Public HealthSeattle & King County

Incident Command System Overview

May 2004

Today We’re Going to Look at:

Incident Command System (ICS)

The role and responsibilities of the Incident Commander

How to apply ICS in Public Health Centers

ICS is:

A way to:– organize people, resources and

information– prioritize decisions– provide direction to people– communicate consistently and reliably

ICS Limitations:

Needs strong leaders

Must be used by all in the event

Why Does Public Health Need to Use ICS During an Emergency? Quick, informed decisions need to be

made It’s not business as usual We will be coordinating with response

partners who are using ICS It is a requirement for federal HLS grant

eligibility

During an Emergency Public Health Uses ICS to:

Get organized Establish a clear chain of command Prioritize what needs to be done Make coordinated decisions quickly Streamline communications Speak the same language as other

emergency response organizations

What is ICS Structure?

O pera tions P la nning Logistics Fina nce a ndAdm inistra tion

C om m a nd

ICS Sections - (ALPO)

Administration/Finance

Logistics

Planning

Operations

Management Concepts of ICS:

Chain of Command

Span of control

Manage by Objectives

Consistent organizational structure

Integrated communications

Incident Commander

ALWAYS designated at the beginning of each incident

Person in charge

Sets priorities and ensures they are met

Incident Commander

Designates Team Leaders

Stays informed and ensures others are informed

Identifies and resolves problems

Characteristics of anIncident Commander

Cool under pressure

Aware of authorities and responsibilities

Proactive and flexible

Characteristics of anIncident Commander

Able to select qualified team leaders and delegate responsibility to them

Capable of making difficult decisions (without consensus)

Capable of prioritizing decisions and actions

Incident CommandersDo Not:

Know everything

Try to do everything themselves

Think and act in a vacuum

Make decisions “subjectively”

Public Health ICS

Technical Advisors Com m unications Team

EM SCoordination

Clinical HealthP H C lin ics

K C Ja il S ervices

EPI InvestigationsIm m u n iza tionS u rve illan ce

Environm ental HealthW ater, W as tewate r,S o lid W as te , F ood

M edical Exam inerPH Lab

Vital Statistics

OperationsSection

C h ie f

EOC Docum entationM essag in g

S ta tu s B oard s

SituationAssessm ent

Incident ActionPlanning

Inform ation and PlanningSection

C h ie f

Hospital SupportS u p p liesM ateria lsS ta ffin g

Com m unicationsSupport

PHSKC FacilitiesSupportS u p p lies

E q u ip m en t

Pharm acy Services

LogisticsSection

C h ie f

Cost AccountingC on trac tin g

P rocu rem en t

Hum an ResourcesE O C S ta ffin gTim e Track in g

M anagem entInform ation System s

Finance & Adm inistrationSection

C h ie f

Incident Com m ander

Public Health DirectorL oca l H ea lth O ffice r

County Executive

Public Health Center ICS

S afe tyTeam

O p era tion sTeam

Triag eTeam

S tag in gTeam

In fo rm ationTeam

In it ia l R esp on seTeam

In c id en tC om m an d er

D ep u tyIn c id en t

C om m an d er

PH Center Teams

Operations Safety Triage Staging Information Initial Response

Initial Response Team

May activate when events occur during non-business hours

Comprised of a small number of staff

Reports to site to assess situation

Advises the site chain of command on impacts and response needs

Triage

Establishes a triage point Obtain medical supplies and provide

first aid until transport arrives Documents treatment given to victims Participates on sweep team to:

– stabilize victims– provide first aid

Operations

Manages and requests resources Establishes and monitors communications Arranges for storage of emergency

supplies

Safety

Coordinates transport and evacuation Distribute disaster supplies Coordinates accident reports Participates in a sweep team to assess:

– building status– victims– functionality of critical utilities (gas, water etc.)

Information

Provides information about:– emergency event– response activities– what volunteers are needed

Staging

Participates on sweep team Gets resources for transporting victims Works with triage team to transport victims

to triage point Sets up staging area to receive EMS Maintains transport log Assures that injured are transported based

on severity of injury

Summary

ICS is a management tool based on:– a defined organizational structure

– fundamental management concepts

Requires strong leadership and teamwork

Public Health can use ICS to:– better define our disaster roles

– organize our internal resources

– coordinate with our partners

Now it’s Your Turn:Incident Command Scenarios

Scenario #1

Please see scenario #1 handout.

Put yourself in the position of Site Manager at your facility.

As site manager, what would you do first?

Be cool - stay in control

Assess the situation– What are the hazards and consequences?– Are your staff, clients, facility at risk?– Could this event exceed your capabilities?

Make a decision - activate the plan?

Questions to ask yourself:

Should you activate your Emergency Operations Plan?

Why or Why not? What implications will your staff and facility face? Over what time period? Can you handle this event with your normal

structure and systems?

If the plan is activated… Which teams should be staffed? Why?

S afe tyTeam

O p era tion sTeam

Triag eTeam

S tag in gTeam

In fo rm ationTeam

In it ia l R esp on seTeam

In c id en tC om m an d er

D ep u tyIn c id en t

C om m an d er

What are the first priorities you would establish as incident commander?

1.___________________________________________

2.___________________________________________

3.___________________________________________

4.___________________________________________

Scenario #2 Please see scenario # 2 handout

Divide into discussion groups of 4 - 6

Put yourself in the position of Site Manager at your facility.

Be prepared to present answers to the following questions

Questions:

Are there risks to your Center, staff, clients?

What are those risks? Should your Emergency Operations

Plan be activated? Why?

Questions Continued:

If your plan is activated, which Emergency Teams should be staffed?

What would those teams do?

What are the first priorities you would establish as incident commander?

1.___________________________________________

2.___________________________________________

3.___________________________________________

4.___________________________________________

Scenario #3 Small Group Exercise

Divide into groups

Elect a site manager for your group

Read the following scenario and prepare to brief the PH EOC regarding this incident

Group Discussion:

What are some of the immediate impacts this event might have on:– Staff– Clients– The facility?

Briefing Questions:

Site Manager:– Who is the Incident Commander for the

facility?

Incident Commander: – How will you develop your first priorities?– What are they?– How will you communicate those

priorities to your staff?

Briefing Questions:

Incident Commander: – What is the ICS structure for your center?

(which teams you have activated)

Assign Team Leaders from your group

Team Leaders – Explain what your team will do to accomplish

the Incident Commander’s priorities?

Group Discussion:

Who would you notify outside your center?

When should they be notified?

What would you tell them?

Questions?