Ensure Scene Safety

To ensure scene safety:

• Ensure personal, team, and bystander safety.
• Evaluate the scene for risks and hazards, and take steps to mitigate, manage, and control.
• Assess the scene, and advise responding units of the following information:
  • Nature of emergency
    • Brief description of the incident and the scene
    • Number of individuals (victims)
    • Point Last Scene (PLS) or Last Known Point (LKP) of the victim(s)
  • Exact location of incident command post, resource staging and challenges of site access
    • Address/road
    • Name of river/lake/access
    • Shore (river right or left) - right or left always refers to looking downstream
    • Distance from a known point
    • GPS coordinates
  • Scene hazards
    • Known – visible
    • Potential (rising water) – Monitor by placing a stick at the edge of the water and observe if the water is rising or falling. A fixed object (vehicle, house) in the water can be used to monitor changing water conditions. Use apps to track and project water volume from gauge readings.
    • HAZMAT concerns identified – Always consider water contaminated, especially during flash flooding. Don water rescue PPE to reduce and mitigate exposure.
    • Utilities (electrical/gas)