Scene Safety for 1Scene Safety for 1stst Responders RespondersCompiled by Joseph Immermann BBA EMT-PCompiled by Joseph Immermann BBA EMT-P

Scene Safety Scene Safety (How to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.)(How to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.)

Why Be Safe?Why Be Safe?

A responder casualty takes away from the A responder casualty takes away from the overall response resources.overall response resources.

A responder casualty adds to the response work A responder casualty adds to the response work load.load.

A responder casualty has a very negative A responder casualty has a very negative psychological impact on other responders psychological impact on other responders potentially affecting the quality of their response. potentially affecting the quality of their response.

Preparing to RespondPreparing to Respond

Carry at least one light source, a compass, a mirror Carry at least one light source, a compass, a mirror and/or a brightly colored kerchief, and a whistle.and/or a brightly colored kerchief, and a whistle.

Other potentially useful items are a change of clothing Other potentially useful items are a change of clothing (particularly socks), insect repellent, sunscreen, hat, (particularly socks), insect repellent, sunscreen, hat, energy bars, extra vinyl gloves, binoculars, rain gear, energy bars, extra vinyl gloves, binoculars, rain gear, work gloves, eye protection, N95 mask, good boots, work gloves, eye protection, N95 mask, good boots, (make certain you are wearing clothing appropriate for (make certain you are wearing clothing appropriate for the situation). the situation).

A fanny pack can hold many of these items conveniently. A fanny pack can hold many of these items conveniently. Let other responders know if you have any special needs Let other responders know if you have any special needs

(allergies, diabetes, asthma, seizure disorder) in case (allergies, diabetes, asthma, seizure disorder) in case they become important. they become important.

On SceneOn Scene Make certain you check in with Make certain you check in with

your supervisor and whomever your supervisor and whomever else is necessary, and get a else is necessary, and get a good briefing!good briefing!

Try to keep at least one other Try to keep at least one other responder in sight. responder in sight.

Stay focused on the foreground, Stay focused on the foreground, but remain as aware as possible but remain as aware as possible of the background.of the background.

Be aware of wind speed and Be aware of wind speed and direction.direction.

Be aware that situations can Be aware that situations can

change rapidly.change rapidly.

On SceneOn Scene

Eat, drink, and use Eat, drink, and use bathroom facilities when bathroom facilities when you have the chance.you have the chance.

Conserve your energy Conserve your energy whenever possible.whenever possible.

Do not run unless Do not run unless absolutely necessary. absolutely necessary. Take the time necessary Take the time necessary to be focused, proficient to be focused, proficient and safe.and safe.

Radio CommunicationRadio Communication Avoid unnecessary radio traffic. Do not Avoid unnecessary radio traffic. Do not

press microphone if you do not know what press microphone if you do not know what you wish to say…(“ahhhh, ummmm”), you you wish to say…(“ahhhh, ummmm”), you may “cover” a more important may “cover” a more important transmission. transmission.

Feel free to give yourself time to think Feel free to give yourself time to think about a response by saying, “Stand by.” about a response by saying, “Stand by.”

Keep traffic brief, but do not be afraid to Keep traffic brief, but do not be afraid to speak plainly when necessary. speak plainly when necessary.

Speak in a normal tone of voice, with Speak in a normal tone of voice, with mouth close to microphone. mouth close to microphone.

Make certain you press the microphone Make certain you press the microphone button before you begin to speak, and button before you begin to speak, and release the button after you finish release the button after you finish speaking. speaking.

RELAX! Speak as you would on a RELAX! Speak as you would on a telephone.telephone.

NavigationNavigation Stay aware of where you are at Stay aware of where you are at

ALL times, even in transit, or ALL times, even in transit, or when following someone.when following someone.

Utilize any available navigation Utilize any available navigation resources (GPS, maps.)resources (GPS, maps.)

North always “up” on map. North always “up” on map. Maps do not always show every Maps do not always show every bend in road or river. (Gazetteer bend in road or river. (Gazetteer is best.)is best.)

Beware of shortcuts with any Beware of shortcuts with any “unknowns”.“unknowns”.

Let your supervisor know what Let your supervisor know what route you are taking.route you are taking.

Always carry a compass on Always carry a compass on scene and stay aware of scene and stay aware of directions utilizing that and directions utilizing that and landmarks.landmarks.

NavigationNavigation

Good Landmarks: Address, Good Landmarks: Address, road mile marker, rest area, road mile marker, rest area, intersection, bridge, airport, intersection, bridge, airport, body of water, radio tower.body of water, radio tower.

Bad Landmarks: Anything Bad Landmarks: Anything mobile (vehicle), tree. mobile (vehicle), tree.

Good/Bad: Business, Good/Bad: Business, geologic form, cloud geologic form, cloud formation, sun, moon, formation, sun, moon, constellations, building. constellations, building.

Darkness changes colors, Darkness changes colors, appearance of signs (lit – appearance of signs (lit – unlit). unlit).

MapMap CompassCompass

Lensatic CompassLensatic Compass

I’m Lost – What Do I Do?I’m Lost – What Do I Do?

STOP! (Don’t get even STOP! (Don’t get even more lost! Work the more lost! Work the problem safely and problem safely and calmly.)calmly.)

Find good landmark and Find good landmark and compare to map.compare to map.

Consider going back the Consider going back the way you came.way you came.

When getting directions: When getting directions: write them down, avoid write them down, avoid slang definitions or local slang definitions or local names.names.

Search and Rescue MarkingsSearch and Rescue Markings

First diagonal half of “x” First diagonal half of “x” is made upon entry, with is made upon entry, with date and time on top and date and time on top and searchers ID on left.searchers ID on left.

Second half of “x” made Second half of “x” made on exit, with hazards on exit, with hazards listed on right and # listed on right and # persons found and their persons found and their condition on bottom. May condition on bottom. May also list type of search also list type of search (primary or secondary).(primary or secondary).

Search and Rescue MarkingsSearch and Rescue Markings

““x” within a box x” within a box means “Do NOT means “Do NOT Enter!”Enter!”

Unstable StructuresUnstable Structures

Landing Zone (LZ) SafetyLanding Zone (LZ) Safety Clear LZ of debris.Clear LZ of debris. Power lines are invisible from the Power lines are invisible from the

air. air. Mark LZ, but not with Mark LZ, but not with unsecured unsecured

flares.flares. Helicopters try to land and take Helicopters try to land and take

off into the wind.off into the wind. Do not shine lights at helicopter.Do not shine lights at helicopter. Rotor blades can dip, stay low.Rotor blades can dip, stay low. Approach helicopter from front, Approach helicopter from front,

only when signaled, pilot will only when signaled, pilot will signal when you can approach. signal when you can approach. Follow flight crew instructions.Follow flight crew instructions.

Operating tail rotor is almost Operating tail rotor is almost invisible.invisible.

Water complicates things…Water complicates things…

Always wear life vest, Always wear life vest, utilize lifeline near rapid utilize lifeline near rapid water.water.

Do NOT underestimate Do NOT underestimate power of shallow rapids. power of shallow rapids. One foot of water going One foot of water going 5mph can take you off 5mph can take you off of your feet.of your feet.

Beware of hypothermia.Beware of hypothermia. Be ready for rapid Be ready for rapid

change.change.

Weather Makes Things Interesting!Weather Makes Things Interesting! Dress appropriately for the Dress appropriately for the

weather!weather! Dress for worst case scenario Dress for worst case scenario

(severity and length of time (severity and length of time exposed.)exposed.)

Monitor your condition.Monitor your condition. Pace and hydrate yourself. Adjust Pace and hydrate yourself. Adjust

movement to fit situation (ice, movement to fit situation (ice, mud, sand, snow.)mud, sand, snow.)

Watch traffic in ice & snow Watch traffic in ice & snow situations.situations.

Don’t underestimate driving Don’t underestimate driving conditions.conditions.

Grass and snow obscure true Grass and snow obscure true bluff/cliff edges.bluff/cliff edges.

Ice is for the pros among pros!Ice is for the pros among pros!

The quality of a given area of The quality of a given area of ice is impossible to ice is impossible to determine with certainty.determine with certainty.

Even near shore the current Even near shore the current can pull you under ice.can pull you under ice.

Cold water drains energy Cold water drains energy and mental capacity and mental capacity extremely rapidly.extremely rapidly.

Without intensive training Without intensive training and specialized equipment and specialized equipment you will only add to the you will only add to the casualty list if you attempt ice casualty list if you attempt ice rescue.rescue.

Electricity also complicates things…Electricity also complicates things…

AlwaysAlways assume lines assume lines are live.are live.

Lines can arc 3 feet or Lines can arc 3 feet or more.more.

The visible part of an The visible part of an electrical burn is just electrical burn is just the tip of the iceberg. the tip of the iceberg. Do not underestimate Do not underestimate the seriousness of the seriousness of even a small shock even a small shock with no external burn.with no external burn.

CPR alone can revive CPR alone can revive pulseless electric pulseless electric shock victims.shock victims.

Deadly poisonous smoke.

What are some of the hazards or potential hazards at What are some of the hazards or potential hazards at this scene?this scene?

Scene safety nightmare. Watch wind, watch for sudden Scene safety nightmare. Watch wind, watch for sudden change in situation. Try to establish perimeter. Patients change in situation. Try to establish perimeter. Patients

may be anywhere.may be anywhere.

One of the most dangerous scenes possible.One of the most dangerous scenes possible.

DemobilizingDemobilizing

Do not forget to check out with your supervisor and Do not forget to check out with your supervisor and whomever else is necessary before you leave a scene!whomever else is necessary before you leave a scene!

Debrief your relief, share any helpful information before Debrief your relief, share any helpful information before you leave.you leave.

Take advantage of any appropriate opportunity to share Take advantage of any appropriate opportunity to share your experiences and feelings (other responders, your experiences and feelings (other responders, Behavioral Health personnel, Pastoral Care.) Try not to Behavioral Health personnel, Pastoral Care.) Try not to miss out on the “Hot Wash”.miss out on the “Hot Wash”.

Be prepared to clean response clothing at rescue station Be prepared to clean response clothing at rescue station or laundromat before you take it home. (Bring simple or laundromat before you take it home. (Bring simple change of clothes and monetary change for laundromat.)change of clothes and monetary change for laundromat.)

Welcome to the pros!Welcome to the pros!

Congratulations! Congratulations!

You are part of an amazing and You are part of an amazing and wonderful group of people…wonderful group of people…those who feel a need to those who feel a need to counter adversity with counter adversity with compassion and action. Do not compassion and action. Do not forget, however, that in order to forget, however, that in order to effectively help others, you effectively help others, you must first see to your own must first see to your own mental and physical well-being. mental and physical well-being.

Let’s stay safe out there!Let’s stay safe out there!