Em Emergency Resp spon onse se Team (ER (ERT) In Incid ciden - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Em Emergency Resp spon

• nse

se Team (ER (ERT) In Incid ciden ent C Comman ander er ( (IC IC) Do’ Do’s s and Don Don’ts ts

Jay Jamali, CSP, CHMM, BSOSH, MSSM Enviro Safetech

Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Overview

• During an emergency usually either

NO one wants to be in charge or EVERYONE wants to be in charge.

• Therefore it is important to designate

the Incident Commander (IC) and a backup for each shift.

• Vest helps identify who is in command
• Captain of first engine in usually asks:

Who is in charge

• The IC should be a member of the

Emergency Response Team (ERT).

• IC training is required under the

HAZWOPER regulation.

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Lead Positions

• The IC usually designates the following leads as

needed based on the emergency:

• Security
• Staging/Logistics
• Operations/Strike team leaders
• Decon
• Safety
• Medical/Triage
• Public Information Officer (PIO)
• Liaison
• Communications
• If the IC does not delegate a position they keep it.
• Common mistake of IC is to not delegate enough.
• It is OK to assign more than one position to one

person.

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

• Incident Commanders usually have
• ne of two styles:
• James T. Kirk
• Jean Luke Picard
• If in command, command.
• The IC must exude a command

presence, and let there be no doubt that you—and you alone—are in command.

• Remember, the only thing worse

than a bad decision is no decision.

• Control the situation or it will

control you.

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IC Style

Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

IC Style

• Good IC:
• Don’t assume but if you do, assume the worst, hope for the

best

• Get all the resources they may need in the beginning rather

than bring it in gradually

• Good chess player
• Quick thinker
• Safety oriented
• Flexible
• Each emergency is unique
• Realistic
• Decisive
• Calm
• Always smile and give positive feedback

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Command Post

• Designate a Command Post (CP) for

every emergency

• Communicate the location of the CP
• The IC must stay in the CP unless in danger.
• CP should be upwind and upgradient of the

emergency

• Is the CP far enough yet close enough (rule
• f thumb)
• Katrina multiple CP led to confusion
• If you call the fire department send

some one to meet them at the street and direct them to the CP.

• If agency sets up CP in different location

send a liaison to their CP with a radio.

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Do’s and Don’ts

• Never let them see you sweat.
• Do not dwell on what has already happened.
• For every emergency the IC needs a:
• Plan A (in use);
• Plan B (in your pocket); and
• Plan C (under development)
• Always assign a lead for each team.
• Complacency kills.
• Run what if scenarios in your mind daily.
• Table top scenarios is a great way to practice what-if

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Before

• Stage and inspect emergency equipment
• Put together an IC kit containing:
• Vests
• Binoculars
• Reference material
• Flashlight
• Notepad
• Bullhorn

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Do’s and Dont’s

• Never ever give up
• Do not shout orders
• Have the lead come to you; give them their orders and then

have them do it

• Do not give them more than 3 things to do at one time
• If you are not sure they got it ask them to repeat the orders
• There is never one way of doing it
• Always have a plan on how to evacuate the team and how

to signal an evacuation of the team

• Secure the site and do not let any more people get hurt or

exposed

• San Jose active shooter incident: Run (away from incident),

Hide (behind dumpster), Fight (makeshift weapon - fire extinguisher)

• Be part of the solution and not the problem

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Do’s and Don’ts

• Limit the span of control (number of people

reporting to one person)

• When using a radio first say it in your mind then

push the talk button and say it out loud

• After transmitting please let go of the talk button
• Get their attention first then give them instructions
• Make sure you or your leads know where all the

responders are at all times.

• When handing off IC responsibility make sure

that you are very specific as to what time and to whom you handed off.

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Do’s and Don’ts

• Keep your hands in your pocket
• Get everybody else working
• There can only be one boss
• Give commands through the chain of command
• The hardest thing to do during an emergency is to

THINK

• Stay 2 moves ahead of the emergency
• Start every emergency response on defense and

when you are ready go offensive

• Always have a backup for the entry team
• You cannot go from total chaos to control in one step

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Timeline

• The first 10 minutes of the emergency are the golden minutes.
• The first 24 hours is the golden day.
• Loma Prieta: Some employees came back because they could not get home.
• Emergencies usually start as a sprint but turn into a marathon so be

prepared for both.

• Northridge ran out of water, batteries
• Katrina no fuel got to the cell towers so we went dark
• After the emergency is over:
• Restock emergency supplies
• Critique the emergency response
• Training
• Equipment
• Procedures

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

During and After

• If multiple injuries set up a casualty collection point.
• Triage
• Treat
• Track
• Communicate
• During the emergency follow the PEP rule:
• People First
• Environment Second
• Property Last
• After the emergency is over:
• Restock emergency supplies
• Critique the emergency response
• Training
• Equipment
• Procedures

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Bay Area Emergency Managers Conference 2018

Thank you!

Speaker: Jay Jamali, CSP, CHMM Company: Enviro Safetech Contact Info: jay@envirosafetech.com

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