Unit 1 Lesson 1 Responding to an Emergency Situation PDF

Unit 1 Identifying Emergency Situations Lesson 1 Responding to an Emergency Situation Lesson Goal You will be able to identify emergency situations and resolve them. Think About This As soon as you arrive at work, you smell something burning. When you walk around the corner, you notice an inma...

Unit 1 Identifying Emergency Situations Lesson 1 Responding to an Emergency Situation Lesson Goal You will be able to identify emergency situations and resolve them. Think About This As soon as you arrive at work, you smell something burning. When you walk around the corner, you notice an inmate’s mattress is on fire. How would you respond? One of the most important duties of a correctional officer is to apply knowledge, training, and reasonable judgment during an emergency. Your first priority is the safety and security of everyone. Any incident can develop into an emergency, and you are expected to be effective in the use of equipment, crime scene control, chain of custody procedures, and documentation of involvement. Be aware of agency policies, procedures, and emergency plans, as well as post orders (job-specific documents that outline how to handle daily responsibilities and operations). When you respond to an emergency, you need to assess the situation, isolate or evacuate people, if needed, and resolve the issue. If you are knowledgeable and prepared, you will be able to fulfill your responsibilities during emergencies. You are responsible for the care, custody, and control of inmates, safety of staff and visitors, and security of the facility. Properly responding to an incident or emergency requires a variety of procedures, techniques, and equipment. An emergency requires a strict, urgent, and immediate response. When an emergency happens, you must use good judgment to respond effectively. You and other staff must stay flexible and adapt to changes without having a negative impact on facility operations. Emergencies often occur because of a disturbance, a disaster, or an escape attempt. Escape attempts usually happen during work details inside or outside the correctional facility, inmate transports, and recreational activities. When an emergency disrupts the normal operations within a facility, you should recall the agency’s emergency plan, facility layout, and evacuation routes. You should know the locations of emergency exits, equipment, and keys to properly respond. Tasks assigned during an emergency could include setting perimeters, using a radio to communicate, conducting evacuations, and applying use of force. Verify the Incident or Emergency When verifying the type of emergency, properly assess the threat while using discretion and caution as you approach the scene. Chapter 8 Responding to Incidents and Emergencies / 255 ✅ CO811.1. Know which staff to notify during an emergency While identifying the type of emergency, communicate with control room staff, command post personnel, and supervisory staff to coordinate a response in line with the emergency plan. Assess the severity of the emergency. Is it a major or a minor incident? Communicate with the control room, and be prepared to describe the nature and location of the emergency. For example, be ready to give the number of people involved, describe the nature of any injuries, and report if hazardous materials or weapons are involved. Setting Up a Perimeter ✅ CO811.2. Know how and why to set up a perimeter during an emergency Secure and isolate the situation so that it does not spread to other areas. Limit movement of inmates, such as locking down the cell block or dorm. Restrict the isolation to a limited area if possible, depending on the severity of the incident. For example, an inmate suicide may require a facility-wide lockdown, with correctional officers ordering all inmates to return to their individual cell areas or bunks. Begin the process of setting up a perimeter by using structures, such as inter- nal gates, sally ports, roll gates, doors, and cross fences. You may also need to evacuate everyone, including non-essential personnel, as soon as it is safe to do so. Evacuations Evacuation routes should take evacuees as far away from the threat as necessary and be accessible by the quickest and easiest route possible. Evacuations may not always be possible due to time constraints or other factors. You may not have enough time to properly restrain inmates or may need to group inmates together that are not normally combined. In such cases, it may be neces- sary to wait to begin an evacuation. Evacuating or isolating people from a threat may involve a lockdown. Lockdown can differ from agency to agency, as it relates to the level of restricting move- ment or use of security measures. ✅ CO811.3. Know evacuation guidelines Guidelines to follow during an evacuation include the following: Upon direction of a supervisor, move people in an orderly fashion to a safe, secure area. Obtain copies of inmate rosters for identification and counting. Give clear and concise commands. Close or open windows and doors, if so directed, along evacuation routes if time permits. Do not use elevators for evacuation. Conduct an inmate count when reaching the evacuation area. Account for everyone who was in the facility. 256 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 To maintain safety and security and preserve possible evidence, do not leave an inmate who may be a victim or perpetrator unsupervised. As conditions escalate, inmates who were not partici- pating may be drawn to the incident and become involved. Therefore, maintain focus on proper procedures and carry out the emergency plan quickly and efficiently. Each agency’s emergency plan includes an evacuation guide for emergencies and other events, such as fires, floods, and hurricanes. Alerting the incident command system to the emergency may be part of an agency’s emergency plan. The incident command system (ICS) is a systematic approach to command, control, and coordinate an emergency response. The ICS conveys emergencies to desig- nated persons or authorities and follows an established agency protocol, depending on the nature of the emergency. Emergency plans developed by ICS may require specific training. The ICS will identify levels of responses and specific teams that will respond to different types of emergencies. Resolve the Incident or Emergency ✅ CO811.4. Know how to resolve an emergency Resolving an incident or emergency involves defusing the situation and returning the facility to normal operations. Although supervisors or special response teams are responsible for resolving an emergency, any staff member can play a part in these efforts. In response to an emergency, you may be called upon to: transport record events escort and supervise people serve as a witness in investigations use physical force or control debrief provide first aid Each agency will determine the roles and responsibilities of its staff members and provide an emer- gency plan. Any emergency presents dangers, and liabilities exist in the actions and choices you make to keep everyone safe and secure. To reduce liability while resolving emergencies, you must observe your surroundings, take note of activities as they occur, respond within the scope of your training, and use reasonable judgment in responding, while practicing officer safety. Review report details and confirm information for further investigation during the deactivation and debriefing process. Chapter 8 Responding to Incidents and Emergencies / 257