Goal - The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number of People
The CERT Incident Commander/Team Leader Directs 4 sections:
1) Operations, 2) Planning, 3) Logistics, and 4) Administration
Under Operations, there are 3 response teams:
1) Fire Suppression, 2) Search and Rescue, and 3) Medical
Under Planning, there are 2 sections:
1) Documentation, and 2) Incident Status
(1st) ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER TO SCRIBE
(2nd) ASSEMBLE 2 VOLUNTEERS (SIZE UP / HOT LAP)
(3rd) SIZE-UP/ASSESSMENT
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
Gather facts
Assess and communicate the damage
Consider probabilities
Assess your own situation
Establish priorities
Make decisions
Develop a plan of action
Take action
Evaluate progress (ON GOING)
(4th) ESTABLISH LOGISTICS TEAM
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FIRE AND UTILITY HAZARDS
Determine “Is the scene safe for us?”
1) LOCATE SHUTOFFS FOR WATER AND GAS (as applicable)
2) DETERMINE/SECURE ANY ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
TAPE OFF/SECURE THE HAZARD AREA(S)
FIRE ASSESSMENT
Types of Fire: Determine if you should, and/or how to fight a fire.
Class A (leaves an ash - wood, clothing, paper)
Class B (burning liquids - cooking oil, gasoline)
Class C (electrical - short circuits, downed power lines)
Class D (burning metals - magnesium)
Resources: Extinguishers / Hose Lines – 2 Person Crew
(Ready, Going In, Backing Out, REPEAT COMMANDS)
Or use the US Navy “OATH” safety line procedure:
1 tug on the line
2 tugs on the line
3 tugs on the line
4 tugs on the line
“O” = I’m ok.
“A” = I’m advancing, give me slack.
“T” = I’m backing out, take up slack.
“H” = Help.
USE the OSHA Hazard Diamond Sign:
Red quadrant: Describes the material’s flammability
Blue quadrant: Indicates health hazards
Yellow quadrant: Indicates reactivity
White quadrant: Indicates special precautions (PPE, etc.)
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(5th) TRIAGE / SEARCH AND RESCUE
“ABC’s”: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation; Bleeding and Shock
Upon entering a search area make a mark ( \ ) Make a single slash, write
the agency or group ID at the “9 o’clock” position. Write the date and “time
in” at the “12 o’clock” position.
DATE & TIME IN
AGENCY or GROUP ID
\
BEFORE ENTERING A SEARCH AREA – ANNOUNCE…..
“If you can walk, come to the sound of my voice.”
Step 1: Stop, Look, Listen, and Think
Step 2: Conduct voice triage
Step 3: Start where you stand, and follow a systematic route
Step 4: Evaluate each victim and tag them
Step 5: Treat immediate “I” victims first (airway, bleeding, shock)
Step 6: Document triage results
Evacuate-assist “I” victims first:
1) Report results to Incident Commander/Team Leader
2) Continue in Search and Rescue (SAR) mode
Work in pairs. Always use the proper safety equipment and follow
established procedures, including:
1) In lightly damaged buildings; Triage and treat on site
2) In moderately damaged buildings; Triage only and remove victims as
quickly as possible
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START
STart = Simple Triage: The first phase by which victims are sorted based
on injury and priority of treatment.
stART = And Rapid Treatment: The second phase of START consists of
rapid treatment of the injuries assessed and prioritized in the first phase.
Immediate (I)
Delayed (D)
Minor (M)
Dead (DEAD)
Red
Yellow
Green
Black
LESS THAN <
GREATER THAN >
EXITING INTERIOR SEARCH AREA FINISH DOOR Mark (X)
Top quadrant: Enter the search date and “time out”.
Left quadrant: Enter the agency or group ID.
Right quadrant: Enter the areas of the structure searched and any specific
information about hazards.
Lower quadrant: Enter information about the victims found in the search
area; “L” for living victims; “D” for dead victims.
The search marking on the front of a structure should contain the total
number of victims; whereas search markings inside the structure will
include victim totals for specific search areas. Also, if they are relocated,
indicate where victims have been taken.
Exterior search: include grid, line, quadrant or zone, and spiral methods
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LEVERAGING AND CRIBBING
Group Leader: In front of the collapse, positioned to view the entire
operation while remaining out of the rescuers’ way
Lever Person(s): At the front edge of the collapse, positioned to enable the
placement of a fulcrum and lever under the collapse
Crib Person(s): On either side of the collapse, positioned to enable the
placement of cribbing as the collapse is raised with the lever
Medical Care/Victim Removal Person(s): Near the Crib Person, closest to
the victim’s head
(6th) ESTABLISHING MEDICAL TREATMENT AREAS
(Morgue located out of immediate sight)
CONDUCT:
MONITOR:
AIRWAYS:
BLEEDING:
SHOCK:
Head-to-Toe assessments
Continuous process of evaluation/monitoring
Keep airways open (ABC’s)
Control bleeding (direct pressure, tourniquet)
Blankets for warmth, elevate legs, provide comfort
“If the face is red, raise the head. If the face is pale, raise the tail.”
(7th) FINAL OPERATIONS
1) Confirm all known victims are removed from structures
2) Begin transporting victims – record their destinations
3) Assemble all responders for debrief/release from duty
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