INCIDENT COMMAND

SYSTEM
OPERATIONS, ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES in EMS
ON FEBRUARY 26, 1993, THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM WAS
USED IN RESPONSE TO THE BOMBING OF THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER IN NEW YORK.
THE SCENE OF THE APRIL 19, 1995, BOMBING
OF THE ALFRED P. MURRAH FEDERAL
BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA CITY
 CREWS WITH VARIOUS KINDS OF PROTECTIVE
GEAR ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE AND EXTRICATE
VICTIMS FROM THE DEBRIS.
SUPER TYPHOON
 MULTIPLE-
CASUALTY
INCIDENT

An incident that generates large numbers

of patients.

Also called a “mass-casualty incident”

(MCI)
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A national system used for the

management of multiple-casualty
incidents
Involves assumption of command and the
designation and coordination of elements
such as triage, treatment, transport, and
staging
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CYCLE
 SINGULAR VS.
UNIFIED COMMAND

Singular command
One person coordinates the incident.
Most useful in smaller, single-jurisdictional incidents.
Unified command
Managers from different jurisdictions share command.
Fire, EMS, law enforcement
Successful handling of
any MCI involves
coordination of key
personnel—whether it
be two or twenty
people.
ESTABLISHING COMMAND

1. First arriving unit establishes

command.
2. Assign command early in an
incident.
3. Establish a command post.
It is better to call
too many
resources than
too few.
 INCIDENT PRIORITIES

• Life safety
• Incident stabilization
• Property conservation
 COMMUNICATIONS

Communication
forms the cornerstone of
the Incident Management
System.
 RESOURCE UTILIZATION

The primary role of an incident

commander is the strategic
deployment of all necessary
resources at an incident.
 USING COMMAND VESTS AT A MASS-CASUALTY INCIDENT
MAKES IT EASIER TO IDENTIFY PERSONNEL. THE INCIDENT
MANAGER OR COMMANDER DIRECTS THE RESPONSE AND
COORDINATES RESOURCES.
Orange safety vests are used in open areas, especially for
the day time. They are used to make a contrast with:

The green environment

The blue sky
The yellow sunlight
The black background
Yellow safety vests are actually fluorescent
green-yellow in color and they are meant
to prevent accidents and to keep people
safe.
 TRANSFER OF COMMAND

Command is transferred face-

to-face, with current incident
commander conducting a short
but complete briefing on the
incident status.
TERMINATION OF COMMAND

Resources are reassigned

or released as an incident
progresses.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
EXAMPLES OF BRANCHES
THAT MAY OPERATE IN A
MAJOR INCIDENT
INCIDENT COMMANDER
THE METTAG
 TREATMENT

Red treatment unit

Yellow treatment unit
Green treatment unit
Supervision of treatment units
 TREATMENT
SECTOR AT AN
INCIDENT (MCI)
 OTHER AREAS

On-scene physicians
Staging
Transport
Extrication/Rescue
Rehabilitation
A HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS
TEAM MAY BE
INVOLVED IN
THE
EXTRICATION
AND RESCUE
PHASES OF SOME
MASS-CASUALTY
INCIDENTS.
 IDENTIFYING A STAGING AREA

Primary Staging
As close to the scene as possible
Quick, easy access to the scene
Good access and exit areas
Secondary
Different direction than primary staging
Provides a contingency plan if conditions change
Things can and do go wrong at
MCIs and disasters.
Anticipate problems in advance.
Drill often, utilizing the actual
resources and equipment
available to the service on a
regular basis.
 DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES

Psychological first aid to meet

providers’ emotional needs
Screening of rescuers and
victims for abnormal signs and
symptoms of traumatic stress
 Never say,
“It will never
happen here.”
END AND THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING