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5.2. Planning Ahead & Anticipating Problems

VEHICLE STAGING WITH INCIDENT ACTION PLANS

Incident Action Plans (IAPs) play a crucial role in dictating the staging of vehicles at accident sites to ensure a well-organized and safe response. The specific staging of vehicles can vary depending on the incident’s nature, size, location, and the resources available. Here’s how IAPs influence vehicle staging at accident sites:

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Assessment and Planning Phase
  • IAPs begin with a thorough assessment of the incident. This includes determining the incident’s scope, identifying hazards, and assessing the resources required.
  • The incident commander and response teams analyze the incident to decide on the appropriate response strategy.
  • Based on the assessment, IAPs dictate the overall incident management structure, resource allocation, and objectives.
Establishing Incident Objectives
  • IAPs define specific incident objectives that need to be achieved. These objectives are usually prioritized based on safety, life-saving, incident containment, and property conservation.
  • The incident commander and planning team determine the staging areas for different types of vehicles based on these objectives.
Resource Staging
  • IAPs identify the need for various types of vehicles and resources, such as fire trucks, ambulances, law enforcement vehicles, hazardous materials response units, and tow trucks.
  • Staging areas are established for each type of resource based on their roles and responsibilities in the incident response. For example, ambulances may be staged near potential casualties, while hazardous materials units may stage at a safe distance but within reach of the incident.
Traffic Management
  • IAPs address traffic management and ensure that vehicles responding to the incident can access the scene efficiently while minimizing congestion.
  • Traffic control points and routes for emergency vehicles are designated in the plan, allowing for the safe ingress and egress of responders and resources.
Safety Zones and Hazard Areas
  • IAPs identify safety zones and hazard areas within the incident site. These zones dictate where responders and vehicles can operate safely.
  • Staging areas for different vehicles are selected to ensure that they are positioned outside hazard areas, but close enough to the scene for efficient response.
Coordination and Communication
  • IAPs include communication and coordination procedures to ensure that responders and vehicle operators are aware of staging locations, objectives, and safety guidelines.
  • Staging areas serve as meeting points for resource coordination and briefings.
Adaptability
  • IAPs are adaptable documents that may be adjusted as the incident evolves. Vehicle staging may change based on incident progress, new information, or shifting priorities.

Incident action plans are comprehensive documents that guide the response to various types of incidents. They play a vital role in determining the staging of vehicles at accident sites by aligning resources with incident objectives, ensuring safety, and optimizing the response effort. Staging areas are established to facilitate efficient coordination, communication, and resource allocation throughout the incident management process.