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HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS - 019 January 1,, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT S...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS - 019 January 1,, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Rescue Task Force for Active Shooter / Hostile Revision: Event Incidents 3 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2025 Fire Chief 5 PURPOSE To establish guidelines and procedures for use when responding to any incident of mass violence and to ensure the safety of firefighters engaged in the rapid access, treatment and movement of victims. POLICY This guideline should be followed at every mass violence incident to ensure the coordination and safety of firefighters/paramedics. This guideline may be used at any incident that would be considered to be an active threat. Examples of active threats include, but are not limited to: hostage situations, active shooter events, improvised explosive events, terrorist situations, etc. Though this is a Fire Department Guideline, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction will be considered the lead agency and Fire Department personnel will follow their direction as appropriate. PROCEDURE Rescue Task Force In order to expedite patient movement to the Medical Group during an Active Shooter Event (ASE) or Hostile Event, Rescue Task Force (RTF) Teams are needed. When a RTF is needed, it should be coordinated in the following manner: Depending on the intelligence gathered (e.g., number of patients, size of building, etc.), Unified Command should have teams assigned for immediate RTF deployment once law enforcement is able to secure Warm Zones within the structure or area. It is recommended that the Fire Department Incident Command (IC) increase the number of ambulances responding in order to provide the RTF Teams with needed stretchers for victim movement in the Warm Zones. 1 Each RTF’s members should be assembled and don the appropriate PPE prior to entry into the Warm Zone. The RTFs should consider bringing the following equipment with them as they deploy  Stretcher  Stair-chair  Mega Movers  RTF Go Bag  Portable Radios A RTF Team should include a minimum of two firefighter/paramedics and two or three police officers.  Using a fire company of three would allow the RTF to move two to three patients each time with the use of a stretcher and a stair-chair.  Patient movement should be accomplished with the use of a device with wheels whenever available to expedite the movement of the patient and to conserve the energy of the first responders.  Fire and Police members of the RTF should try to maintain team integrity throughout the incident. The Unified Command Post may elect to send-in an initial RTF to provide an assessment/overview of injuries within the building (for planning purposes) and to begin hemorrhage, airway, breathing and circulation (XABC) treatment when conditions allow, or to begin immediate movement of patients to a Casualty Collection Point (CCP) or the Medical Group for Triage, Treatment and Transportation. RTF Warm Zone Operations: FD members should position themselves in single file between the PD members as they are being escorted into the warm zone. FD members need to understand that the possibility exists that their PD escort may need to engage a threat, potentially leaving them unprotected. FD members will need to be cognizant of suitable protective barriers nearby such as brick walls, vehicles etc. and may need to take immediate actions (situational awareness). Once inside the warm zone RTFs will move in a coordinated manner, directed by the PD members. Once a patient (or group of patients) is/are identified, the FD members will address immediate life threats of bleeding and airway control (XABC). Once life threats have been mitigated to the initial patients, the RTFs will continue to move in search of additional patients. The process of RTF movement, patient contact, XABC mitigation and movement will continue until no more patients are identified in the Warm Zone. The RTF’s will then transition and begin patient extrication. If resources allow additional RTF’s can be organized to initiate patient 2  movement to CCP even as the initial RTF’s are searching and assessing patients. PD members will determine the safest pathway for entry, travel and exit of the team and may include windows or doors. FD members should advise PD members when they are ready to remove patients and/or move on to the next area(s). When exiting the Warm Zone, the PD escort will be behind the FD members placing the protection between the FD and potential threats. Casualty Collection Point(s) (CCP) can be implemented by Unified Command if the RTF is unable to bring the patient directly to the Medical Group due to distance or conditions. If a CCP is needed, the following should be considered:  The CCP should be set-up in either the Cold or Warm Zone, depending on the availability of police resources.  The CCP will require a RTF to staff it full-time for triage and XABC treatment purposes.  A plan to move the patients from the CCP to the Medical Group will be needed.  A CCP should be avoided if the Medical Group can be situated in an area that is well- protected by police and that provides for good ambulance access for transportation. Walking Wounded Unified Command or the initial IC may want to consider either a Medical Group or CCP in the Cold Zone to direct any walking wounded for care. Keep in mind that the CCP/Medical Group may be predefined by the location of the walking wounded upon arrival. RTF Communications  All RTFs should be supervised and coordinated by Unified Command or, if established, the Fire Forward Ops in conjunction with the Police Forward Ops.  A Fire Ground Channel should be assigned by the Command Post. o As the incident expands units may need to move to a VHF Channel to communicate with outside departments.  RTF radio identifiers should be “RTF 1,” “RTF 2,” etc. DEFINITIONS Active Shooter Event (ASE) An event involving one or more suspects who participate in an ongoing, random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating the intent to harm others with the objective of murder. 3 Casualty Collection Point (CCP) A secure location where patients can be temporarily moved to, triaged, and then transported to a Medical Group. A CCP may be defined by where self-evacuating victims congregate, if deemed safe. Cold Zone The area where a Unified Command Post is established, equipment and personnel are staged while awaiting assignment and where medical triage, treatment and transport take place. This area is outside of any danger or possible danger. Cover This is an object that protects from gunfire. Hot Zone This is a dynamic environment where a current active threat is known or believed to be present. This area is typically occupied by law enforcement personnel and TEMS units only. Mass Violence Event An event involving uncontrolled violence that may threaten responding emergency personnel. This includes, but is not limited to: active shooter, large fights, civil unrest etc. Perimeter The establishment of an area containing an incident (360 degrees) to prevent the unauthorized entry and/or exit. Rescue Task Force (RTF) A coordinated group of Police and Fire/EMS personnel whose responsibilities are to bring emergency medical care to victims and move them to patient collection and transport points. It is recommended that an RTF consist of 2 or 3 firefighters and 2 or 3 armed law enforcement personnel. Safe Corridor/Pathway A route secured and identified by Law Enforcement designated for the safe ingress and egress of first responders, victims, and evacuees. This may also be used after the incident to prevent the accidental spoliation of evidence by First Responders. TEMS Tactical Emergency Medical Support. This consists of law enforcement personnel who provide for the health and welfare of the Contact Team and initial treatment of victims. 4 Warm Zone The area in which Fire/EMS may operate as long as they are working in conjunction with law enforcement providing protection. Triage, treatment and transportation may be established in this zone with a strong law enforcement presence. This area includes areas that law enforcement determines to be safe, but in which they have not yet been able to complete a thorough search. XABC The treatment priority order for patients who are victims during ASEs. The acronym stands for Exsanguinating (draining of blood from the body) hemorrhage control, Airway, Breathing, Circulation assessment. EXCEPTIONS Where MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference or MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements are in conflict with HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines, HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines will take precedence. REFERENCES MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements MABAS Policy 530 and 550 HEFD Specialized Operations Guideline – 006 Multiple Patient Incident End of Document 5