Emergency Response to Terrorism: Job Aid

This counterterrorism Job Aid is designed to assist emergency response personnel in identifying a possible terrorist/ Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incident and implementing initial actions. It identifies both strategic and tactical considerations that should be assessed within the first hour of an incident, providing clear, step-by-step checklists in a handy laminated, spiral-bound, pocket guide format.

This Emergency Response to Terrorism Job Aid has been designed, produced and distributed through a joint partnership of: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); United States Fire Administration (USFA); and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs. Edition 2.0.

I. INTRODUCTION

Instructions for use of Job Aid.

Development/use assumptions.

II. OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Assess Security--response and initial approach.Indicators.

If there is one indicator.

If there are multiple indicators.

Command considerations

Onscene sizeup.

Incident site management, safety, and security.

Tactical considerations.

Mass decontamination.

Symptomatic patients.

Asymptomatic patients (contaminated or exposed).

Remote site operations (i.e., hospital emergency rooms).

Evidence preservation

III. INCIDENT-SPECIFIC ACTIONS (CBRNE)

Chemical.

General information.

Chemical agent reference chart.

Nerve agents.

Blister agents/Vesicants.

Blood agents.

Choking agents.

Riot control/Irritant agents.

Response recommendations.

Biological.

General information.

Response recommendations.

Wet/Dry agent from point source.

Threat of dry agent placed into Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system or package with no visible evidence.

Confirmed agent placed into HVAC system (visible fogger, sprayer, or aerosolizing device).

Biological agent reference chart.

Radiological/Nuclear.

General information.

Response recommendations.

Explosives.

General information.

Response recommendations.

Unexploded device/pre-blast operations.

Exploded device/post-blast operations.

IV. AGENCY-RELATED ACTIONS

Fire department.

As the incident progresses, prepare to initiate Unified Command System.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

If first on the scene.

If command has been established.

Patient care mainstay worksheet.

Law enforcement.

If first on the scene.

If Command has been established.

Haz mat. (Hazardous Materials)

Assisting agencies.

V. GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The Job Aid is designed to assist the first responder from the fire, EMS, Hazmat, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) and law enforcement disciplines who has already been trained in emergency response to serve as a quick reference. This includes line personnel to unit officers, up to and including the initial Incident Commander (IC) (i.e., battalion chief, etc.).