Romeoville Fire Department Rescue Task Force Operations PDF

ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL 1016 CATEGORY 1000: SPECIALIZED INCIDENT OPERATIONS POLICY NUMBER TITLE RESCUE TASK FORCE OPERATIONS EFFECTIVE 12/01/2017 AUTHORIZED Kent Adams, Fire Chief REVISED 05/13/2020 PURPOSE: Violence committed in schools, workplaces and other locations presents a difficult...

ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL 1016 CATEGORY 1000: SPECIALIZED INCIDENT OPERATIONS POLICY NUMBER TITLE RESCUE TASK FORCE OPERATIONS EFFECTIVE 12/01/2017 AUTHORIZED Kent Adams, Fire Chief REVISED 05/13/2020 PURPOSE: Violence committed in schools, workplaces and other locations presents a difficult situation for Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Such events may be committed by an individual or group of individuals who are determined to target persons or to create mass casualties The purpose of this policy is to identify guidelines and factors that will assist members in making decisions in these rapidly unfolding and tense situations. SCOPE: All RFD personnel will be responsible for following this guideline at active shooter mass casualty incidents. The availability of Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) (SWAT Medics) is not realistic within the first 30 minutes of the incident and therefore is not part of this policy. Rather, the operational scope of medical delivery at these incidents will be the utilization of the Rescue Task Force (RTF) concept. The on-duty EMS/Fire personnel must be familiar with the expectations of the RFD response and onscene actions at these incidents. TRAINING: The ATF plan manager should coordinate with the Training Officer so that members are provided with ATF training. The training should include: a. Review of the AFT plan b. Review of any applicable Region VIII’s protocol’s/ SOP’s c. Review of trauma care guidelines in high-threat-pre-hospital situations and the various treatment methods available during an AFT. d. Inter-agency training with law enforcement (RPD) and other fire departments. e. Reality-based training at locations that may be a potential target of critical incident annually. Page 1 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL DEFINITIONS: Active Shooter - One or more subjects who participate in an ongoing, random, or systematic attack to continuously harm others. The overriding objective appears to be that of mass murder rather than other criminal conduct. For the purpose of this policy, the term “active shooter” also includes anyone using any other deadly weapon (knife, bow & arrow, explosives, etc.) to systematically or randomly inflict death or great bodily harm. Ballistic Protective Equipment (BPE) - A Level IIIA (minimum) ballistic vest and a Level III A ballistic helmet. Bounding & Overwatch (Leapfrog) - To move ahead of each other in turn; to advance by keeping one RTF in action while moving the other RTF past it to a position farther in front. Casualty Collection Point (CCP) - A location designated for the holding, further assessment, and treatment of casualties. The CCP is a secure area within the Warm Zone. An ideal CCP has cover and concealment. Clear, but not secure (primary) - An area that is clear of the SUSPECT ONLY and currently absent of a known threat. Clear does NOT mean an area that is clear of victims. While law enforcement may have passed through, a deliberate search may not have been conducted to guarantee life safety. Cold Zone – A designated area that has been identified to contain little or no threat and a low degree of danger or hazards for 1st responders. Cold zones should be out of the line of sight of Hot and Warm Zones. This area may have been secured by police or may be protected by geography. In this area FD units will stage, and this area will also contain the Field Hospital and all triage, treatment, and transportation of victims once they are removed from the Warm Zone. Police protection should still be considered in this zone, especially if the total number of shooters is not known. Concealment- Protection from observation. Minimal protection from direct fire and/or explosion. Contact Team – Law enforcement strike team responsible for stopping the suspect. They shall locate and mark secondary devices and shall call out approximate victim numbers and locations. Page 2 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL Cover – Protection from direct fire and/or explosion. Duress Signal – Duress signal of “MAYDAY” is the preface call to alert others of a duress situation. The duress signal will be immediately followed by common language to specifically identify the imminent danger. Entry Corridor - Path from the Cold Zone to the Warm Zone. An established path to a location that has security measures in place. Generally utilized to move to an affected site or to leave a site and/or evacuate injured from the site. ERU – Emergency Response Unit. Also known as “SWAT Team.” It is important to understand that an ERU is different than a RTF. Forward Staging – An aggressive staging position for RTF operations once the rescue element and the protection element have been formed up. Hot Zone – An area that contains a known hazard and an immediate threat to life safety. A Warm Zone could quickly become a Hot Zone and vice versa. Only the right people with the right training and the right equipment shall enter (i.e. Law Enforcement, ERU, etc.). Incident Commander – For the purposes of this policy, any reference to Incident Commander (IC) will refer to the RFD Incident Commander, which will likely be the onduty Battalion Chief or other RFD Chief officer. Law Enforcement, however, will be the overall incident commander for such an incident, and in this policy will be referred to as “PD IC.” IFAK – Individual First Aid Kit. The IFAK is primarily used for treating the RTF personnel if needed. The IFAK may be used for patient care if needed as a last choice. Level I Staging – A clear staging position for EMS/Fire operations usually out of the line-of-sight of the threat. Level II Staging - A secure staging position for EMS/Fire operations. Normally some distance from the event and large enough to accommodate a significant number of apparatus. Link-Up Location – A location where the rescue element (fire/EMS) and the protection element (law enforcement) meet up to form an RTF. Page 3 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL Mass Casualty- Any incident that may potentially overwhelm the initial emergency medical response. Protective Element – Minimum of two law enforcement officers, of which one will be designated as the RTF Team Leader. Rescue Element – A minimum of two, preferably three, EMS/Fire personnel with BPE/IFAK. Takes direction from and provides information to the RTF Team Leader. Rescue Task Force (RTF) - Minimum two EMS/Fire, preferably three personnel (rescue element) who team up with at least two police officers (protection element) to assess, treat, and evacuate victims in the Warm Zone, where TECC concepts will be used. RTF Team Leader - Law enforcement officer responsible for coordinating RTF movement. All movement in and around the Warm Zone must be communicated through the RTF Team Leader. Secure (secondary) – A detailed and deliberate search of an entire area. This area is safe from the suspect and from secondary devices. Law enforcement will remain in a secure area to ensure it remains protected. Security Measures – Any means utilized to reduce the amount of dangers or hazards to first responders and victims in a specific area or location. This can include, but not limited to, cover, concealment, ballistic shields, law enforcement utilizing lethal weapons, vehicles, armored vehicles, positioning, teams utilizing protection element, movement, etc. Tactical Incident- Any malicious activity that threatens the safety of bystanders. Tactical incidents require the response of police, fire, and emergency medical resources. TECC – Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, ie patient care in the Warm Zone using limited equipment. Treatment Bags/ Drop Bags – Equipment and supplies for treating victims and supplying CCP with TECC equipment. Same equipment as IFAK and additional supplies. Page 4 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL Triage/Treatment/Transport (TTT) – Typical mass casualty level care. TTT is under the supervision of the Medical Officer. Activities for TTT are typically coordinated in the Cold Zone. Warm Zone – A designated area of indirect threat that has been identified and has security measures in place to reduce the amount of dangers or hazards to 1st responders and victims. The Warm Zone is cleared but not secured posing minimal or reduced risk. This is the area where RTF’s operate, utilizing ballistic PPE and law enforcement security, to treat victims. OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES: A. Stop the Shooter - If incident is an active shooter situation. A. Law Enforcement is responsible for this activity B. Establish an Entry Corridor/ Perimeter - Contain the threat and reduce the threat to nearby innocents and first responders. Control access points (ingress and egress). A. Law Enforcement is responsible for this activity C. Provide Protection for RTF/Rescue Element- Provide protection for those removing injured. A. Law Enforcement is responsible for this activity D. Rescue Injured - Law Enforcement initiates when practical (if these officers are not needed for Contact Team, Perimeter Assignment, or Injury Rescue Protection/ Escort Team) – A. Law Enforcement may attempt to perform this activity, but realistically they will not have enough officers to fulfill a rescue assignment. B. If Law Enforcement is assigned to other incident priorities then, at the direction of Law Enforcement, first-in EMS/Fire personnel may form a RTF to assist with the treatment and movement of injured in the Warm Zone. Page 5 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL E. Staging - Establish Staging in the established Cold Zone. A. RFD IC will initially establish the Cold Zone and staging area for the EMS/Fire agencies. B. PD will initially establish the Cold Zone and staging area for the law enforcement agencies. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES: A. Initial Response: A. When Dispatch receives a report(s) of a shooting/mass casualty incident at a specific location they will relay as much information as possible to all responding units. i. For security reasons it is preferred that supplemental incident information be relayed to crews by CAD notes rather than over the radio. B. Dispatch shall advise responding FD personnel of safe routes into the incident location if provided by the PD. i. The FD IC shall determine the appropriate Box Alarm number for this incident and be prepared to activate the box alarm early in the incident with a possible upgrade if appropriate, even before they arrive on-scene if reliable information from the scene justifies it. ii. Consider a suppression box alarm for manpower. C. If the PD IC reports the incident is an RTF incident then all responding FD personnel, with the exception of those driving apparatus, should make every attempt to access and don their RTF equipment while responding if it is accessible. i. Members need not don their RTF equipment if they will be/are working in the Cold Zone, however they should always have it outside the vehicle and nearby ready to don should they be moved up into the Warm Zone, or other potentially hazardous areas. D. First arriving RFD personnel will: Page 6 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL i. Cautiously proceed toward the reported location looking for signs of ambush, booby traps, or I.E.D.s. ii. Identify safest route to staging location for Fire/ EMS. E. The FD IC will designate the Fire/EMS Staging area: i. Fire and EMS will begin to stage at a designated location that provides cover and quick response (Cold Zone). F. FD personnel will establish their command structure which shall consist of: i. Incident Commander – On-duty Battalion Chief or other RFD chief officer a. IC will also have a Command Support team such as Operations, Safety, etc. b. A FD chief officer should respond to the CCP to direct operations there. ii. RTF – a. First-in responders from the FD will form, manpower permitting, three (3) two-man RTF teams. b. Teams will be titled “RTF-1,” “RTF-2,” etc. c. The first team will be composed of personnel from the first arriving fire apparatus, second team will be composed of personnel from second-arriving fire apparatus, etc. d. Ambulance personnel will not be assigned to RTF teams unless absolutely necessary. iii. Medical Group a. Medical Officer – Charge medic from first-arriving ambulance b. Triage – Driver from first-arriving ambulance (this position should always be an RFD member, if possible) c. Treatment Officer – Member from second-arriving ambulance a. Sets-up and activates Field Hospital / treatment area d. Transport Officer – Member from second-arriving ambulance a. Assigns patients to transport ambulances from the Field Hospital per the instructions from the Medical Officer Page 7 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL iv. Additional FD personnel may assist in movement of removed victims to the Field Hospital & treatment. G. Initial Police Supervisor arriving on scene will: i. Establish Unified Incident Command. ii. Establish an entry corridor/ perimeter. iii. Identify Hot, Warm, and Cold Zones iv. Identify location of Mobile Command Post (to be moved to the Cold Zone ASAP) v. Determine a safe route into the incident/ staging. vi. Initiate response priorities a. Coordinate with FD IC b. Identify Entry Corridor/ Perimeter c. Evacuation of the uninjured d. Activation of RTF’s B. Initial FD Actions: A. Incident Parameters i. Risk / benefit analysis a. Are injuries reported? b. Has an entry Corridor/Perimeter been established? c. Has a Warm Zone been identified? d. Is a protection element assigned to protect EMS/Fire in the RTF? ii. If the answer to ALL above questions are “YES” then the FD may proceed with the RTF deployment at the direction of Law Enforcement iii. If the answer to ANY of the above questions are “NO” then the FD IC should coordinate with the PD IC for further instructions B. FD IC will contact the PD IC for further information, and Unified Incident Command should be established as soon as practical. i. Determine safest route in ii. Situation status report from PD iii. Assist with Cold Zone location iv. Assist with staging location v. Determine medical need for RTF formation Page 8 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL vi. Verify PD/FD link-up location for RTF C. PD will be the lead agency and will establish Unified Command with FD. D. If medical treatment is indicated then the FD IC will have fire apparatus crews assemble a rescue element (with appropriate BPE and medical equipment) and report to the link-up location to assemble the RTF teams. E. Prior to deploying a Rescue Task Force, threat zones must be identified, ie Hot, Warm, and Cold Zones. F. Once the Warm Zone has been identified and secured the RTF will be advised of their response parameters and assigned a protection element at the link-up location. The second & third RTF teams will stage at the linkup location and then remain at the entrance/exit to the Warm Zone, or where otherwise designated by PD IC. G. Once FD personnel have been assigned to the RTF’s and the Medical Group has been established, mutual-aid ambulances should be called to the scene early and should be utilized as the primary transport units. H. Depending on the size and location of the incident, injured victims may need to be placed in a Casualty Collection Point (CCP) before transition to the Cold Zone Field Hospital. The CCP will be determined by the initial arriving PD units, secured by PD, and relayed to the RTF’s by PD & FD IC. C. Rescue Task Force Equipment: A. The equipment that should be carried/worn by RTF members: a. Ballistic vests b. Kevlar helmets c. Safety glasses Page 9 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL d. Work gloves e. IFAK (attached to vests for treatment of injured RTF members), each containing: 1. CAT Tourniquets 2. Israeli/Emergency bandages 3. Combat gauze (Hemostatic agent) 4. Roll bandage / tape 5. Latex-free exam gloves f. Treatment bag/ drop bag (for victim treatment) g. Flashlight h. Patient movement tarp (Mega-Mover) i. Radio j. Gas mask / personal SCBA mask / CBRN mask k. Consider forcible entry tools, if they are believed to be needed D. Deployment: A. Once PD & FD Unified Command has agreed to RTF deployment teams will deploy to the Warm Zone to begin victim care. B. Each RTF will deploy with at last two PD officers as a security element after the Contact Team(s) in groups of two minimum FD personnel as the rescue element. i. RTF’s will always work with a law enforcement security element under their protection at all times C. The first RTF to enter should advise the Medical Officer of the approximate victim count. (All responding FD personnel will communicate via radio to FD IC, as communication with PD via radio may not be possible.) D. The first RTF will enter the area and whenever they encounter a victim they will rapidly assess the patient, provide quick medical fix utilizing the equipment and supplies they have on hand. i. If any discovered victim is categorized as a “Red” then they should immediately be extracted and moved to the CCP. Page 10 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL ii. For all other victims (Green, Yellow, or Black) RTF members will perform quick assessments and move on to the next victim. iii. Green & Yellow victims will remain in the area until all victims in the general area have been assessed. However, if an extraction team is available then they may begin to extract these patients while RTF teams are still assessing the area. iv. Patients categorized as “Black” will remain in the position found and should not be removed by RTF if at all possible. E. Victim Removal/ Transport to Cold Zone: A. The CCP should have an armed security element for protection B. When victims arrive at the CCP: i. Whenever possible, victims should be moved from the CCP to the Cold Zone Field Hospital as soon as possible, preferably by a waiting vehicle. This transfer should not be delayed by further non-life saving treatment, lengthy triage, etc. a. Transfer to the Field Hospital may be accomplished in a number of ways such as manually carrying victims, ATV’s, vehicles at scene, etc. ii. If it is determined that victims may be at the CCP for a length of time rather than being immediately taken to the Field Hospital then FD personnel within the CCP will: a. Build on the life-saving treatment that was given by the RTF by utilizing more extensive treatment and equipment b. Mark the patient with the triage color determination based on their medical condition (Green, Yellow, Red, Black). c. Secure the means and method to have the victim moved to the Cold Zone Field Hospital (manually carry, ATV’s, Village vehicles / trucks, etc.) C. If available, additional RTF’s will be utilized: i. When the victim area is so large that it cannot be effectively assessed by one RTF ii. There are a large number of victims that cannot effectively be assessed by one RTF Page 11 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL iii. When the primary RTF needs relief due to fatigue or they run out of equipment iv. To help extract the victims after the primary RTF locates and treats v. To help move victims from the CCP to the Field Hospital D. If any RTF teams have a member to spare they should try to locate the fire alarm panel or annunciator to shut down or silence the fire alarm if it is sounding to help reduce noise in the building. i. Personnel should not travel away from the security element in an effort to search for the fire alarm panel or annunciator ii. If fire alarm panel or annunciator is outside the Warm Zone and can be safely accessed then non-RTF personnel may be assigned to this task, such as an FD suppression crew. F. Emergency Actions/ Duress: A. “MAYDAY” will be announced over the radio in the event of a life threatening event (shots fired, IED, gas release) is discovered in the immediate area of the RTF. i. FD members should realize that PD members will more than likely not hear their duress call over the radio. Therefore they will likely be answered and aided by the FD IC. B. The duress signal shall be immediately followed with a clear text radio communication describing the situation. i. RTF Team leader will take immediate action to protect the rescue element a. Additional cover/concealment b. Hasty evacuation c. Do a face-to-face with a member of the PD security element to explain the emergency and follow their direction ii. Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) will be conducted with each RTF. C. If a member of the RTF discovers what they believe is an explosive, booby trap, or improvised explosive device (IED): i. Limit use of radio near device ii. Move past or detour around the device to get clear from danger Page 12 of 13 ROMEOVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANUAL iii. Keep other members of the RTF away from the area iv. Report the device to a member of the PD security element immediately and follow their instructions v. Mark the immediate area of the device without touching or disturbing the device vi. DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE DEVICE, EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TYPE OF DEVICE G. Evidence Preservation: A. While secondary to victim treatment/evacuation and life safety, FD members should make every attempt to not disrupt any objects in the Warm Zone, as they could be deemed as important crime scene evidence. This includes: i. Weapons and shell casings ii. Debris iii. Deceased victims Page 13 of 13