SNFO 14 Hospital Area Command.pdf

Southern Nevada Fire Operations STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Effective date: Supersedes: HOSPITAL AREA COMMAND 02/22/2022 N/A SOP# SNFO-14 Page 1 of 3 PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to support area hospitals experiencing patient surge in the initial phases of a l...

Southern Nevada Fire Operations STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Effective date: Supersedes: HOSPITAL AREA COMMAND 02/22/2022 N/A SOP# SNFO-14 Page 1 of 3 PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to support area hospitals experiencing patient surge in the initial phases of a large Mass Casualty Incident (MCI). SCOPE This procedure will apply to all area fire departments and will be compliant with the policies and procedures of all associated dispatch centers, Clark County Office Emergency Management (CCOEM), the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), and local area hospitals. RESPONSIBILITY It will be the responsibility of all fire department members to comply with this SOP in the event of a confirmed MCI. POLICY In the event of an MCI, the incident commander will determine the MCI level at which the incident falls and announce it to the fire department dispatcher. Fire department dispatchers will identify and respond engine or truck companies that are not directly involved in the mitigation of the MCI to the closest hospitals and trauma centers to provide support. A battalion chief or higher ranking officer not directly involved in mitigation of the MCI will be assigned the role of “hospital area command” by the fire dispatcher. This officer will coordinate and support company officers (Division Supervisors) operating at the aforementioned hospitals. This assignment can be accomplished from any remote location provided the individual has fire department radio communication. DEFINITIONS MCI: A Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) is an incident in which the number of patients combined with the complexity of the event; warrants the declaration of a MCI. MCI levels are:  Level 5 MCI may produce 5 to 10 patients.  Level 4 MCI may produce 10 to 25 patients.  Level 3 MCI may produce 25 to 50 patients. Southern Nevada Fire Operations STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Effective date: Supersedes: HOSPITAL AREA COMMAND 02/22/2022 N/A SOP# SNFO-14  Level 2 MCI may produce 50 to 100 patients.  Level 1 MCI may produce more than 100 patients. Page 2 of 3 PROCEDURES Confirmation of an MCI will initiate a notification to all area hospitals by fire department dispatchers. Triggers for dispatching a hospital support response include any of the following: ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Confirmation of Level 3 (25 to 50 patients), Level 2 (50 to 100 patients), or Level 1 (more than 100 patients) by an incident commander. Request by a hospital for support. Request by an on-scene Incident Commander. Request by administrative staff (i.e., Fire Chief, Deputy Chief or Assistant Chief). Fire department dispatchers shall respond one engine or one truck to closest hospitals as follows: - Level 3 MCI – One (1) closest trauma center and one (1) closest hospital. Level 2 MCI – Two (2) closest trauma centers and one (1) closest hospital. Level 1 MCI – Two (2) closest trauma centers and two (2) closest hospitals. Dispatchers shall assign a tactical channel for hospital support communication and notify hospital area command of the assigned channel. Crew Expectations Upon arriving at an identified medical facility crews shall: - Meet with the hospital representative (charge nurse). - Gather and provide a C.A.N. (conditions, actions, needs) to the hospital area commander. This information should include but not be limited to the following information: o Number of patients. o Types of injuries. o Additional challenges (traffic, crowd control, security needs, movement of patients to other medical facilities, etc.) Southern Nevada Fire Operations STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Effective date: Supersedes: HOSPITAL AREA COMMAND 02/22/2022 N/A SOP# SNFO-14 Page 3 of 3 - Provide patient triage /treatment (up to the scope of practice) allowed by SNHD protocol as directed by hospital representative. - Assist with patient transport as directed by hospital representative. - Request additional resources through the hospital area commander including private ambulance strike teams. ATTACHMENTS Clark County Multi-Jurisdictional Mass Casualty Plan REFERENCES SNFO Hostile Events Policy ORGANIZATIONAL CHART- SAMPLE LEVEL ONE MCI