Incident Response and Mobilization

Incident Response and Mobilization

• Once an incident is declared, additional resources and personnel are requested, mobilized, and deployed to a designated staging area.
• A staging officer is assigned to coordinate incoming and outgoing units, track units, and maintain accountability.

Mobilization and Deployment Steps

• Check in with the Incident Commander or resource unit at a large-scale incident.
• Receive an initial briefing about the incident and job responsibilities.
• Keep the supervisor up to date on location, actions, and completed/uncompleted tasks.
• The Incident Commander decides on demobilization of resources.

Preparedness

• Preparedness involves making decisions and basic plans before an incident occurs.
• Plans include all natural and human-made disasters likely to happen in a particular area.
• Each agency has a written disaster plan, usually located at the MS station or electronically accessible.
• Personal disaster plans and necessary immunizations are also important.
• Training is a crucial component of preparedness.

Scene Size-Up and Requesting Resources

• During scene size-up, dispatch informs you if the MCI scene is safe or unsafe.
• Request more resources early on if necessary.
• Ask yourself: "What do you have?" and "What do you need?"
• Check for hazards, warn other responders of safety concerns, and confirm the location of the incident.
• Estimate the number of casualties and report findings back to dispatch or supervisors.

Incident Command and Communication

• Establish command early on, preferably by the first arriving, most experienced Public Safety official.
• Evaluate the scene and return to your post if working as the Incident Commander.
• Communication is a problem at an MCI or disaster; use face-to-face communication when possible.
• Use reliable, durable, and tested communication equipment with backups.

Medical Group and Incident Command

• The Medical Group, formerly known as the Medical Incident Command, is the medical branch of the incident command system.
• A branch supervisor is appointed during incidents with a significant medical factor.
• The Medical Group oversees triage, treatment, and transport, and ensures EMS units work within the incident command system.

Triage, Treatment, and Transport

• The triage unit leader counts and prioritizes patients, ensuring each patient receives an initial assessment and triage.
• Treatment units set up treatment areas, provide secondary triage, and assist with moving patients to the transportation area.
• Treatment units communicate with the logistics section for supplies and request sufficient quantities.
• Transport units coordinate transportation and distribution of patients to appropriate hospitals.

Staging Area and Rehabilitation

• A staging area manager is assigned to designate an efficient location for the staging area, away from the incident.
• The staging area manager helps prevent traffic congestion and releases vehicles and supplies when needed.
• The rehabilitation group leader creates a rehab area for responders to rest, eat, and drink, and monitors personnel for signs of stress.

Other Incident Command Roles

• An extrication task force leader or rescue task force leader may be appointed depending on the incident.
• A morg unit leader coordinates the removal of bodies, identification of victims, and removal/storage plans in multiple fatality situations or crime scene investigations.

Incident Response and Mobilization

• Following incident declaration, additional resources and personnel are requested, mobilized, and deployed to a designated staging area.
• A staging officer coordinates incoming and outgoing units, tracks units, and maintains accountability.

Mobilization and Deployment Steps

• Check in with the Incident Commander or resource unit at a large-scale incident.
• Receive an initial briefing about the incident and job responsibilities.
• Keep the supervisor updated on location, actions, and completed/uncompleted tasks.
• The Incident Commander decides on demobilization of resources.

Preparedness

• Preparedness involves making decisions and basic plans before an incident occurs.
• Plans include all natural and human-made disasters likely to happen in a particular area.
• Each agency has a written disaster plan, usually located at the MS station or electronically accessible.
• Personal disaster plans and necessary immunizations are also important.
• Training is a crucial component of preparedness.

Scene Size-Up and Requesting Resources

• Dispatch informs responders about the safety of the MCI scene.
• Request additional resources early if necessary.
• Assess the scene by asking "What do you have?" and "What do you need?"
• Check for hazards, warn other responders of safety concerns, and confirm the location of the incident.
• Estimate the number of casualties and report findings back to dispatch or supervisors.

Incident Command and Communication

• Establish command early on, preferably by the first arriving, most experienced Public Safety official.
• Evaluate the scene and return to your post if working as the Incident Commander.
• Communication is a problem at an MCI or disaster; use face-to-face communication when possible.
• Use reliable, durable, and tested communication equipment with backups.

Medical Group and Incident Command

• The Medical Group oversees triage, treatment, and transport, and ensures EMS units work within the incident command system.
• A branch supervisor is appointed during incidents with a significant medical factor.

Triage, Treatment, and Transport

• The triage unit leader counts and prioritizes patients, ensuring each patient receives an initial assessment and triage.
• Treatment units set up treatment areas, provide secondary triage, and assist with moving patients to the transportation area.
• Treatment units communicate with the logistics section for supplies and request sufficient quantities.
• Transport units coordinate transportation and distribution of patients to appropriate hospitals.

Staging Area and Rehabilitation

• A staging area manager designates an efficient location for the staging area, away from the incident.
• The staging area manager helps prevent traffic congestion and releases vehicles and supplies when needed.
• The rehabilitation group leader creates a rehab area for responders to rest, eat, and drink, and monitors personnel for signs of stress.

Other Incident Command Roles

• An extrication task force leader or rescue task force leader may be appointed depending on the incident.
• A morg unit leader coordinates the removal of bodies, identification of victims, and removal/storage plans in multiple fatality situations or crime scene investigations.

Learn about the steps and procedures involved in incident response and mobilization, including resource deployment and staging area coordination.