First Responders Does Radiation Change the Response

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First RespondersDoes Radiation Change the
Response

• Thomas F. OConnell
• Health Physics Society Midyear Meeting
• AAHP February 12, 2005
• New Orleans, LA

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Possible First Responders

• Emergency Medical Services
• Law Enforcement
• Fire Service
• Citizens

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Initial Notification

• 911 Call
• Dispatch
• Station
• Details
• Location
• Event
• Dependent on Observer

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Guidelines for Response

• Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Hazardous Materials with Attitude
• National Fire Protection Association
• NFPA 471 Responding to HazMat
• NFPA 472 HazMat Competence
• NFPA 473 EMS HazMat
• Consensus Standards

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Requirements for Response

• OSHA
• 1910.38, Emergency Action Plans
• 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and
  emergency response
• 1910.120(q), Emergency response program to
  hazardous substance releases
• EPA 40 CFR 311 Worker Protection
• Brings Everyone Under OSHA

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Response Structure

• Incident Specific
• Multiple Agencies
• Short Term or Long Term
• Accountability
• Control
• Function Based
• Sounds Like Incident Command

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Why Use ICS

• Time Proven System of Management
• Standardized Approach
• Common Terminology
• Modular and Flexible
• Cost Effective
• All Hazards Concept

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Command Staff
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Roles and Missions

• Law Enforcement
• Investigation
• Security of Scene and Responders
• Emergency Medical Services
• Medical
• Fire Department
• Rescue
• Fire Suppression
• Others

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Response Ideology

• Workforce Protection
• Safe Work in an Unsafe Environment
• Control Incident Movement
• Protect Population
• Preserve Property

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Sizing Up the Incident

• Establishing the Scene
• Impact on Services
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Tactics and Strategies
• Offensive/Defensive
• Communications

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Incident Action Plan

• Every Incident - Verbal or Written
• Provides Direction for
• Operational Period
• Measurable Tactical Operations
• Minimum of Four Elements
• What do We Want to do?
• Who is Responsible for Job?
• How to Communicate?
• Procedures for Injuries?

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Re-Evaluate Constantly

• Prioritize Critical Missions
• Changing Conditions
• Weather Now and Projected
• Unavailable Assets
• Additional Assets
• Experts
• Communications

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Responder Questions

• Radiation Limits
• Dose Rates
• Exposure
• When to Work
• When to Leave
• Short Term or Long Term Incidents

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Appendix A
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Summary

• Established Structure
• Trained Responders
• Continued Education
• Perspective is Important
• Integration and Collaboration
• Prepare, Respond, Recover

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