Operating Guidelines for Emergency Incidents PDF

Operating Guidelines for Emergency Incidents PURPOSE: These Standard Operating Guidelines have been developed to assist officers to properly prioritize and execute their on-scene suppression or EMS functions. GENERAL INFORMATION: With several units dispatched to these types of incidents and the vari...

Operating Guidelines for Emergency Incidents PURPOSE: These Standard Operating Guidelines have been developed to assist officers to properly prioritize and execute their on-scene suppression or EMS functions. GENERAL INFORMATION: With several units dispatched to these types of incidents and the various tasks that need to be performed, the importance of radio communication and the spotting of apparatus cannot be overemphasized. When spotting an apparatus, the Company Officer and Driver shall consider best the best placement for use as well as considering hazards (i.e., power lines, building collapse, etc.), and street blockage. The Company Officer shall convey the conditions, actions, and needs to incoming units or to an Incident Commander once command has been transferred. Communication on the appropriate Tactical Channel should be short and to the point. PROCEDURE: The following information is intended to be used on the various types of incidents throughout the city. Specifics on the various types of incidents can be reviewed elsewhere in this manual. I. First Arriving Unit The first arriving unit will size-up and investigate the incident as required. The O.I.C. will communicate the following to the responding units on the appropriate Tactical or EMS unit to unit Channel: • Exact location of incident. • Type of incident. • Hazards and/or exposures. • First arriving unit’s functions (i.e., fire - investigating, EMS - patient’s vitals). • Specific assignments of responding units (i.e., laying a supply line, roof ventilation, etc.). a) Working Fire Miami Fire-Rescue (MFR) has adopted the situational report of “Working Fire” for fire related alarms where an Incident Commander (IC) has determined that units will be engaged in firefighting. A “Working Fire” report may occur when a fire is designated a Code 2 for units on scene. It may also occur when the initial designation is “Code 3-Investigating”, as with incidents where fire is present though the full extent is yet unknown. A “Working Fire” situation report is not necessary for a Code 1 as it is already implied that units will be engaged in firefighting. Revised-February 2023 EOM/Article 3/Section 1 Page 1 Operating Guidelines for Emergency Incidents A “Working Fire” designation should not delay the appropriate coding of a fire. Once a fire incident has been determined to be a Code 1 or Code 2 for units on scene, the IC shall make this announcement over the Fire Dispatch channel. Example of radio communication for a “Working Fire”: “E9 arrival, 1 story CBS residential home, flames showing from one window on Side D. Code 3 investigating – pulling a jump-line, this is a Working Fire.” b) Working Incident The situation report “Working Incident” shall be applied to the following types of incidents when units are engaged in actual operations: • Dive Team • Fire Boat • Technical Rescue Team (TRT) • Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) • Vehicle & Machinery Rescue (VMR) Example of radio communication for a “Working Incident”: “Miami, we have a report of a victim in the water. Dive Team 5 is on scene, this is a Working Incident.” II. Aerial / Quint Because of the numerous tasks performed by these units and the possibility of this Officer becoming the Incident Commander, this officer will not only have to prioritize the task performed by their unit, but also coordinate all other fire ground operations until relieved of command. To complete these tasks, the O.I.C. may use units from the original dispatch or request additional units. The Company Officer should assign teams of two (2) when performing these tasks. The types of aerial/quint task most structure fires usually require are search and rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, and lights. If this is an EMS incident OIC should ensure that they allow ample room for the EMS unit to pull up close to the scene for patient pickup. III. IV. District Chief The District Chief on arrival will assume command, establish a command post in an effective operating position, identify overall strategy, set-up the Incident Command System and direct operations. Pumper Company Company Officers will need to consider: • Location where other pumping units are responding from and time of day. • Private fire protection devices (sprinkler/standpipes). Revised-February 2023 EOM/Article 3/Section 1 Page 2 Operating Guidelines for Emergency Incidents • • • • • • V. Hydrants: locations, GPM’s, availability - Importance of the hydrant book, hydrant notices, and territorial notices cannot be overly stressed. Aggressive interior attack (offensive) vs. exposure protection (defensive) Type of lay - Laying your own line, forward, reverse, or supplied by another unit(s) Fire lines - size, location, and purpose of lines. Booster lines are not to be used for interior firefighting. Needs and actions taken must be communicated to other units (ventilation, backup line, etc.) on the appropriate Tactical Channel. If this is an EMS incident OIC should ensure that they allow ample room for the EMS unit to pull up close to the scene for patient pickup. Rescue These units can perform firefighting as well as EMS. The OIC will evaluate the scene and determine to which of the following tasks the Rescue will be committed with the Incident Commanders approval. If this is a Fire Incident, the OIC should ensure that his unit leaves at least 100 feet (if scene safety permits) of clearance in front of the incident for Fire Apparatus Operations. a) Preference: • Provide medical attention to the injured. • Set-up medical rehab. • Firefighting (search and rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, advancing high rise kit, etc.) • Initial Rapid Intervention Team (IRIT) duties. • If the rescue crew has been committed to firefighting tasks the crew should: o Use full PPE. o Advise the Incident Commander. o Request another rescue for patient care and rehab. Revised-February 2023 EOM/Article 3/Section 1 Page 3