three individuals may serve on the committee. The person selected as leader should have--in addition to knowledge and experience--the respect of the other committee members as well as credibility with the entire department or jurisdiction. Human Factors Human factors may affect the committee. Some committee members may tend to resist change, while other members may accept change more readily. These differences are to be expected. Allowing and encouraging everyone on the committee to voice concerns and to raise issues about ICS, and then to provide input into its development, can help overcome any resistance, since members will feel that they are a part of the program. They will develop "ownership." Be patient with those unfamiliar with the ICS. B-4 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES It's important that time be taken to explain the ICS to committee members who have limited knowledge about it. The way the system works and its benefits must be clearly explained and understood. The committee members and the chief alike should keep in mind that adopting the ICS doesn't happen overnight. It is a process that takes time. Meetings Committee meeting schedules must take into consideration the shift schedules of all members. Meetings should be held at a location that provides logistical support as well as any required reference material from the department and from other sources, such as the NFA or the NIMS Integration Center (www.fema.gov/nims). COMMITTEE IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS Resource Levels The first step the committee takes is an analysis of the department's current resource levels and resources available through formal mutual aid agreements. The committee evaluates the personnel available within the department to determine the number of chief officers, company officers/field supervisors, and firefighters/EMS providers who can be assigned to perform various functions within the ICS. The committee reviews available written mutual aid agreements and their impact on ICS organization at emergency incidents. Determining if liability and cost compensation agreements exist is critical. The committee should also determine what is available in terms of staffing of mutual aid companies, equipment, and types of apparatus that will respond. Other factors that the committee considers: SOG's about where or to whom units report. Who will function as the Incident Command (IC)? It's usually best to pick the highest ranking chief from the jurisdiction where the incident occurs to serve as the IC. How best to use responding staff from other jurisdictions in the ICS organization. Included in the consideration should be standardization of equipment, as well as SOG's, terminology, and communications. B-5 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Existing Incident Command Organization Next, the committee analyzes the existing command organization at incidents. How does the department currently organize and manage both small and large incidents? The committee particularly examines the span-of-control of the IC and subcommanders. IC's in departments not using the ICS tend to be overburdened: too large a span-ofcontrol and too many jobs to do. The ICS offers the ability to maintain a reasonable span-of-control, no matter what type of incident or the number of resources. Reasonable span-of-control improves communications, safety, and overall effectiveness. The IC will then manage subcommanders instead of individual units. Incident-Scene Duties/Responsibilities Then, the ICS committee analyzes existing SOG's in terms of incident-scene duties and responsibilities. The members review the method used to divide the incident into geographical and functional areas. They need to determine the responsibilities of chiefs, company officers, and firefighters. They evaluate the effectiveness of their initial onscene reports. They also address the support facilities required for effective incident management, such as Staging, base, and Command Post (CP). Comparison of Existing System Finally, the committee compares the department's existing system to the NIMS ICS. In so doing, they identify areas to be addressed in the development of ICS procedures for that department. DEVELOPING THE STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE MANUAL After completing the analysis and identification of specific needs, the committee is ready to develop an ICS SOG Manual for its department. Ideal Developers Desirable qualifications for manual developers include B-6 knowledge of ICS; writing or course development experience; familiarity with the ICS; and command experience. NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES The task of actually writing sections of the manual can be accomplished effectively by two or three members working together. Limiting the number of writers provides uniformity of wording and format and prevents possible redundancy. MANUAL FORMAT These elements should be included in the manual: An introduction. Explanation of why the ICS is being adopted and what it will accomplish. Covered somewhere in the manual should be the fact that in departments with limited resources, one person may be performing many duties. An operational section describing the ICS organizational structure, initial response duties, and the flexibility of the system. Modular expansion, with incident growth and transfer of command at expanding incidents, also should be explained in this section. A description of incident facilities, which includes a description of incident CP and Staging. If the use of a base facility is anticipated, such as at highrise and brush incidents, this should be covered as well. Duties and responsibilities of the IC and the Command Staff. Included in the Command Staff should be Safety, Liaison, and Public Information Officers. The General Staff positions of Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. All subunits within each section also should be discussed. The means to identify the command positions and the incident facilities should then be covered; typically, this means the use of vests for command officers and flags or lights for fixed-incident facilities. General instructions and guidelines for Company Officers/Field Supervisors, chief officers, and agency representatives at incidents. A glossary and appendix providing standard terminology to be used by the department and outside agencies, and supplemental material explaining departmental ICS operations. B-7 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Review of Manual When the manual is completed, it is sent to selected individuals in training and the field, those with command experience, and senior members. They are to review the manual for content, clarity, and possible conflicts with policy. Comments are solicited. Time schedules should be established for this review. Two weeks usually is sufficient. Upon receiving the comments, the committee reviews them and makes any necessary changes to the manual. When the final draft is completed, it is sent to the chief for review and approval. Revision of Existing Documents Once the manual is approved, there may be a need to revise some existing department documents. These may include the communication procedures--including terminology and onscene reporting procedures--and some of the present SOG's. IMPLEMENTING TRAINING Notification of Personnel The department then notifies personnel about the implementation of ICS training. A written statement on policy and procedures from the chief with regard to the adoption of ICS usually is issued. This statement will motivate interest in the program. Coordination Methods of coordination need to be established for scheduling training dates, confirming class space availability and class size, and documenting the training of personnel. Such attention to detail minimizes confusion and ensures that training is conducted properly. In larger departments, it may be beneficial to assign one person to act as a coordinator for the program within the department. In smaller departments, all these tasks may be addressed by one individual who may have to perform more than the coordinator's job. This work may not be as complicated as in a larger department. B-8 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Criteria for Instructors Those who conduct the training should have instructional experience as well as a thorough understanding of ICS and the ability to relate it to everyday life as well as to answer questions about the system and offer examples of its use. They should have prior training experience. Training Priorities The recommended priority order for training is chief officers, then Company Officers/Field Supervisors, and finally the firefighters and EMS providers. All personnel, however, must receive training in their anticipated duties and responsibilities. The specific level of training is usually based on the available resources in the department to fill positions within the ICS organizational structure and anticipated ICS roles. In smaller departments, personnel must be able to perform multiple functions. Company Officers/Field Supervisors and firefighters/EMS providers may have to perform functions normally handled by a chief officer in larger departments. Remember: in the ICS, it is knowledge, not rank, that is important. Optimal Incident Command System Training Training should be ongoing, following the initial orientation. There should be additional classroom training and simulations. Company Officers and/or Field Supervisors should conduct regular in-station training. Outside exercises should be conducted as well, involving multiple company drills. This will be the test of classroom training. Mutual-aid departments and other agencies also should be involved in training activities whenever possible. That will allow them to become familiar with the ICS and understand how they fit into the system. The best training in ICS is the day-to-day use of the system at all incidents. It improves understanding and fine-tunes the system. It allows for smooth transition from a small to a large incident when you get the "big one." It makes the use of the ICS routine. If everyone uses ICS terminology and procedures on a daily basis, confusion and stress at larger incidents are minimized. In this way, ICS becomes a mind set. Day-to-day use of the ICS should be monitored. Misunderstandings should be clarified, revisions made, and additional training instituted, if necessary. B-9 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES APPENDIX C: MODEL INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE This model Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is included to provide an example of the elements that may need to be included in Incident Command System (ICS) SOPs. This procedure cannot replace the important organizational process of adoption and development of specific procedures to integrate the ICS with the existing SOPs and tactical evolutions of a specific department. C-1 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM C-2 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES INTRODUCTION The application of sound management principles to any undertaking which requires the coordination of various resources is paramount to the success of that undertaking. This concept is applied to our personal and professional lives everyday. We manage our personal budgets, our own time, and many other aspects of our own lives. Professionally we also manage our manpower and apparatus, the activities of our working days, our budget, and our goals and objectives. We do this by applying the basic textbook management principles of planning, directing, organizing, coordinating, communicating, delegating, and evaluating. So should it be with emergency operations. The major difference between routine, dayto-day management and emergency management is the time frames for gaining control of the situation. Emergency operations still require the management of resources, goals and objectives, and activities in order to insure a satisfactory outcome. In other words, emergency operations still require planning, directing, organizing, coordinating, communicating, delegating, and evaluating. Therefore, the same management process applied to our routine everyday operations can, and should, be applied to emergency operations. This policy & procedure manual clearly spells out the incident scene management process. It adopts the management principles previously mentioned and, because of its modular concept, it can be applied to any incident regardless of the type or magnitude of that incident. As a function specific tool rather than a rank specific one, it is equally adaptable because anyone can fill any position assuming appropriate training for that position. It shall be a matter of departmental policy that all personnel be familiar with this manual and fully functional in any position which he/she might reasonably be expected to fill. C-3 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PURPOSE & SCOPE The Incident Command System is a management system designed to control personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications throughout an emergency operation. It is designed to begin developing from the time an incident occurs until the requirement for management and operations no longer exists. The structure of the Incident Command System can be established and expanded depending upon the changing conditions of the incident. The Incident Command System meets the following operating requirements necessary of any emergency management process: • Management capabilities for: 1. Single jurisdiction/single agency involvement. 2. Single jurisdiction/multi-agency involvement. 3. Multi-jurisdiction/multi-agency involvement. • Organizational structure adaptable to any emergency or incident to which fire protection agencies would be expected to respond. • Applicable and acceptable to users throughout the country. • Readily adaptable to new technology. • Ability to expand in a logical manner from an initial attack situation into a major incident. • Basic common elements in organization, terminology, and procedures. • Implementation with the least possible disruption to existing systems. • Effective in fulfilling all management requirements yet simple enough to insure low operational maintenance costs. As such, the system can be utilized for any type or size of emergency ranging from a minor incident involving only a few units to a major incident involving several agencies. It is intended to be staffed and operated by qualified personnel from any emergency services agency and may involve personnel from a variety of agencies. C-4 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TABLE OF CONTENTS Unit Introduction Purpose & Scope Responsibilities of COMMAND Size-Up Communications Procedure Brief Initial Report Brief Progress Report Staging Dividing the Incident C-5 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMAND In order to develop a well orchestrated response to any incident scene, clear lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability must be defined. To this end the following policy shall provide direction and authority for the COMMAND function. I. II. Command Procedure A. The effective functioning of all units and personnel at any incident requires clear decisive action on the part of an incident commander. B. This procedure fixes responsibility for the COMMAND function and its associated duties on one individual at any time during an incident. C. Command procedures are designed to accomplish the following: Fix the responsibility for COMMAND on a specific individual. 2. Strong, direct, and visible COMMAND will be established as early as possible in the operation. 3. Establish an effective framework for activities and responsibilities. 4. Provide a system for the orderly transfer of COMMAND to subsequent arriving authorities. Authority & Responsibility A. C-6 1. COMMAND responsibilities. 1. Assess incident priorities. 2. Determine strategic goal/s. 3. Determine tactical objective/s. 4. Develop incident action plan. 5. Develop appropriate organizational structure. 6. Manage incident resources. NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES B. III. 7. Coordinate overall incident activities. 8. Ensure safety of on-scene personnel. 9. Coordinate activities of outside agencies. 10. Authorize release of information to media. Normal operating procedure. 1. The 1st arriving company officer, acting officer, or otherwise senior individual on the 1st arriving unit shall be responsible for, and shall have the authority to exercise, all COMMAND functions deemed reasonable and prudent until such time as they are relieved by proper authority. 2. The 1st arriving company officer, acting officer, or otherwise senior individual on the 1st arriving unit shall: a. Perform a size-up in accordance with the size-up standard. b. Determine the appropriate strategies and tactics. c. Assign tactical objectives as required, including support. d. Transmit the Brief Initial Report in accordance with the BIR standard. e. Determine the need for assistance and request such assistance as necessary. Addressing the Command Function. A. Passing COMMAND 1. May only be done by the 1st arriving company officer, acting officer, or otherwise senior individual on the 1st arriving unit. 2. May be done only after all other necessary COMMAND functions have been completed according to the BIR format. C-7 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES B. 3. Shall be the result of a conscious decision by the company officer or acting officer that they must necessarily commit themselves to a tactical objective and, therefore, can not be in an appropriate position to adequately manage the incident. 4. When COMMAND is passed, the next arriving unit must report to the scene rather than to Level I staging. Assuming COMMAND 1. Is the result of a conscious decision by the company officer or acting officer in the 1st arriving unit that the incident requires immediate command and control or that there are sufficient resources available to adequately handle the necessary tactical objectives. In this situation the Incident Commander must remain in a position to appropriately manage the incident. 2. Must be done by the company officer or acting officer in the next arriving unit if COMMAND was passed by the 1st arriving company officer or acting officer. 3. May be done by the company officer or acting officer in the 1st arriving unit if, after having already passed COMMAND, decides that assuming COMMAND is now warranted as a result of changes in the situation. May be done by higher ranking officers as the incident dictates. C. Considerations for passing/assuming COMMAND 1. C-8 Size & extent of the incident. a. Small or less complex incidents where your immediate assistance in a tactical operation would have a positive impact on the outcome might indicate the need to PASS COMMAND. EX: Room & contents fire; a limited number of persons trapped; etc. b. Investigating where the status reported is nothing evident. This constitutes a tactical objective which might place you in an inappropriate position to adequately manage the incident should something NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES go wrong. appropriate. c. 2. The magnitude or type of incident may require immediate command and control of resources. EX: Significant haz-mat incidents; structure fires requiring resources beyond the 1st alarm assignment; many persons trapped or a large scale evacuation; mass casualty incidents, etc. Assuming COMMAND would be appropriate. Availability of relief. a. b. IV. PASSING COMMAND may be If senior authority is close at hand, PASSING COMMAND may be appropriate. If senior authority will be significantly delayed, assuming COMMAND may be appropriate. Transfer of COMMAND A. B. Purpose - Transfer of COMMAND refers to the act of one individual relieving another individual of authority, responsibility, and accountability as it pertains to the execution of the function of COMMAND on any given incident. The progressive chain-ofcommand principle shall be utilized. 1. Should an incident commander be of a non-officer grade, they shall be relieved as soon as practical by the 1st arriving officer. 2. The 1st officer to assume COMMAND shall retain COMMAND until formally relieved by a ranking officer. Ranking officers shall have the discretionary authority to relieve a subordinate officer of COMMAND. However, the senior officer present assumes accountability regardless of whether or not they assume COMMAND. Transfer of COMMAND Procedure 1. At all times possible, transfer of COMMAND shall be done face to face. When a face to face transfer can not be accomplished, the incoming senior individual may assume COMMAND immediately, but MUST make every effort to gain the necessary information as soon as possible. C-9 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 2. The individual preparing to assume COMMAND shall, at an appropriate moment, request a status report from the Incident Commander. 3. The Incident Commander shall brief the incoming individual as to: a. The current situation. b. Any injuries, loss of life, etc. c. All current control efforts and the status of those efforts. d. The anticipated course of the incident. e. The location of on scene resources. f. Any other information pertinent to the incident. 4. When the incoming individual is fully prepared to assume COMMAND, he or she shall then formally relieve the current incident commander and reassign that individual as necessary. All transfers of COMMAND shall be transmitted over the radio. "Engine 1 to Dispatch, Chief 2 is Command." SIZE-UP The 1st in company officer or acting officer in the 1st arriving unit is faced with the need to make proper and reasonable decisions under the immediate pressure of the emergency. A size-up system becomes a vital and necessary tool to have in this situation. This same system is also necessary for subsequent incident commanders as their need to make decisions varies with the dynamics of the incident. The following 5-point Size-Up system shall be utilized when operating at an incident: 1. FACTS ( Facts that the situation presents) a. Time of the incident. b. Location of the incident. c. Nature of the incident. d. Life hazards. e. Exposures. f. Buildings, areas involved. g. Weather. 2. situation) C-10 PROBABILITIES (Predictions based upon the existing NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES a. Life hazards. b. Extent of the incident. c. Explosion potential. d. Collapse potential. e. Weather changes. 3. OWN SITUATION (Your resources and capabilities) a. Personnel & equipment on scene. b. Availability of additional resources. c. Available water supply. d. Appropriate strategic mode. e. Actions already taken. 4. DECISION (Result of your analysis of items 1, 2, & 3) a. Determine strategy. b. Evaluate tactical options. c. Select tactics. 5. PLAN OF OPERATION a. Issue tactical assignments. b. Coordinate activities. c. Evaluate results d. Alter activities as necessary. C-11 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURE In accordance with the philosophy of the Incident Command System as adopted by the Fire Department, the value of effective yet simple communications procedures is clearly recognized. It is further recognized that effective incident scene communications is the responsibility of COMMAND and goes hand in hand with the sound execution of COMMAND functions. Dispatch, therefore, should be considered an integral part of the Incident Commander's resource pool. The following procedures shall be used for communications on any and all incidents requiring the response of two (2) or more units, regardless of the type of units: 1. The first individual addressing the COMMAND function shall do so by identifying the incident. This procedure is implemented to benefit both on-scene personnel and Dispatch by clearly separating each incident from any other incident which may be simultaneously occurring. Addressing the COMMAND function without identifying that COMMAND is an inappropriate procedure. Example A: Bldg. fire at North Arundel Hospital. "Lt. 26 is passing/assuming North Arundel Command, or "Lt. 26 is passing/assuming Hospital Command. Example B: Dwelling fire on Milton Ave. - Box 34-1. "Battalion 1 is assuming Milton Ave. Command.,or "Capt. 31 is passing/assuming Milton Command. Example C: dispatched. Medical assignment at the School with E-9 & PM-1 "Lt. 9 assuming School Command, or "Lt. PM-1 passing/assuming School Command." The terminology for incident identification shall be left to the discretion of the Incident Commander. However, caution should be exercised so as not to use identifiers which might not clearly separate one incident from another. The use of the 1st Incident Commander's last name would be appropriate. 2. C-12 Internal incident communications may be directed to/from any element on location in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Face to face NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES communications is always preferable. However, radio communications directed to/from established functional assignments shall use the appropriate functional title. 3. Example 1: Communications directed to/from the Incident Commander shall address '(ID) COMMAND', not 'Batt-1', 'Chief-1', 'Lt-26', etc. Example 2: Communications directed to/from the individual assigned responsibility for all activities on the 1st floor of a structure shall address 'Division-1', not 'Chief-12', Lt-18', 'FF-T- 26', etc. In order to keep incident scene communications to a minimum, the 'Command By Exception' principle should be utilized. This means that radio traffic directed to immediate supervisors should be limited as much as practical to: A. B. C. D. E. Announcing the completion of an assigned objective. Announcing when an assigned objective cannot be met. Announcing identified safety problems. Announcing the need for additional resources to accomplish an assigned objective. Announcing other emergency or absolutely necessary information. 4. Units shall not request that Dispatch relay information. Information shall be communicated unit to unit. 5. The Incident Commander shall be responsible for cancelling assignments or placing units available. C-13 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BRIEF INITIAL REPORT A primary role of the 1st arriving Incident Commander is to establish strategy & tactics. A primary role of the additional responding units is to support the Incident Commander's strategy & tactics by accomplishing specifically assigned tactical objectives. In order for this cooperation to work effectively it is important for the support units to have as close an idea as to what is occurring as does the Incident Commander. Therefore, the Incident Commander must act as the "TV camera" for the other units. His or her initial report of the situation must be concise, complete, and accurate. A Brief Initial Report (BIR) shall be required on any and all incidents involving a response of multiple units regardless of the types of units. This procedure is particularly important where one or more units initially report to the scene and all other units stage away from the scene. The following elements, in the specific order listed, shall be included in the initial report of any and all incidents when such reports are required. 1. Unit ID arrived on location. 2. Location of unit in relation to the overall incident. 3. Description of situation found. 4. 1st unit's tactical assignment. 5. Other units' tactical assignment/s. 6. Request additional assistance if necessary & identify the Level II staging area. 7. Address the COMMAND function. An example can not be provided for every type of situation. However, the ones provided should serve well to illustrate the appropriateness of the format. The unit assignments illustrated in these examples should not be interpreted as required tactical objectives, nor should they be interpreted as necessary unit assignments. Such matters are at the discretion of the Incident Commander and units not assigned specific tactical objectives by COMMAND should be staged. C-14 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EXAMPLES: A. B. C. Multiple units responding to a single story dwelling fire. 1. "E-1 on location." 2. "Side A of a single story, single family dwelling." 3. "Nothing showing." 4. "E-1 is investigating." 5. (No transmission is necessary at this time because all other units will stage in accordance with Level I procedures.) 6. (No transmission is necessary because no help is necessary at this time.) 7. "Lt - E-1 is (passing/assuming) COMMAND." Multiple units responding to a 2-story dwelling fire. 1. "E-1 on location." 2. "Side A of a 2 story, single family dwelling." 3. "Fire showing on the 1st floor, persons trapped on the 2nd floor." 4. "E-1 is making an interior attack on the fire through side A." 5. "E-2 advance a line to the 2nd floor, protect the stairs and confine the fire." "T-1 do a primary search of the 2nd floor and provide horizontal ventilation." "E-3 advance a line to back up E-1 on the 1st floor." 6. "E-1 to Dispatch, send a 2nd Alarm. Level II staging area will be (ID location of staging area.)" 7. "Lt - E-1 is (passing/Assuming) COMMAND." Two units responding to a medical emergency in a structure. 1. "A-1 on location." C-15 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 2. /3./4. D. E. C-16 (No transmission necessary because information is not pertinent at this time.) 5. "E-1 to PM-1 bring in a backboard." 6. (No transmission is necessary because information is not pertinent at this time.) 7. "FF/A-1 is assuming (ID) COMMAND. Multiple units responding to a High-Rise building fire. 1. "E-1 on location." 2. "Side 1 of a 10 story high rise." 3. "Smoke showing from Side A at the 5th floor." 4. "E-1 is advancing to the 5th floor." 5. "E-2 support the standpipe/sprinkler system and assume Lobby Control." "T-1 support E-1 on the 5th floor." "E-3 establish Staging on the 3rd floor." 6. "E-1 to Dispatch, send a 2nd Alarm. Base will be (ID location of base)" 7. "Lt - E-1 is passing COMMAND and Assuming Operations." Multiple units responding to a Rescue Box involving motor vehicles. 1. "E-1 on location." 2. "Ritchie Hwy. near Waterford Rd." 3. "Two vehicles involved." "One vehicle on fire, persons believed trapped in the other vehicle." 4. "E-1 will extinguish the fire." 5. "Squad-1 handle the extrication in the 2nd car." "A-1 coordinate with Squad-1 to handle patient care." NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES F. 6. (No transmission is necessary because no help is necessary at this time.) 7. "Lt - E-1 is assuming COMMAND." Multiple units responding to a Haz-Mat Box involving a motor transport vehicle. 1. "E-1 on location." 2. "I-97 at Severn River." 3. "One 6000 gallon tank truck overturned and leaking #2 fuel oil." "Driver is believed trapped in the vehicle." "Fuel spill is threatening Severn River." 4. "E-1 will begin diking near the leak." 5. "Truck-1 handle the extrication of the driver." "PM-1 coordinate with TRK-1 to handle patient care." "E-2 assist E-1 with diking." "E-3 begin skimming operations on Severn River." 6. "E-1 to Dispatch, send the helicopter for a Medivac." 7. "Lt - E-1 is assuming (ID) COMMAND." C-17 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BRIEF PROGRESS REPORT A Brief Progress Report (BPR) is essential to any ongoing incident in that it keeps all concerned parties abreast of a dynamic situation. It is designed to provide information which: 1. Allows Dispatch latitude in filling vacant stations. 2. Updates Duty Chiefs. 3. Updates the Information Officer. 4. Permits continuous documentation of an ongoing incident. A Brief Progress Report (BPR) shall be required on any and all incidents which initially required a Brief Initial Report (BIR), except as noted in the examples. The 1st BPR shall be transmitted at approximately 10 minutes after the BIR. Thereafter, BPRs shall be transmitted at intervals deemed appropriate by the Incident Commander, but in no case should an interval exceed 30 minutes. The BPR shall consist of the following information: 1. Description of the current situation. 2. Description of current tactical objectives. 3. Status of resource needs. 4. Length of time holding units from 1st unit to the last unit. An example can not be provided for every type of situation. However, the ones provided should serve well to illustrate the appropriateness of the format. EXAMPLES: A. Multiple units responding to a 2-story dwelling fire. "E-1 to Dispatch" C-18 1. "We are in an offensive mode and bringing the situation under control." 2. "Primary search has been completed and an interior attack is underway." NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES B. 3. "No need for additional resources is anticipated." 4. "All units will be committed for about 1 hour." Two units responding to a medical emergency in a structure. Under normal conditions no BPR is necessary. However, should the incident escalate to bigger proportions, BPRs would become appropriate. C. Multiple units responding to a High-Rise building fire. "E-2 to Dispatch" D. 1. "Fire is contained on the 5th floor with heat damage on the 6th floor." "All occupants have been evacuated with no injuries." 2. "An interior attack and ventilation on upper floors is underway." 3. "Two additional alarms will be needed for crew relief and rotation." 4. "Units will be committed for approximately 3 hours." Multiple units responding to a Rescue Box involving motor vehicles. "E-1 to Dispatch" 1. "Fire has been extinguished & all victims have been extricated." 2. (No information is necessary here.) 3. "No additional resources are required." 4. "All units except A-1 will come available within 15 minutes." E. Multiple units responding to a Haz-Mat Box involving a motor transport vehicle. "E-1 to Dispatch" 1. "Extrication of 1 victim is progressing." C-19 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES "Diking is underway but some product has gotten into the Severn River." "Spill containment will take about 1/2 hour." C-20 2. "Diking efforts are underway to limit the exposure to the Severn River." "We are going to attempt to transfer the product to another vehicle." 3. "Dispatch a unit to handle a landing site for the helicopter." "Notify DNR and the Department of the Environment." 4. "All units will be committed for a minimum of 2 hours." NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES STAGING The purpose of staging is to provide a standard system of resource placement prior to tactical assignments. Failure to utilize such a system will result in added confusion on the incident scene and units determining their own tactical assignments. Incident commanders will lose track of their resources resulting in poorly applied resources; priorities being overlooked; the inability to oversee personnel safety; and a general lack of accountability. The following policy addresses two staging requirements; Level I - the initial response involving multiple units and, Level II - the response of multiple units beyond the initial response. I. Level I Staging - Utilized by all responding units up to and including a full 1st Alarm assignment regardless of the type of incident. A. B. 1st arriving company. 1. Shall report to the most appropriate position on-scene to carry out the duties specified in Responsibilities of COMMAND. 2. If in a hydrant area, and in lieu of orders to the contrary, the 1st arriving engine company shall proceed to the most convenient hydrant and lay (or be prepared to lay) the appropriate size hose line/s should the type of incident necessitate water. 3. If in a non-hydrant area, and in lieu of orders to the contrary, the 1st arriving engine company shall lay (or be prepared to lay) the appropriate size hose line/s to the incident scene in such a manner as to allow for the establishment of a continuous water supply to the incident should the type of incident necessitate water. 4. If in a non-hydrant area, and in lieu of orders to the contrary, the 1st arriving tanker shall hook up and prepare to pump to any lines laid by the 1st arriving engine should the type of incident necessitate water. 5. In lieu of orders to the contrary, the 1st arriving truck company shall report to the same location as the 1st arriving company. If an obvious rescue situation exists at another location, the 1st arriving truck company may proceed to that location while advising the Incident Commander of the situation. All other units. C-21 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES II. In lieu of orders to the contrary, all other units shall remain outside of the incident scene. 2. In lieu of orders to the contrary, all other units shall proceed to a convenient location (at a hydrant if available) approximately one (1) block from the scene. Upon arrival at this location unit commanders shall transmit "(Unit ID) is staged (ID the location)." This message will inform the incident commander that the unit is ready for assignment. 3. No unit shall commit itself to any operation without having received orders or approval from COMMAND. 4. Unit commanders shall not request assignments from staging. Should a staged unit commander feel that the BIR indicated a need for their unit and no orders have been received, they shall repeat the transmission "Unit (ID) is staged (ID the location)." If the 2nd transmission is not acknowledged, the unit commander shall report directly to the Incident Commander by walking to the Command Post. Level II Staging - Utilized by all responding units beyond the 1st Alarm assignment. A. B. C-22 1 Level II staging shall utilize an area suitable to park, organize, and coordinate the anticipated response of additional resources. 1. COMMAND, upon requesting additional resources, shall inform Dispatch of the designated location of the Level II staging area. 2. The 1st unit commander arriving at the Level II staging area, and without orders to the contrary, shall assume Staging Area Manager. 3. Communications to and from the incident scene and the Level II staging area shall be directly between COMMAND/OPERATIONS and the Staging Area Manager. Requests for assignment of units from staging shall be directed from COMMAND/OPERATIONS to the Staging Area Manager. No unit shall take any action except as directed by the Staging Area Manager. Duties of the Staging Area Manager NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 1. Identify location by use of warning lights. All other units shall turn off all lights. 2. Log in all responding resources and notify COMMAND/OPERATIONS of available resources. 3. Park apparatus in such a manner as to avoid congestion and facilitate movement. 4. Dispatch resources as directed by COMMAND/OPERATIONS. Directions to resources should be verbal so as not to tie up radio frequencies. 5. Maintain a level of resources in staging as directed by COMMAND. 6. Coordinate with police to insure access and security of the staging area. C-23 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIVIDING THE INCIDENT SCENE For the purpose of coordinating operations, the following procedure shall be used when geographically dividing an emergency incident. Structures: C-24 1. The exterior walls of any structure shall be designated as Divisions and shall be identified in order by going clockwise beginning with Division A. 2. Division A shall be defined as that side containing the street address. Under unusual circumstances the Incident Commander may designate any side as Division A. All other sides shall be identified in accordance with Item #1. 3. Exposures shall be identified by the side of the involved structure to which it is exposed. Ex: The exposure facing Division C of an involved structure would be identified as Exposure C. 4. The interior floor area of a structure shall be know as a Division and shall be identified by its floor number. Ex: The 5th floor of a structure would be identified as Division 5. A single story structure would only have a Division 1.' 5. The roof shall be designated Roof Division.' 6. The basement shall be designated Basement Division.' 7. Unusual areas such as multiple sub-basements, mezzanines, etc. shall be designated as Divisions but may be identified at the Incident Commander's discretion. 8. Personnel assigned to supervise a geographic area shall be designated as, and identified by, that geographic area. EX: The supervisor of the 5th floor of a structure would be identified as Division 5. The supervisor of the interior of a single story structure would be identified as Division 1. NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Examples of Dividing a Structural Incident : Example 1: Sides & Exposures EXPOSURE C EXPOSURE B D I V I B S I O N DIVISION C D I V I D S I O N DIVISION A EXPOSURE D FRONT/ADDRESS SIDE Example 2: Involved High-Rise with an exposure on Side B. ROOF DIVISION 5 th Flo o r D I VI SI O N 5 4 th Flo o r D I VI SI O N 4 3 rd Flo o r D I VI SI O N 3 2 n d F lo o r D I VI SI O N 2 1 s t F lo o r D I VI SI O N 1 E xposu re B B ASE ME NT DIVISION Involved Structure C-25 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Example 3: Single & Multiple story dwellings. < S in gle S tory Divi si on 1 < 2n d Flo or Divi si on 2 <1 st Fl oo r Divi si on 1 C-26 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Open Areas: 1. Geographic areas necessary to maintain command and control should be established using natural dividing lines such as roads, creeks, rail road beds, etc., whenever possible. 2. These established areas shall be designated as Divisions and shall be identified alphabetically. EX: A brush fire divided into three (3) separate areas of control would be designated Division A, Division B, & Division C. 3. Personnel assigned to supervise a geographic area shall be designated as, and identified by, that geographic area. EX: The supervisor of the fire area designated as Division A would be identified as Division A. Examples of Open Area Sectoring: Example 1: Brush Fire Divi si on A 3 Compan ies RR > Divi si on B 3 Compan ies Divi si on C Hwy > 5 Compan ies FIRE ARE A COMMAND 10 A CRE S B RUSH C-27 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Example 2: Haz-Mat Incident E xposu re s: S cho ol s, Hospi tal s, E tc. E xposu re s: Homes , Hwy. A pts. Divi si on A Divi si on B Roadway Spill W ind Direct ion C-28 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES APPENDIX D: CALIFORNIA AMBULANCE STRIKE TEAM/ MEDICAL TASK FORCES GUIDELINES C-29 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES NOTE – THIS IS ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES OF AN AMBULANCE STRIKE TEAM/MEDICAL TEAM GUIDELINES. THE INCLUSION OF THE GUIDELINE IN THIS COURSE DOES NOT CONSTITUE ENDORSEMENT OF THIS PARTICULAR GUIDELINE – IT IS USED IN THIS COURSE AS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY OTHERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. C-30 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AMBULANCE STRIKE TEAM/ MEDICAL TASK FORCES (AST) GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................. EMSA # 215 C-31 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-32 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES STATE OF CALIFORNIA AMBULANCE STRIKE TEAM/ Medical Task Forces Guidelines TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE Part One – BASIC PLAN FORWARD 4 INTRODUCTION 5 PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND ASSUMPTIONS 6 CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS 8 Team Structure 8 Ambulance/Medical Personnel Qualifications and Training 9 Strike Team/Medical Task Force Leader Qualifications, Training, and Job Responsibilities 10 Equipment Standards/Requirements 12 Communications 14 Part Two – DISASTER OPERATIONS: RESPONSE AND RECOVERY 16 ORDERING/REQUESTING PROCESS 16 ACTIVATION PROCESS 18 C-33 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 19 Enroute 19 At Incident 19 PROTOCOLS – ENROUTE AND AT INCIDENT 20 AT INCIDENT SUPPORT 21 DEMOBILIZATION 22 CONTENTS PAGE Part Three – ATTACHMENTS Attachment A -- Master Mutual Aid Agreement 23 Attachment B -- Inter-Region Cooperative Agreement For Emergency Medical & Health Disaster Assistance 28 Attachment C -- Regional/State Medical/Health Resources 31 Attachment D -- RIMS Mission/Request Tasking Form 33 Attachment E -- RIMS Resource Order Form 35 Attachment F – Acronyms 36 C-34 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Part One – BASIC PLAN FORWARD The “Strike Team” concept (an organized group of personnel and equipment as applied to an emergency response) has been in use for many years in California. The following Ambulance Strike Team/Medical Task Force (AST/MTF) guidelines and related disaster response plan adapt this concept to prehospital care and transportation, ambulances. The lead agency on this project is the State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) in conjunction with representatives from the following: C alifornia Ambulance Association (CAA) C alifornia Fire Chiefs Association (CFCA) E mergency Medical Services Administrators Association of California (EMSAAC) F IRESCOPE G overnor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) For more information on AST/MTF, contact the following: Anne M. Bybee Disaster Medical Specialist EMSA 1930 – 9th Street Sacramento, CA 95814-7034 C-35 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (916) 322-4336 x 407 Neil Honeycutt Fire and Rescue Branch, FIRESCOPE OES P.O. Box 419047-9047 (916) 845-8721 C-36 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES INTRODUCTION The EMSA recognized the need to develop a statewide “mutual aid” system for private or non-fire based ambulance disaster response soon after the organization’s creation over 20 years ago. Ambulances are an important disaster response partner. Beginning in the early 1980s, EMSA met with CAA officials and others to discuss the concept of regional coordination for ambulance deployment in state-declared emergencies. CAA responded by designating a volunteer regional coordinator in each of the six mutual aid regions to work with local private or non-fire based providers to identify those ambulance units that would be available for deployment at EMSA’s request. Although the system existed in concept, it was implemented in only a few actual disaster response. The need to develop a coordinated approach to manage requests, movement and support of ambulances in a disaster presented itself in several instances in the ensuing years although none of these events required the movement of large numbers of vehicles. The Winter Floods of 1997, however, significantly renewed coordination as an issue. Many private sector ambulances responded from various parts of the Sacramento Valley to assist in the evacuation needs in Sutter and Yuba Counties. Although the responding units provided critically needed services, there was a lack of overall coordination, and this left some with a concern that “provider” counties were without sufficient emergency transport resources to address their routine day-to-day needs. In an effort to address the mutual aid coordination issues demonstrated during the floods and to prepare for the upcoming El Niño Weather Phenomenon the following winter, EMSA assembled a group of Local Emergency Medical Service Agencies (LEMSAs), CAA and OES in late 1997 to develop an interim solution at the state level. Over the next year and one-half, the Statewide Ambulance Agreement Committee met to draft an Inter-County Disaster Ambulance Response Agreement. Included in the planning effort was significant work on the composition of private sector “ambulance strike teams or medical task forces”. C-37 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES The committee was unable to reach resolution on the issue because of concerns regarding reimbursement for private or non-fire based ambulance response and differing opinions as to whether the agreements should be statewide, between counties (LEMSAs) or between LEMSAs and individual private or non-fire based providers. There also exists a need to designate standard terminology between fire based and non-fire based ambulance providers. All parties agreed that for private ambulance services in mutual aid situations, the payment aspect should be addressed as part of a larger discussion of mutual aid that needed to be conducted by State OES. OES convened a mutual aid sub-committee as part of the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) Technical Committee but this group also did not reach consensus on the need for changes in state wide mutual aid for all public and private responders. OES then recommended that a Blue Ribbon Commission be established under the next Administration to study the issue but to date that has not occurred. C-38 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND ASSUMPTIONS In 2002, EMSA confirmed the need for “Ambulance Strike Teams or Medical Task Force” (Ambulance Strike Teams have yet to be defined, typed, and accepted within the emergency response community) and regional ambulance deployment as a critical resource for California disaster planning and preparedness. The EMSA, together with OES, representatives from CAA, EMSAAC, FIRESCOPE, and CFCA, has worked to create these guidelines as a vital part of the State’s response to disasters, including our Homeland Defense efforts. This disaster medical response system would process and provide supplemental ambulances and personnel to "impacted counties" whose resources are overwhelmed by an emergency. Ambulance personnel are an extremely valuable service delivery resource and participate in large-scale disaster response: medical triage, on-scene medical care, transportation to hospitals, shelter medical care, etc. The following assumptions and historical situations were considered in guiding this initial planning: 1. Within the first two to eight hours after a mass casualty or catastrophic event, the community’s primary field medical response may be from both the fire based and non-fire based ambulance and medical first responder entities. 2. Ambulances have self-dispatched in past events. Selfdispatching of any resources can cause negative consequences. 3. An organized response within the SEMS framework and using the Incident Command System (ICS) is superior to a unorganized response. 4. To date, ambulance resources are generally managed under two different systems: The OES Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System coordinates public sector fire service resources including ambulances. C-39 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Private sector ambulances are coordinated through the medical/health mutual aid system (Regional Disaster Medical/Health Coordinators and EMSA). 5. To provide the best possible response during a major disaster in our State, it is imperative to move forward with one unified system that combines the resources from both the fire based and non-fire based ambulance providers under OES’ disaster management process. 6. Management of single resources becomes cumbersome whereas the supervision of resources organized in strike team/task force configuration under the incident command system is a proven manageable model. These guidelines focus on system organization (policies and procedures), communications and logistic support without addressing in detail the issues related to reimbursement. C-40 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS Ambulance (AST/MTF) Strike Teams/Medical Task Forces There will be two possible AST/MTF complements, ordered as such: Type I – Advanced Life Support (ALS)* as defined in Title 22 of the Health and Safety Code: 5 ALS ambulances (an approved vehicle and 2 personnel each, at least one an ALS provider) 1 Team Leader with Vehicle. Note: ALS Provider could be either a Paramedic or an EMT-II. Type II – Basic Life Support (BLS)* as defined in Title 22 of the Health and Safety Code: 5 BLS ambulances (an approved vehicle and 2 personnel each, both at least EMT-Basic certified) 1 Team Leader with Vehicle. Request for AST/MTF should be requested by Type, Kind, and quantity (i.e. “one Type-I ALS Ambulance Strike Team”, or “two Type-I ALS Ambulance Strike Teams and one Type-2 BLS Ambulance Strike Team”). AST/MTF will be ordered from one or more of the six OES geographical Regions using the closest forces concept. Ambulance providers in each Operational Area will meet the minimum requirements for training and equipment according to the guidelines set out in this document. Agencies not meeting these minimum requirements will not participate in out of Operational Area responses. At any time and based on current resource levels, a Region or Operational Area has the ability to provide either AST/MTF or individual ambulances. Individual ambulances from different Operational Areas may be formed into Regional Ambulance Strike Teams or Medical Task Forces. (FIRESCOPE Field Operations Guide, page 12-11, dated 2004). C-41 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AST/MTF will be ordered through the State Operations Center in accordance with SEMS and coordinated by OES together with their medical/health and public safety partners. Note: The ambulance industry uses the term “type” to describe the size of the ambulance, the body style of the ambulance, or the number of patient an ambulance can carry. For clarity, it is suggested that both terms (i.e. “Type I – ALS”) be used when ordering to avoid any confusion. * Advanced Life Support is indicating a paramedic with full paramedic scope of practice. Basic Life Support is indicating EMT-1 Basic Scope of Practice. C-42 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Ambulance/Medical Personnel Qualifications and Training Minimum Training Requirements: ICS 100 Preferred Additional Training and Experience: ICS 200 Hazmat First Responder Operations Course Basic MCI Field Operations Course WMD Awareness Course 1 Year EMS Experience C-43 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AST/MTF Leader Qualifications, Training, and Job Responsibilities Minimum Training Requirements: ICS 100 and 200 Basic MCI Field Operations Training Course (8 hours) – Using Mountain Valley EMS Agency Course Guidelines Strike Team Leader-Ambulance Course (16 hours) One year Leadership experience in a related field, as determined by Provider Once the AST/MTF concept is fully developed, it is recommended that “training positions” be created to develop new leadership personnel. It is also recommended that nonfire based personnel gain practical experience by working with local fire-based Strike Teams/Task Forces. Preferred Additional Training and Experience: ICS 300 Hazmat FRO Course WMD Awareness Course 3 Years EMS Experience Duties and Responsibilities The Strike Team/Task Force (ST/TF) Leader-Ambulance is responsible for: 1. Assuring the safety and condition of the personnel and equipment. 2. Coordinating the movement of the personnel and equipment traveling to and returning from an incident. 3. Supervising the operational deployment of the team at the incident, as directed by the Division/Group Supervisor, Operations Section Chief, or Incident Commander. 4. Maintaining familiarity with personnel and equipment operations, including assembly, response, and direct C-44 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES actions of the assigned units, keeping the team accounted for at all times. 5. Contacting appropriate Incident personnel with problems encountered on the incident, including mechanical, operational, or logistical issues. 6. Ensuring vehicles have adequate communications capability (see communications section). 7. Maintaining positive public relations during the incident. 8. Prior to deployment, determining mission duration, special circumstances, reporting location and contact information. 9. Ensuring completion and submission of ICS documents for timekeeping and Demobilization (ICS Form 214). In summary, the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance must have the capability and experience to manage, coordinate, and direct the actions of the ambulance crews at a wide variety of emergency situations. This includes maintaining all required records, and ensuring the logistical needs of all personnel are met during the entire activation of the team. C-45 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Equipment Standards/Requirements Personal 72-hour “GO” Pack for AST/MTF Members: o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Pack to contain the following: Reflective Jacket Extra Uniform, socks & underwear Safety Boots Sunglasses 1-Qt. Water Bottle/Canteen with potable water Raingear 2 MREs Toilet Paper Personal Meds & Medical History Documentation Toiletries & Other Personal Items as needed Sunscreen DEET Sleeping Bag Hearing Protection (ear plugs) Photo I.D. and petty cash Clothing Appropriate for Climate Ambulance (Minimum requirements in each category) Equipment and Supplies to meet minimum scope of practice (ALS or BLS) as determined by Title 13 and Title 22 Most recently published edition of State Thomas Brothers Map Book Communications Equipment (TBD) Fuel & Supply Purchasing (Credit Cards, Cash) 20 Patient Care Reports (PCRs) 20 Disaster Triage Tags 2 pair Work Gloves 2 Safety Helmet with Dust-Proof Safety Goggles 4 HEPA masks and 4 dust filters 2 Flashlights or Headlamps ST/TF Leader-Ambulance Vehicle C-46 Equipment and Supplies to meet minimum requirements in Title 13 for a CHP Support Vehicle Most recently published edition of State Thomas Brothers Map Book Compass NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Fuel and Supply Purchasing (Credit Cards, Cash) Communications Equipment capable of communicating with the team enroute and at the incident. Cell Phone, batteries and charger FIRESCOPE Field Operations Guide (FOG) Manual 2 Sleeping Bags 36 MREs Potable Water 50 Triage Tags 2 Helmets 2 pairs Work Gloves 2 Flashlights ICS Forms & Strike Team Leader Kit 100 Patient Care Reports (PCRs) Personal Pack with contents as described above Note: When assembling the team and the vehicles, the ST/TF Leader - Ambulance will make sure there are extra batteries, bulbs, chargers, etc. as needed for all equipment. C-47 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Communications Communications equipment, protocols, etc. vary within the State. It is the Operational Area (County) responsibility to ensure that the minimum communications equipment described below is available to ambulances, ambulance/medical personnel and ST/TF Leaders. There are three distinct communications needs for AST/MTF: 1) Communications to the home base All apparatus/units will be equipped with radios and/or cell phones with the ability to communicate to their base from any destination in California. Redundant capabilities are recommended. 2) Communications in-transit Units within a strike team must be able to communicate with each other enroute to the incident. Options may include CALCORD, cell phones, common radio frequencies, etc. 3) Communications at the scene A VHF programmable hand-held radio is better suited for responding to a disaster. It will provide the ability to maintain communications outside of the vehicle and stay in contact with the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance. A mobile radio is recommended in addition to the hand-held programmable radio, due to the increase in output power with a mobile unit. The ST/TF Leader-Ambulance shall be equipped with a hand-held programmable radio to communicate with the appropriate Incident Operations staff at the incident Ambulances will not communicate directly with receiving facilities. The Medical Communications Coordinator or Patient Transportation Group Supervisor will conduct all communications to and from the hospitals. C-48 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Future Considerations: 1) It is recommended that the State of California investigate the possibility of acquiring a VHF frequency or frequencies for Disaster Medical response use. It is also recommended that we research the availability of frequencies that are already licensed that could be redirected for this purpose. Calcord is used for much more than EMS, OES will not authorize the use of CALCORD other than its current use (fire, law, EMS, emergency management, public works, etc.) 2) The State of California should also investigate potential funding sources to purchase a commonality in communications that would incorporate all Hospitals, Emergency responders, Strike Team Leaders, and Ambulance providers (Fire Based and Non-Fire Based). 3) The State needs a communications system that will allow Medical, Fire, and Law entities to all communicate with each other during large-scale responses. 4) The State needs to develop local or regional caches of radios for use in large-scale emergency responses. Radios should be field programmable and use nonrechargeable batteries. This will allow for programming radios accordance with the Incident Communications Plan. C-49 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Part Two – DISASTER OPERATIONS: RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ORDERING/REQUESTING PROCESS In advance and in preparation for an incident and response, the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinators (MHOACs) in each Operational Area will work with ambulance providers to identify resources, both personnel and ambulances stocked with equipment as designated. (The MHOACS will develop a system by which resources in their area can be identified immediately when needed.) Regional coordinators, both from the Fire/Law Mutual Aid system and the Regional Disaster Medical Health Specialists (RDMHS) will work with the MHOACs at the time of the request(s) to assemble team(s) for immediate or planned response. NOTE: The Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, and Medical Health Operational Area Coordinators need to organize a system that will work for their Operational Area. The following describes the State of California ordering system as described in SEMS. This notification and request process is utilized as an event escalates: Field Level At the time the Incident Commander (usually fire or law) orders ambulance resources the incident will: Prepare to receive and deploy the requested resources. Prepare to logistically support those resources. The local dispatch center will process all orders through their normal dispatch channels. Local Jurisdiction C-50 The Local Jurisdiction will reasonably deplete its own resources, including any resources received from neighboring jurisdictions through “move-up,” “back-up,” or “cover” agreements. Once it is determined that outside assistance is needed, will contact the MHOAC or designee to request additional ambulance resources. They should be NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES prepared to give standard Resource Request information (see RIMS Resource/Mission Tasking Form). The local jurisdiction should keep the Operational Area Coordinators informed of the incident status. Operational Area Operational Areas with jurisdictional authority should establish a Single Point ordering system for ambulance resources, to facilitate all requests for both fire and nonfire ambulance resources. When responding to a resource request, the MHOAC should obtain all available information using the RIMS Resource/Mission Tasking Form. Operational Areas will relay all requests to the RDMHC or RDMHS using the RIMS Resource Form. Operational Areas will notify the OES Fire and Rescue, Law Enforcement Coordinators when activating the Medical/Health mutual aid system. MHOAC will coordinate the dispatch and tracking of requested resources within the Op Area (see Form MACS 420). Each Operational Area will maintain an Emergency Resource Directory (ERD) listing ALS and BLS transport resources and qualified Strike Team/Task Force Leaders. Region The RDMHC/RDMHS will receive resource requests, utilizing the RIMS Resource/Mission Tasking Form where possible and practical. The RDMHC/RDMHS will relay request to the MHOACs within the Region. The RDMHS will recommend rendezvous points for mobilization of their regional AST/MTF. RDMHC/RDMHS will notify the EMSA Duty Officer. RDMHC/RDMHS will notify the Regional Fire Coordinator to coordinate and prevent duplication of resource requests. State C-51 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-52 The EMSA representative working at the OES State Operations Center (SOC) will receive requests from RDMHCs/RDMHSs, utilizing the RIMS Resource/Mission Tasking Form where possible and practical. RDMHC/RDMHS and the EMSA will relay, as necessary, requests to other regions. The EMSA will identify available resources and coordinate inter-regional response. The EMSA will work with other members of the OES SOC to provide additional resources. NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACTIVATION PROCESS Until the AST/MTF concept is fully operational, ambulance providers should identify and train personnel to participate on Ambulance Strike Teams and MHOACs should have resource lists available for disaster response. This would include equipment/supply caches according to the guidelines in this document. The following guidelines are offered: 1. Ambulances/medical personnel will report as quickly as possible to the location requested. (Do not take time to gather personal equipment/gear and/or additional ambulance or support vehicle equipment/gear if these caches are not already pulled prior to the incident.) This is defined as Immediate Need. 2. EMSA will provide agency representatives to work with the fire based Strike Team Leaders in coordinating teams and getting them to the incident when trained Strike Team/Task Force leaders are not available. 3. EMSA agency representatives, if requested and assigned, will respond to the incident and report to the Liaison Officer assigned to the Incident Command. C-53 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Enroute All units will contact the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance by radio or phone while enroute to the incident. The decision to travel together will depend on the location of individual ambulances at the time of dispatch. At the rendezvous or assembly point, the ST/TF LeaderAmbulance will be responsible for the following: 1) Introducing team members 2) Briefing the team members on current incident conditions, safety issues and potential assignments. 3) Determining response route, considering time of day, traffic, food, and fueling stops. 4) Making and communicating travel plan (who leads, who “brings up the rear”, etc. Identifying a travel radio frequency for enroute communications. 5) Conducting a checklist assessment of the AST/MTF readiness and equipment availability. 6) Notifying the jurisdictional dispatch center of status and ETA to incident. If an ambulance unit is unable to continue to respond for any reason (mechanical failure of the ambulance, illness of team members, etc.) the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance shall contact their ordering point to advise and request replacement of the unit. Each ambulance crew shall maintain responsibility for their personal equipment, the ambulance, and the medical equipment/supplies. Any problems should be reported to the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance. Ambulances and team members are not considered incident resources until the team has checked in at the incident. At The Incident The AST/MTF shall report to and check in at the incident. ST/TF Leader-Ambulance will be responsible for the following: C-54 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Initiating and use ICS Form 214 (Unit Log) for the entire incident. On arrival providing information, including resource order and request #, for check-in (ICS form 211). Receiving Incident Briefing (IAP, Commo Plan and Medical Plan) Briefing Team Members on Incident and their assignments. Reporting for Line Assignment(s) or to a Staging Area as directed. Obtaining orientation to hospital locations (local information and ICS 206) Determining preferred travel routes and brief team members. C-55 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROTOCOLS – ENROUTE AND AT INCIDENT During a response into another California jurisdiction, and when requested as part of an ALS ambulance, a paramedic may utilize the scope of practice for which s/he is trained and accredited according to the policies and procedures established by his/her accrediting Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA) (Title 22 of the Health and Safety Code, section 100166). If the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance provides any medical care during the incident, they will utilize the scope of practice for which s/he is trained and accredited according to the policies and procedures established by his/her accrediting LEMSA. EMT-Basic personnel functioning as members of an AST/MTF out of their local jurisdiction are authorized to perform any skills in the State EMT-Basic scope of practice (as outlined in Title 22) and any extended scope of practice skills in which they are trained and authorized by their home LEMSA. EMS personnel may not overextend their medical scope of practice regardless of direction or instructions they may receive from any authority while participating on an AST/MTF. C-56 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AT INCIDENT SUPPORT The AST/MTF reporting to the scene of a disaster or other incident should not expect support services to be in place in the early stages of the incident. For this reason all AST/MTF are expected to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours. The location and magnitude of the disaster will determine the level of support services available. The ST/TF Leader-Ambulance may have to utilize commercial services for food, fuel, and supplies until logistical services are established. Obtaining replacement medical supplies during the first days of a disaster may also be difficult. (Operational Area, with the assistance of the MHOAC, may be able to provide medical re-supply services.) The facilities, services, and material at an incident are typically provided by the Logistics Section. ST/TF Leader - Ambulance will contact their Division Group Supervisor for instructions on accessing these services. The Logistics Section consists of the following units: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Communications Unit Medical Unit Food Unit Supply Unit Facilities Unit Ground Support Unit The ST/TF Leader-Ambulance is expected to attend all operational shift briefings and keep all personnel on the team informed on conditions. If the individual units of the AST/MTF are assigned to single resource functions, i.e., patient transportation, triage, or treatment, the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance will make contact with the personnel at least once during each Operational Period. If possible, all units in an AST/MTF will stay together when off-shift unless otherwise directed by the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance. At minimum, all team members will remain in constant communications. Until incident facilities are established each ST/TF Leader-Ambulance will coordinate with their respective support services to provide facilities support to the AST/MTF. C-57 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEMOBILIZATION The Planning Section is responsible for the preparation of the Demobilization Plan to ensure that an orderly, safe, and cost effective movement of personnel and equipment is accomplished from the incident. The Logistics Section is responsible for the implementation of the plan. Demobilization and release will take place in accordance with the Incident Demobilization Plan and the ICS Form 221. At no time shall a crew or individual team member leave without receiving departure instructions from their ST/TF Leader-Ambulance. Teams should obtain necessary supplies to assure that the ambulances leave in a “state of readiness” whenever possible. If unable to replace lost, used or damaged equipment, the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance shall notify their Incident Agency Representative prior to leaving the incident. The ST/TF Leader-Ambulance will return all radios and equipment on loan from the incident. Timekeeping records will be recorded and shall be submitted to the appropriate personnel at the incident prior to departure. All AST/MTF personnel will receive a debriefing from the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance prior to departure from the incident. Vehicles will be inspected for safety by the Ground Support Unit prior to departure from the Incident. Any problems will be communicated to both the ST/TF Leader-Ambulance and OES Agency Representative. ST/TF Leader-Ambulance will review return travel procedures with the Strike Team/Task Force. The Incident will notify MHOACs and RDMHS of ambulance release time, travel route, and estimated time of arrival back at home base. The AST/MTF is still a team upon return, and may be reactivated at any time. C-58 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Part Three – Attachments Attachment A – MASTER MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT C-59 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-60 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-61 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-62 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-63 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES C-64 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Attachment B – INTER-REGION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND HEALTH DISASTER ASSISTANCE CONTRACT #________________ INTER-REGION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND HEALTH DISASTER ASSISTANCE This Agreement is made and entered into by and between the signatory Counties of the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) Mutual Aid Region I and Region VI. WHEREAS, there exists a great potential for a medical/health calamity capable of producing mass casualties that overwhelm local ability to contain and control; and WHEREAS, in preparation for this threat, the signatories of this document, singularly and severally, agree to assist any participating County consistent with the OES Region I and Region VI Medical Health Mutual Aid Plans and the Standardized Emergency Management System by providing such assistance as possible without compromising each County’s own jurisdiction’s medical/health responsibility; and WHEREAS, the OES Region I and Region VI Disaster Medical/Health Coordinators, selected in accordance with the OES Region I and Region VI Medical Mutual Aid Plan, are responsible for regional coordination of medical/health mutual aid within OES Region I and Region VI when so requested by an affected County of Region I or VI; and WHEREAS, each County is desirous of providing to the others a reasonable and reciprocal exchange of emergency medical and health services where appropriate; and WHEREAS, this Agreement is made and entered into by and between the Counties for those agencies within their C-65 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES respective jurisdictions, both public and private, capable of providing emergency medical and health support; and WHEREAS, each County has emergency medical personnel, equipment, and supplies which can be made available, in the spirit of cooperation, under this Agreement; and WHEREAS, each County enters into this Agreement for the prudent use and reimbursement of emergency medical and health services including, but not limited to, personnel, equipment, and supplies utilized in assisting any party participating in this Agreement. NOW Therefore, it is agreed as follows: C-66 1. The Operational Area Medical/Health Coordinators, the Health Officers, or authorized designee from the affected County within OES Region I or Region VI may request emergency medical health services through the OES Region I or Region VI Disaster Medical/Health Coordination System in accordance with the Region Plan and the Standardized Emergency Management System. 2. Parties to this Agreement shall be financially responsible for those emergency medical and health personnel and supplies which they request. In responding to the request of an affected County identified in this Agreement or to the region as a whole, each of the assisting Counties shall provide emergency medical and health assistance to the extent it is reasonably available and to meet the needs of the requesting County. 3. Financial responsibility of the requesting parties to this Agreement shall be limited to costs for personnel, supplies, and equipment confirmed by their request for assistance. Accurate records and documents related to mutual aid requests hereunder shall be maintained by both the parties that provide and request mutual aid assistance. 4. Release or reassignment of mutual aid, personnel, supplies, and equipment between the Counties in OES Region I and Region VI, shall be coordinated through the requesting region. NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 5. Details as to amounts and types of assistance available, methods of dispatching same, communications during the mutual aid event, training programs and procedures, and the names of persons authorized to send and receive such requests, together with lists of equipment and personnel which may be utilized, shall be developed by the Health Officers of each County. Such details shall be provided to the signatories of this document. 6. The requesting County is the controlling authority for use of emergency medical and health within its jurisdiction. In those instances where the assisting operational area providers arrive on scene before the jurisdictional area, the assisting personnel will take the necessary action dictated by the situation. 7. Within one hundred eighty days (180) following its provision of services and supplies for a disaster or calamity, an assisting County shall present its billing and a precise accounting of its costs for the incident to the requesting County. The requesting County shall pay this billing within ninety (90) days of its receipt unless other arrangements are made between the assisting and requesting Counties. 8. Any party to this Agreement may terminate its participation in this Agreement upon ninety (90) days advance written notice to the other parties. 9. The requesting County agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the assisting County and their authorized agents, officers, volunteers and employees against any and all claims or actions arising from the requesting County’s negligent acts or omissions and for any costs or expenses incurred by the assisting County or requesting County on account of any claim thereof. The assisting County agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the requesting County and their authorized agents, officers, volunteers and employees against any and all claims or actions arising from the assisting County’s negligent acts or omissions on account of any claim thereof. 10. The body of this Agreement expresses all understandings of the parties concerning all matters covered and shall constitute the total Agreement, whether by written or verbal understanding of the parties, their officers, agents or employees. C-67 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES No change or revision shall be valid unless made in the form of a written amendment to this Agreement which is formally approved and executed by all the participating parties. 11. This Agreement shall in no way affect or have any bearing on any preexisting mutual aid contracts between any of the Counties for fire and rescue services. To the extent an inconsistency exists between such contract and this Agreement, the former shall control and prevail. 12. This Agreement does not relieve any of the Counties from the necessity and obligation of using its own resources for furnishing emergency medical and rescue services within any part of its own jurisdiction. An assisting County’s response to a request for assistance will be dependent upon the existing emergency conditions with its own jurisdiction and the status of its resources. 13. This Agreement shall not be construed as, or deemed to be an agreement for the benefit of anyone not a party hereto, and anyone who is not a party hereto shall not have a right of action hereunder for any cause whatsoever. 14. Notices hereunder shall be sent by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the Operational Area Disaster Medical Health Coordinator who represents the various signatory agencies. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board of Supervisors of each County has caused this Agreement to be subscribed on their behalf by their respective duly authorized officers, on the day, month, and year noted. C-68 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Attachment C – REGIONAL RESOURCES A. AST/MTF Organization Committee The following table shows members involved in designing the AST/MTF guidelines in the State of California. AMBULANCE STRIKE TEAM LAST NAME FIRST ORGANIZATION Bybee Anne State EMSA - Lead Agency Petrick Doug CAA EMSAAC (916) 563-0600 (800) 913-9142 (805) 688-6550 (925) 258-4599 (916) 735-0154 (925) 646-4690 (714) 986-3930 (559) 445-3387 (661) 322-8741 (323) 838-2212 (925) 454-2301 (323) 890-7500 /7545 (209) 529-5085 EMSAAC (530) Ridenour James CAA Eaglesham John Lee Darrell CAA CA Fire Chiefs Assn Nevins David CAA Center Barbara EMSAAC Ranger Brian CAA Jones David EMSAAC McGinnis Tom Metro Mike Bramell Tom CAA CA Fire Chiefs Assn CA Fire Chiefs Assn Gunter Carol EMSAAC Buchanan Masterman Doug Larry OFFICE PHONE 916-3224336 FAX E-MAIL 916-3234898 abybee@emsa.ca.gov Doug_Petrick@amr-ems.com (209) 527-4582 james_ridenous@amr-emsa.com john_eaglesham@amr-ems.com dlee@mofd.org (916) 735-0161 (925) 646-4379 (714) 792-3650 (559) 445-3205 (661) 334-1541 323-8690311 (925) 454-2367 davnevins@aol.com bcenter@hsd.co.contra-costa.ca.us BrianRanger@emergencyambulance.com djones@fresno.ca.gov mcginnist@hallamb.com mmetro@lacofd.org tbramell@lpfire.org cgunter@dhs.co.la.ca.us (209) 529-1496 (530) dbuchanan@mvemsa.com lmasterman@norcalems.org C-69 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 229-3979 Marquis Jim OES Fire & Rescue Branch Honeycutt Neil OES; FIRESCOPE Madison Steve CAA Osur C-70 Michael EMSAAC (916) 996-5212 (916) 231-0290 (209) 522-0500 (909) 358-5029 229-3984 jim_marquis@oes.ca.gov (916) 364-2810 neil_honeycutt@oes.ca.gov smadison@pjflaw.com (909) 358-5160 mosur@co.riverside.ca.us NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES B. Regional and State Medical/Health Resources Region Region I RDMHC Carol Gunter Los Angeles Dept. of Health 5555 Ferguson Dr., Suite 220 Commerce, CA 90022 (323) 890-7500 /7545 FAX: (323) 890-8732 cgunter@dhs.co.la.ca.us P. Michael Freeman Los Angeles County Fire Dept. 1320 North Eastern Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90063-3294 (323) 881-2401 Fax: 323-265-9948 After Hours: (323) 881-2455 pfreeman@fire.co.la.ca.us William Walker, M.D. Contra Costa County HSD 20 Allen Street Martinez, CA 94553-3191 (925) 370-5003 FAX: (925) 370-5099 After Hours: (925) 646-2441 wwalker@hsd.co.contra-costa.ca.us Barbara Center 1340 Arnold Dr. #126 Martinez, CA 94553 (925) 646-4690 FAX: (925) 646-4379 After Hours: (925) 646-2441 bcenter@hsd.co.contracosta.ca.us Wayne Mitchell CDF-Northern Region 135 Ridgeway Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 94501 (707) 576-2900 Fax: (707) 576-2574 After Hours: (707) 967-4206 wayne.mitchell@fire.ca.gov Larry Masterman 43 Hilltop Drive Redding, CA 96003-2807 (530) 229-3979 FAX: (530) 229-3984 After Hours: (530) 247-4409 pct@snowcrest.net Alan Stovall CDF – Northern Region 6105 Airport Road Redding, CA 96002 (530) 224-2445 Fax: (530) 224-2496 After Hours: (530) 224-2466 alan.stovall@fire.ca.gov Randy Linthicum San Joaquin County EMS Agency P.O. Box 1020 Stockton, CA 95201 (209) 468-6724 FAX: (209) 468-6725 After Hours: (209) 983-7907 rlinthicum@co.san-joaquin.ca.us William “Hank” Weston Grass Valley Fire Department 125 East Main Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 (530) 274-4370 Fax: (530) 274-4374 After Hours: (530) 273-3222 fire@cityof.grass-valley.ca.gov Region III Region IV OES Reg. FIRE Coordinators Jim Eads Los Angeles County EMS Agency 5555 Ferguson Drive Ste 220 Commerce, CA 90022 (323) 890-7519 FAX: (323) 869-8065 After Hours: (818) 751-1332 jeads@dhs.co.la.ca.us After Hours: (323) 887-5381 Region II RDMHS Richard Buys, M.D. San Joaquin County PO Box 1020 Stockton, CA 95201 (209) 468-6818 FAX: (209) 468-6725 After Hours: (209)468-7052 richnb@softcom.net C-71 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Region V David Hadden, M.D. Fresno/Kings/Madera EMS Agency P.O. Box 11867 Fresno, CA 93775 Business (559) 445-3387 FAX: (559) 445-3205 After Hours: (559)456-7838 (Ask for EMS Agency On-Call) DAVIDHADDEN@FRESNO.CA.GOV Randy Linthicum San Joaquin County EMS Agency P.O. Box 1020 Stockton, CA 95201 (209) 468-6724 FAX: (209) 468-6725 After Hours: (209) 983-7907 rlinthicum@co.san-joaquin.ca.us Tim Turner CDF – Southern Region 1234 E. Shaw Avenue Fresno, CA 93710-7899 (559) 222-3714 Fax: (559) 222-3409 After Hours: (559) 292-5271 tim.turner@fire.ca.gov Region VI Thomas Prendergast, Jr., M.D. San Bernardino County 351 N. Mountain View Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92415 (909) 387-6219 FAX: (909) 387-6228 After Hours: (909)356-3805 tprendergast@dph.sbcounty.gov Stuart Long 515 N. Arrowhead Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92415-0061 (909) 388-5832 FAX: (909) 388-5825 After Hours: (909)356-3805 slong@dph.sbcounty.gov Fred H. Batchelor CDF – Southern Region 2524 Mulberry Street Riverside, CA 92501 (909) 782-4240 Fax: (909) 782-4900 After Hours: (909) 320-6179 fred.batchelor@fire.ca.gov State EMSA 1930 – 9th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Duty Officer Pager: (916) 535-3522 FAX: (916) 323-4898 C-72 OES Headquarters 3650 Schriever Avenue Rancho Cordova, CA 95741 24 Hour: (916) 845-8911 Fax: (916) 845-8910 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Attachment D – RIMS Mission/Request Tasking Form RIMS -- Mission/Request Tasking Form 1. Request Date/Time: 2. Operational Area (county): 3. Related Event or Disaster (if any): 4. Related Incident Name: 5. Mission Type: 6. Desired Arrival Date/Time: 7. Threat: 8. Situation 9. Requested Mission: 10. Incident/Project Order Number: 11. AFRCC Incident Number: 12. AFRCC Mission Number: Detailed Resource List: Request # Type Resource: Remarks b. Q ua nti ty c. 12a. 13a. b. c. d. 14a. b. c. d. 15a. b. c. d. 16a. b. c. d. d. C-73 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 17a. b. c. d. 18. Requesting Agency: 19. Service/Support Supplier: a. Name: b. Position: a. Fuel: b. Meals: c. Agency: d. Phone #: c. Water: d. Maintenance: e. Fax #: f. Alt#: e. Lodging: f. Misc.: 20. Reporting Location 21. Forwarding Agency: a. Address: b. Map Ref.: c. Lat/Long: a. Name: b. Position: c. Agency: d. Phone #: 22. OES Coordinator: 24. Special Instructions: (?Duration: ) Revised: October 1, 2002 C-74 e. Fax #: f. Alt#: 23. Responding Agency: 25. Responsible OES Branch/Region: NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Attachment E – RIMS Resource Order Form Resource Order Form RESOURCE ORDER INITIAL DATE/TIME 5. DESCRIPTIVE LOCATIOIN/RESPONSE AREA 2. INCIDENT/PROJECT NAME 6. SEC. TWN 3. INCIDENT/PROJECT ORDER NUMBER RNG BASE MDM 4. OFFICE REFERENCE NUMBER 8. INCIDENT BASE/PHONE NUMBER 9. JURSIDICTION / AGENCY 10. ORDERING OFFICE 11. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION BEARING 12. Request # Order Date/Time LAT. DISTANCE From/To QTY BASE OR OMNI LONG. AIR CONTACT RESOURCE REQUESTED FREQUENCY Needed Date/time Deliver To: GROUND CONTACT From/ To Time FREQUENCY Agency ID RELOAD BASE RESOURCE ASSIGNED OTHER AIRCRAFT/HAZARDS ETD/ETA RELEASED └ └ └ └ └ └ └ TIME/ET └ └ └ └ └ └ └ C-75 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES └ └ └ └ └ └ 13. Request # ORDER RELAYED Date Time ACTION TAKEN To / From MACS FORM 420 C-76 Request # Date ORDER RELAYED Time To / From ACTION TAKEN └ └ └ └ └ └ INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM Attachment F - ACRONYMS ALS care) AST/MTF BLS CAA CHP MMA EMS EMSA EMSAAC EMT-B EMT-II EMT-P FOG duties/responsibilities) FRO GPS HAZMAT HO ICS LEMSA MCI MHOAC MRE MST Advanced Life Support (indicates EMT-Paramedic or EMT-II level of Ambulance Strike Team/Medical Task Force Basic Life Support (indicates EMT-Basic level of care) California Ambulance Association California Highway Patrol Master Mutual Aid Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Services Authority Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association of California Emergency Medical Technician – Basic Emergency Medical Technician – II (intermediate ALS provider) Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic Field Operations Guide (Incident Command System Guide to functions, reporting structure, and specific Field Response Operations Geo Positioning System (satellite tracking system) Hazardous Materials Health Officer Incident Command System Local Emergency Medical Services Agency Mass Casualty Incident Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (County level representative) Meals Ready to Eat Management Support Team (provides Command & Control as well as logistical support to the teams/missions under its authority) OES Op Area PCR RDMHC RDMHS RIMS (Governor’s) Office of Emergency Services Operational Area (County) Patient Care Report Regional Disaster Medical Health Coordinator Regional Disaster Medical Health Specialist Response Information Management System C-77 NIMS--INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SEMS (created by OES for information dissemination) Standardized Emergency Management System (the organizational structure for requesting/supplying ST/TF Leader-Ambulance VHF C-78 disaster resources within California) Strike Team/Task Force Leader-Ambulance Very High Frequency NIMS-INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES APPENDIX D: FIELD OPERATIONS GUIDE D-1 NIMS-INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES D-2