ACCOUNTABILITY TAGS – EFFECTIVE 2/7/11
Accountability Tags
Along with the ambulance numbering system, the second big change involves crew safety and accountability. Currently we have a pretty weak system in the county for volunteer rescue unit accountability. Starting with our new unit numbering system, we will initiate a new crew accountability process. Each riding member will have a plastic name tag that will be stored on a board at stations two and three. When you come in to pull duty, please move your name tag from the master board to a small green tag affixed to the dash board of the unit you will be riding on. This tag will have the unit number on it to help the AIC remember what unit they are on as mentioned above.
Ken Smith will be installing the boards with all riding members name tags in the supply areas at both stations near the radio charger bank. We are ordering crew tags to enable us to store the tags by crew assignment. This should help you find your tag quickly. If you don’t have a tag, there will be extra ones at each station. Please use tape and a marker to “create” your own. Notify your Lieutenant that you need tags and we will order them for you. The list was turned into the EMS Division at CFEMS quite some time ago, and over time the accuracy has diminished.
AIC’s will need to make sure your crew is properly “tagged” and in the event of an incident with multiple unit response and / or extended operations, you should be prepared to deliver your unit tag with names affixed, to the Incident Commander or their designee. This will be consistent with all other responder units at incidents. AIC’s, if you arrive on scene early in a fire incident, locate the first arriving fire apparatus and place your unit tag on the white plastic “master board” in the front of that engine or truck. This serves as the command post until a battalion chief arrives and establishes a command post. All fire apparatus have a master board located near the officer’s seat. Take time to go to Co. 9 and see what this looks like and where it is located.
There is an expectation that you will bring your tag to command when operating on this type of incident. This is part of personnel safety. The Incident commander will use this tag board when he or she calls for a PAR check.
What is a PAR check?
A PAR ( personal accountability report) check is done routinely for units operating at a major incident (i.e.-fire scene).
This occurs at 20 minutes into a “working incident,” and if the mode of operation changes (i.e. – offensive mode to defensive mode), or if an event occurs during the incident that has the potential to injure or harm personnel (i.e. – collapse, flashover, explosion).
The IC will note over the radio that he/she is going to begin a benchmarked PAR. A “roll call” is taken for each unit on scene. The AIC for unit will respond over the radio when called by stating their unit number, location, operating assignment, and the number of personnel on the unit that you can visually or verbally account for (i.e. – ” Ambulance 43, par of 4″ if there are 4 people on their unit). The number of people you state on the PAR check should match the number of accountability tags you turn into the IC, which should be done upon your arrival.
If you cannot account for a crew member, the IC will call you back and ask if you know who you are missing and the last known location / approximate time you had contact with them.
Very important – the number of people you state on the PAR check should match the number of accountability tags you turn into the IC, which should be done upon your arrival, unless you are missing a crew member on scene.
If you have any questions, contact your Lieutenant.