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Firefighter Accountability
Firefighter accountability has, for some time now, become the utmost concern in many departments; paid and volunteer. As I speak to firefighters and officers from many departments I notice that each has an accountability system, but the most common remark is that it is often not practiced at each scene. I open this forum to discuss different accountability techniques, proceedures and feedback on the success of each. Each of us should adhere to our department's accountability system, recommend change if the policy has holes in it, and instruct those who are not following this practice that it is imperative that every brother and sister goes home after that call; everyone!
Tags: accountability, call, fast, firefighter, mayday, rit, roll
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Darren Sluder on -
How True! I agree wholeheartedly!
We must not free-lance firefight!
Regarless of how well your system works, do it, each and every run, from trash fires, Motor Vehicle Accidents to general medical calls, car fires to the big ones!
My department just had training with our two neiboring departments about accountability and command proceedures last night!
Our system is a two tag style system and begins very simply. The personell on the apparatus place them on the apparatus ring then once on scene, the engineer is the first and basic accountibility officer, all others responding report to him at the apparatus and await for assignement by the IC. Our tags get assigned in one of two catagories. Onscene or interior, that simple.
Our IC has a flow chart which he uses to track units deployments and assignments etc.Roof, Side C etc, even when the utilites are called for and shut off like Electric shut off, gas, water, and other command assignments etc. He can assign someone to assist him as an Aide to perform the writing of the assignments if necessary.
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Once the call escalates to more than our department, we get out of the apparatus, a small accountability board and assign an actual stand alone accountability officer to handle all of the issues. If it escalates further into more than three alarms, we use a larger board and assign a minimum of two persons to accountability.
Its not perfect but it works for us.
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Permalink Reply by Eddie Scali on -
That system sounds excellent. Can you explain further the "TWO TAG" system. I understand where one tag goes, but how about the other? Also, is there personal information about the firefighter on the tag that stays with the accountability ring, or board there after? (ie. blood type, contact information and medical history). At any point during firefighting operations does your department utelize a "roll call" to assure all members are acounted for?
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Permalink Reply by Dave LeBlanc on -
This was discussed here a week or so ago and many comment were made about how accountability has to be more than just a system.
Accountability has to do with Firefighters being aware of there assignements and reporting to a "Boss".
It also has to do with that Boss making sure his people are with him, or he is aware of where they are operating.
As for a system, we also use a tag system, that covers both the On Duty crews, as well as the Off Duty firefighters that repond direct.
Each vehicle has a ring for the on duty crew, and these are collected by the Accountability Officer when that postion gets filled, otherwise they stay attached to the truck. There is also a large ring at each pump panel for the Off Duty Firefighters. When you show up and grab a Scoot, you leave your tag here before reporting to Command for an assignment.
So far it works well, we overhauled it about a year ago and have been using it this way ever since.
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Permalink Reply by Eddie Scali on
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Dave thanks. Here in Nassau County I see a little bit of confusion with accountability of mutual aid departments responding in to act as the FAST or additional truck/engine to the scene of a working fire or other major emergency. An additional ring on the pump panel, or at the command center would be instrumental for other responding firefighters from the "host" department or other departments. I have been curiouse in workability of a county wide accountability system just for these incidents that require mutual aid. As it is at each working fire 9 of 10 departments mutual for a FAST truck.
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Permalink Reply by Darren Sluder on
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We have One tag on the rear hook of the helmet, the other clips on a suspender strap or elsewhere where it can be slightly protected and not banging off the back of your neck. The tag placed on the helmet goes on the accountability board. Inside the tag is information about the person, medical info, contact info, doctor, normal vitals at rest, allergies etc. On the tag is a photo of the person, unit number, department, any pertinent training and a barcode for barcode scanners.
The tages are placed on a dog snap for ease of carrying or clipping.
On the tag is a area showing a pair of scissors and says EMS Cut here to open tag.
The system was purchased through Salamander Industries from Michigan.
Our state purchsed Salamanders barcode system which is expensive but in large incidents, can scan in and out and manke quick tags too.
Salamander has training they do on accountability as well.
Their basic tag system like what we have is like $495 for the software then 2.95 per tag system which includes the laminate, tie, dog snap and medical card.
Hope this helps:
Darren
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Permalink Reply by Todd McKee on -
Our accountabiliy system is activated by the first arriving company on a scene. The problem we have is that the first engine marks who has accountability but guys forget to hand in the tags. This usually on smaller scenes, now on larger scenes it seems to work how we train on it. A lot of the times the First Engine on the scene the driver has to run the truck and accountability due to man power issues. This is a big reason that we have issues with the system.
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Permalink Reply by Dave LeBlanc on
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Our system is part of a COunty Wide system, however we have adapted it a bit to work better within our Department.
According to our County ICS policy, each truck shall have a collection tag or ring, and tag placement here constitutes Level 1 Accountability.
Level 2 is when Incident Command expands and then the tags are collected at the Command Post.
Our big problem was the off duty response direct to the scene and trying to account for those members. This system seems to have solved the problem.
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Permalink Reply by Brent Sanger on -
We have an accountability tag system. The tags are laminated sheets of paper with your name, duty position, and either tag A or B. There is no rhyme or reason as to which tag to use at any given time, and 90% of the time they aren't even used. Our volunteers are better at hanging up their tags on the first in engine than the paid guys are because that is how the volunteers get credit for being there. I myself went out and made a couple of engraved dogtags. They are more durable, and the noise of it bouncing around on the back of my helmet reminds me to hang it up. Now, if I can just remember to pick it back up when I am released........... (I am bad about that, but have never been written up over it). Regardless of the system used, the system is only as good as the people using it and the support given by senior leadership to ensure it's being used. In the words of my chief, he has 3 platoons covering 8 stations, which makes for 25 different ways of doing things. There is the written SOP, and the way it's done at each individual station.
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Permalink Reply by Jay Michael on -
We use a pass port system. Two tags one on the board in rig other on helmet, to be used when the event gets sectored as someone has operations of a floor or side of building. We also do PAR checks.
This system is good for knowing what task was assigned to whom and where they were suppose to be operating. But in reality it is a feel good measure, accountability begins with each individual firefighter, next up is the company officer, lastly the incident commander. When all things are considered accountability then we can say we have a system. Our department has had our system in place for 10 years or better and it is really a feel good measure that may help identify someone who is injured. The best part of our system is crews stay together and essential communications are transmitted on the fire ground.
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Permalink Reply by Christi Haymore on -
I agree accountability tags are the best way to keep track of personnel on any incident and that they are not used and practiced as much as it should be. Above that, running mutal aid..... I believe that engine company's should not be split up and departments should not be mix whenever possible. When not use to working with someone, they can be forgotten very easily. It is crazy to listen to PI's and hear a firefighter correct someone about what their job was at the incident. Tags are great from the "outside looking in" accountability wise, but on the inside if you do not train regulary with the other departments, big incidents are not the time to mix things up and rely on a tag. Know who your with and know that they know you are with them. If things go wrong for someone on the inside, how long is it going to be till the next MARC? 10 minutes. That's 10 minutes too long. In all, have a system and stick to what you train. Be safe and awesome discussion!
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Permalink Reply by Marques Bush on -
I do believe that a lot of key points have been hit here. 1. Training and Implementing your accountability system is a biggie. I believe as others do it takes practicing on the small incidents i.e. MVA's, small grass fires to help in still confidence and gain a better understand of why accountability is used and how to use it. 2. It was also hit on about crew integrity and Christi you are absolutely one hundred percent right in my book. 3. If you have not trained with firefighters from other departments on performing certain fire ground functions, at the time of the incident is not the time to find out what they can do. I had a very smart chief once tell me to help with accountability on his fire scenes his SOG's stated whenever someone is contacted on the radio for any reason when they answer they give their companies location. i.e. " Command Engine 1" Engine 1 second floor. so that if firefighters are changing there geographic location and not notifying command he or she is able to still keep track of them. Accountability is much like safety and is apart of safety but it too also has to become a culture and a mindset. In my department we also use a two tag system and it seems to be working great. We are having very good success and all the firefighters have bought in to the program.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Lomske on -
We have a two tag system.
The tags are small plastic plates that velcro to the bottom rear of the helmet brim. The tags have your name on them.
One tag goes on the apparatus dashboard, the other goes to the IC when on-scene, to be placed on the accountability board.
The squad/waaambulence has EMT tags on the rear cab divider wall. Tag gets placed on dashboard mini-board/passpoart for squd runs.
I don't like the small velcro helmet tags. I would like for us to swich to the clip-on type, or larger sized velcro tags.
The small tags get the job done. But if someone hasn't checked in, the tag(s) are hidden and you can't tell from a glance .
The small tags are also hard to get off the helmet with gloves on. Taking the gloves off encourages taking gloves off later into the incident.
A neighboring dept. uses the clip on tags. I've seen dept's that use clip-on to the rear of the helmet or front of coat.
If staying with the velcro type, I would recommend making them larger and with more info besides name only. Put one on either side of helmet brim and maybe have a tag or ring to help detach.
If going to or staying with clip-on tag, attach velcro to one side if your helping a velcro dept.
If using velcro(hook and loop attachment), make sure everybody is using the same material on the tags.
If one department has the hook and loop selection reversed from what you use, then your tags won't stick.
Some adjoining counties, or department(s) within a county, may have a different type of accountability system.
Make sure your accountability board can take different types of tag attachments and make your tags adaptible to other types of boards.
You don't have to get fancy or go broke getting a system. Make it yourself and keep it simple.
Keep dry-erase and wet-erase markers with the board. Put a band of velcro around the markers and an attach section of the opposite material on the board.
Get a clock/timer for the board.
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