EMS Seminar #4 – Disaster Preparedness Joseph Ip BSc (Hon), MSc, MD VGH Emergency May 28, 2002

Lesson Plan: Incident Command System BCAS Mass Casualty Incident Response Plan

Incident Command System: A model of command, control, and coordination of emergency response at site level Goals Provide safety and health of all responders Save lifes Reducing suffering Protect public health Protect government infrastructure Protect property protect the environment Reduce economic and social losses

Organizational structure Command – command Section – chief Branch – director Division/ Group – Supervisor Task forces/ strike teams/ units - Leader

Responsibilities of IC: Establishing command and ICP Protecting life and property Setting objectives, strategies, and incident action plan Controlling and accounting for personnel and equipment resources Establishing and maintaining an effective liaison with outside agencies and organizations (e.g. EOC) Accepting and maintaining overall responsibility at the incident or event Ensuring risk management is being used

Incident Command means: Establishing command Ensuring responder safety Assessing incident priorities Determine operational objectives Developing and implementing the incident action plan Developing an appropriate organizational structure Maintaining a manageable span of control Managing incident resources Coordinating overall emergency activities Coordinating the activities of outside agencies Authorizing the releases of information to the media Keeping track of costs

An effective IC must: Be assertive, decisive, objective, calm, and quick-thinking Know how to apply ICS principles and handle all the responsibilities of this role Be adaptable, flexible, and realistic about his or her limitation Have the ability to delegate tasks appropriately

Command staffs: Information Officer Contract for the media or other organizations seeking information directly from the incident Safety officer Monitor safety conditions Develop measures for ensuring safety of all assigned personnel Liaison officer Primary contact for representatives from cooperating or assisting agencies

General staffs Operations section chief Planning section chief Logistics section chief Finance/ Administration section chief

Duties of Operations section chief: Direct and coordinate all tactical operations, ensuring safety of operations section personnel Set up the organizational structure Determine resources required by the section Assist the IC in developing objectives and strategies for the incident Implement the operational portion of the incident action plan Request resources thru IC Keep IC informed

Functions of Planning Section chief Collect, evaluate, and display information about the incident Develop incident action plans for each operational period, conduct long range planning, and develop plans for demobilization at the end of the incident Maintaining resource status information on all equipment and personnel assigned to the incident Maintain incident documentation

Logistics section: Geared to support incident responders Care for the responders, not incident victims Decision of whether logistics is needed or not is based on: Size of the incident Complexity of support required Likely duration of the incident Can be broken into 2 branches Service support

Finance/ Administration Monitor costs Important in incident of a magnitude that may result in a claim for insurance or senior government funds 4 units Time Procurement Compensation cost

BCAS Mass Casualty Incident Response Plan