ASHER Response Protocol PDF

Active Assailant(s) (AA) – An individual or individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area with means other than the use of firearms. Active Shooter – An individual or individuals actively engaged in harming or attempting to kill people in a pop...

Active Assailant(s) (AA) – An individual or individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area with means other than the use of firearms. Active Shooter – An individual or individuals actively engaged in harming or attempting to kill people in a populated area with the use of firearm(s). Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) – An incident where one or more individuals are or have been actively engaged in harming, killing, or attempting to kill people in a populated area by means such as firearms, explosives, toxic substances, vehicles, edged weapons, fire or a combination thereof. Ballistic Protection Equipment (BPE) – An item(s) of personal protective equipment (PPE) intended to protect the wearer from threats that could include ballistic threats, stabbing, fragmentation, or blunt force trauma. Minimally consists of ballistic vest, helmet and/or shield. Casualty Collection Point (CCP) – A temporary location used for gathering, triage, medical stabilization, and subsequent evacuation of nearby casualties. Where vehicular access might be limited and is usually occurring in the warm zone. Casualties can be transferred to an ambulance exchange point/loading zone from these locations. Complex Coordinated Attack – Frequently this is done using multiple asymmetric attack modes, such as firearms, explosives, fire and smoke as weapon and/or vehicle assaults. It will also often involve coordinated and concurrent attacks on multiple locations which will usually require multiple attackers. Concealment – The protection from observation. Anything that prevents direct observation from the threat that might or might not provide protection from the threat. Contact Team/Law Enforcement Entry Team – A team of law enforcement officers tasked with locating the suspect(s) and neutralizing the threat. Cover – The protection from firearms or other hostile weapons. Extraction Team/Litter Bearers – Personnel used to move the injured/uninjured to an area of safety Force Protection (FP): Is preventive measures taken to mitigate hostile actions in specific areas or against a specific population, those protected by FP can include civilians and unarmed responders. Improvised Explosive Device (IED) – Per the Department of Defense (DOD), it is a device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass or distract. An IED may be made with military or nonmilitary components. Rescue Task Force (RTF) – A combination of fire and/or EMS personnel and law enforcement who provide force protection. The RTF could provide the following tasks: threat-based care, triage, and extracting victims to a CCP or other designated location. The law enforcement officers (LEO) are assigned as force protection for this team, and should not separate from the fire and/or EMS personnel. There could be instances where the warm zone suddenly becomes a hot zone and the LEO must immediately respond to that threat to ensure the safety of the team. Based on the scene, number of victims, and available emergency personnel, there could be more than one RTF assigned. RTFs can operate in the warm zone. Once triage and treatment is complete, the RTF can assist with victim movement. The RTF could also have tactical objectives such as breaching, utility control, managing building systems, and fire control. These teams treat, stabilize, and remove the injured in a rapid manner, while wearing BPE and under the protection of law enforcement officers. THREAT – Acronym from the Hartford Consensus highlighting the importance of initial actions to control hemorrhaging: T – Threat suppression H – Hemorrhage Control RE – Rapid Extrication to safety A – Assessment by medical providers T – Transport to definitive care Unified Command (UC) – An authority structure in which the role of the incident commander is shared by individuals from all responding organizations responsible for the incident, operating together to develop a single incident action plan. During an ASHER incident, Unified Command generally consists of law enforcement, fire and EMS representatives at a minimum. Zones as they relate to Active Shooter Hostile Events: The areas at ASHER incidents within an established perimeter that are designated based upon safety and the degree of hazard. Hot Zone – Area that has not been cleared by law enforcement personnel, an area where there is known hazard or direct and immediate threat. RTFs should NOT be deployed in this area. Warm Zone – An area where there is the potential for a hazard or an indirect threat to life. Where the perpetrator is not believed to be and is available for entry by a trained RTF to treat victims and extract them to the CCP. Cold Zone – Areas where there is little or no threat due to geographic distance from the threat or the area has been secured by law enforcement (i.e., the area where fire/EMS may stage to triage, treat, and transport victims once removed from the warm zone). Active Assailant(s) (AA)- One or more individuals actively engaged in harming, killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area with means other than the use of firearms. Active Shooter(s) (AS)- One or more individuals actively engaged in harming, killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area with the use of firearm(s). Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER)- An incident where one or more individuals are or have been actively engaged in harming, killing, or attempting to kill people in a populated area by means such as firearms, explosives, toxic substances, vehicles, edged weapons, fire or a combination thereof. After Action Report (AAR)- A comprehensive document to be completed following a review of a planned or spontaneous operation to include the actions taken (or failures to act and omissions) by personnel, mission results, and any pertinent and relevant information related to same operation, including lessons learned and any training recommendations identified. Ballistic Protective Equipment (BPE)- An item of personal protective equipment (PPE) intended to protect the wearer from threats that could include ballistics threats, stabbing, fragmentation, or blunt force. Casualty Collection Point (CCP)- A location in the "Strong Hold" (warm zone) where Fire Rescue can receive and treat victims brought by Law Enforcement. This area should remain the primary treatment area for life threating injuries until transport is available or the scene is determined to be "cold" and the CCP will transition to the treatment area. Victims may be brought to the CCP by Law Enforcement members or Fire Rescue personnel, usually by being dragged or carried out of the hot zone. Cold (Green) Zone- An operational (geographic) area surrounding the warm zone where first responders can operate with minimal threat to personal safety or health. In this zone personnel can provide treatment to victims. Areas where there is little or no threat due to geographic distance from the threat of the area has been secured by law enforcement. An operational (geographic) area surrounding the warm zone where first responders can operate with minimal threat to personal safety or health. In this zone personnel can provide treatment to victims. Competence- Possessing knowledge, skills, and judgment needed to perform indicated objectives. Concealment- Concealment is a Law Enforcement term that represents an object that only provides protection from observation. Contact Team/Contact Officer- A rapidly assembled team of Law Enforcement members responsible for locating and stopping an Active Killer. The contact officer will be a single person in search of the suspect whereas, a contact team will be made up of a minimum of two or more officers. Containment- A law enforcement term that designates a perimeter position of target location(s) to control and isolate suspect movement. Control Zones- The areas at ASHER incidents within an established perimeter that are designated based upon safety and degree of hazard. Cover- Cover is a Law Enforcement term that represents an object or location that provide protection from direct gunfire. Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)- The framework for command and control at AS/MCIs. Coordinates the activities of police, Fire Rescue and other supporting agencies. Force Protection (FP)- Is preventive measures taken to mitigate hostile actions in specific areas or against a specific population, those protected by FP can include civilians and unarmed responders. Hazardous Device- A device placed or fabricated in an improvised or modified manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, energetic, or incendiary materials and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. Hot (Red) Zone- An operational (geographic) area, consisting of the immediate incident location with a direct and immediate threat to personal safety or health (not a secure area). Only SWAT Tactical Medics are authorized to operate in this area and Law Enforcement Officers will remove victims from this area into a warm (yellow) zone where practical. An area where there is a known hazard or direct and immediate life threat. Improvised Explosive Device (IED)- An explosive device constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, or from commonly found chemical ingredients. Incident Commander (IC)- The individual, regardless of rank, responsible for all incident activities, including the development of strategies and tactics and the ordering and the release of resources. Incident Command Post (ICP)- A stationary work location used by the incident commander or a Unified Command for the purpose of command and control. Incident Management System (IMS)- A process that defines the roles and responsibilities to be assumed by personnel and the operating procedures to be used in the management and direction of emergency operations to include the Incident Command System (ICS), Unified Command, multi-agency coordination system, training, and management of resources. Mutual Aid- When agencies and/or jurisdictions assist one another on request by furnishing personnel, equipment, and/or expertise in a specified manner. Notification and Reunification Center- a secure facility in a centralized location that provides information about missing or unaccounted for persons and the deceased and that helps reunite victims with their loved ones. Notification/reunification centers also help displaced disaster survivors, including children, to reestablish contact with their family and friends after a period of separation. Protected Corridor Operations- A warm zone response concept in which law-enforcement forms a secure path through which fire and EMS responders can care for and extract victims. Rescue Task Force- For the purpose of this policy, an Active Killer "Rescue Task Force" shall comprise of the minimum number of Law Enforcement and CSPFD personnel needed to provide security and treatment to victims in the warm zone when needed (this should be no less than two (2) fire personnel and no less than two (2) law enforcement officers.) Rescue Team- A designated group of Law Enforcement Officers that are not involved with the contact team, they will begin to assist with victim removal and coordinate with Fire Rescue personnel for removal of critical patients. Risk vs. Benefit- A critical decision-making formula that states, "Risk a lot to save a lot, Risk a little to save a little, Risk nothing to save nothing". S.A.L.T.- Mass Casualty Triage Algorithm (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport) Secured- A law enforcement term for a geographic location where law enforcement has found no obvious threat and maintains a constant presence this is an area where a secondary clear has not yet occurred. Staging- A specific function where resource(s) are assembled in an area at or near the incident scene to await instructions or assignments. Unit(s) in staging shall be ready for immediate response once called upon. Strong Hold- An area of the scene, typically inside a structure that serves a defensible area with relative security. Examples can be a portion of the interior of a structure that has doorways and access covered by armed protection. Third party complainants-Complaint from someone other than then the person directly involved. (Ex. Complainant called to report that their family member posted on social media they were going to harm themselves). These calls shall be evaluated to determine the level of response if any is necessary. T.H.R.E.A.T.- An acronym that stands for Threat Suppression, Hemorrhage Control, and Rapid Extrication to Safety, Assessment by Medical Providers, and Transport to Definitive Care. Threat-Based Care- Medical care provided as determined by the conditions that are present. Treatment Area- Application for the treatment of victims after extraction and sorting, prior to loading for transport to definitive care. Triage- To sift and sort space can occur in multiple phases and is a constant and re-occurring. Unified Command- An authority structure in which the role of incident commander is shared by individuals from all responding organizations responsible for the incident, operating together to develop a single incident action plan. During an ASHER incident, Unified Command generally consists of law-enforcement, fire, and EMS representatives at a minimum. Unified Command Post- The field location at which the primary tactical level, on scene unified incident command functions are performed. Violent Incident- An incident in which there is a threat of violence or current violence is taking place. The following are examples of violent incidents; however, this list does not include all violent incidents and that determination shall be made based upon the information provided by dispatch: Suicide threat Suicide attempt Domestic disturbance Neighbor disturbance Shooting Stabbing Physical altercation Warm (Yellow) Zone- An area where there is the potential for a hazard or an indirect threat to life. An operational (geographic) area with a potential threat to personal safety or health. The warm zone typically exists between the hot zones and the cold zones. This zone is established and secured by Law Enforcement. Rescue Teams may be able to enter and remove victims. A rapid direct medical intervention (i.e. direct pressure on an exsanguinating injury) may be performed at the discretion of the Officer in Charge (OIC) in coordination with the Law Enforcement security detail prior to evacuating the victim if deemed warranted. Personnel shall be escorted by a Law Enforcement security detail at all times while in this area. Only essential units will be given authority and clear direction to operate in the warm (yellow) zone.