NCJ Number
199429
Journal
Sheriff Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2001 Pages: 30-31
Date Published
May 2001
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article explains the importance of planning and executing an emergency response to a major public-safety incident.
Abstract
First responders to a major incident should be thoroughly familiar with a preplanned response. After a plan is developed, it should be practiced with training exercises that involve as much realism as possible. Supervisors and commanders must participate so they can be knowledgeable about the limitations and expectations of their resources. Such training is offered by the Critical Incident Response Training Program, a tuition-free program offered by the National Center for State and Local Law Enforcement Training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. This 5-day program involves training trainers to return home and train officers who will be the first responders to a hostage or barricade incident. The training includes practical exercises and information about initial responses, perimeters, command posts, information-gathering, contingency planning, first-responder duties, media relations, site surveys, and first-line supervisors' responsibilities. The program outline can be applied to any major public safety incident, such as a multiple-vehicle accident, fire, hazardous material spill, severe weather incident, and multiple-shooting incidents. Some basic principles of first response are outlined in this article.