Critical Incidents - Ch. 14 - Police Academy
Emergency Response to Fire
Awareness-level responders must not try to extinguish fires. Normal fire extinguisher training is not sufficient. Operation-level personnel with necessary protection and training can accomplish defensive fire attack. Technician-level responders can perform offensive fire attack
Emergency Response first aid
Basic first aid to victims of exposure. Awareness level responders may identify contaminated people who present a risk to secondary contamination, but avoid direct contact with them.
The common policy or rule when dealing with an alleged bomb threat?
Be out of the building at least 30 minutes before the time detonation
A general safe distance for the initial perimeter of a bomb threat is
1,000 feet from the supposed location of the bomb - if there is no good cover, then it increases the evacuation distance
Human-made critical incident examples
Active shooter events, hazardous material spills, or bomb threats
Fire creates the potential for....
An explosion or boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion. - recommendations depend on the spills size, weather conditions, time of day, and geographical conditions
Identifying a hazardous material through the 5 senses may place you at ....
An unacceptable risk for exposure
Who should display a "DANGEROUS" placard?
Anything that holds two or more classes of hazardous materials - do not use this sign if carrying explosives and toxic gases
Mail bombs
Are a special class of suspicious items. These could be delivered by the United States Postal Service, a commercial delivery service, or by hand. Can be difficult to detect. -Some possible signs are envelops or packages that are rigid, have excessive postage, are unevenly packed, or are packed with excessive securing material. May also bear oily stains, discoloration, protruding wires, or strange odors.
Military devices
Can be easily acquired and generally recognizable. They include grenades, landmines, and rocket launchers. - can be encountered when responding to found, abandoned, or suspicious military item - military memorabilia accidentally discovered can be live or inert, always assume live
Creative bomb maker
Can construct an explosive device to detonate through a number of methods - trip wires, pressure switches, detectors, remote triggers - can be detonated by cell phones and key fobs
Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
Can help you identify hazardous materials. The orange color coded pages are the most important. 3 topics for each substance
Shape and size of the container in reference to hazardous materials
Can provide useful information about the type of hazard. Usually a direct relationship between the size of the container and the size of the affected area - main types are portable, fixed, and transportation
If a threat takes physical form, what do you do?
Collect it as evidence
Public Safety topic
Consists of three subsections: notification, protective clothing, and evacuation
Potential Hazards Topic
Consult this topic first. Describes the potential hazards that the material may display in terms of fire or explosion and health effects upon exposure
Disaster kits
Contains the basic supplies needed for a 72 hour period which includes first aid kit, important paperwork, non-perishable food, water, toys, pet food, flashlight, batteries, meds, and radio. Kits a prepared for both yourself and your family - also extra uniform and change of clothes - check the kit every 6 months to replace expired stuff
Officers with strong communities ties will also be more effective when...
Delivering information about evacuations and safety procedures - relaying life saving information (food banks, shelters, family reunification)
If you suspect a meth lab is present...
Do not inhale fumes, touch or taste the chemicals, or turn anything on or off - there could also be booby traps
To identify the material, you may have to look at
Documents or shipping papers, or interview the transport driver or staff
Shipping papers or shipping manifests
Documents that commercial vehicle operators are required to carry that lists the contents of the shipment - they can help you identify the materials and associated hazards and take appropriate actions if exposure occurs
What 3 things that you display could help you be more successful in recovery efforts
Empathy, calmness, and professionalism
Class 1: explosives
Explosives are materials or devices designed to release energy very rapidly..... dynamite, black powder, and small arms ammunition.
What may indicate that the threat is credible?
Finding a device, suspicious item, or other suspicious circumstances
Class 2: gases
Gases are materials that are neither solid nor liquid at ordinary temperatures; they are contained under pressure. They may be flammable, poisonous or corrosive. Ex. Acetylene, hydrogen, and anhydrous ammonia
Hazmat accidents
Has the potential to cause enormous harm to a community - traffic crashes - factory explosion - gas leak - petroleum spill in water
What is necessary to do with your family before a disaster strikes?
Have an emergency plan in place for your family members and pets because it will be difficult for you to assist your family in their preparation or evacuation during a disaster - it will ease your anxiety and allow for focus on your duties
Colors and marking of placards
Help identify a materials hazard classification - company names and other unique markings may indicate presence of hazardous materials
As a law enforcement officer in Florida, you can expect to do what during natural disasters?
Help with evacuations, traffic control and directions, as well as provide security for shelters
What ongoing situations already have ICS established?
Hurricanes and wildfires
Natural critical incident examples
Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires
Components of an incendiary device
Ignition source, combustible filler material, and a container
Indicators of a VBIED
• A threat that specifically mentions explosives in a vehicle • A vehicle parked suspiciously close to a building or in a restricted parking area without proper decal or sticker • A car that is unfamiliar to building occupants or seems to have a heavy load as indicated by riding low on its rear axles. • A vehicle that has a strange smell or leaks powder or liquid • Reports that a driver or passenger exited a vehicle and left hurriedly • A bomb canine altering officers that a vehicle is a threat
Secondary explosive device
Is a bomb placed at the scene of an ongoing emergency response that is intended to cause casualties among responders. Designed to inflict additional injury, damage, and fear by exploding after the primary explosion after large numbers of responders are at the scene - typically hidden or camouflaged
Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
Is a homemade bomb built and used in ways other than conventional military action. Made from commercially available materials and can be disguised as almost anything - can be hidden in trash bins, backpacks, and road signs
Incident Command System (ICS)
Is a standard, on-scene, all-hazards approach to manage and coordinate the operation of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications under a common organizational structure - helps manage resources effectively - often used by public safety organizations and law enforcement - helped officers locally and nationally - large gatherings, crashes, hurricanes, wildfires
Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
Is a written plan that describes what an organization will do during various major events - sets safe and uniform guidelines for response to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction or hazardous materials
Standard of care
Is the level of competency expected or required when performing the duty during a hazmat incident - only properly trained and equipped officers should approach any potential hazmat situation
Evacuation in public safety
It is the next step after isolating an immediate danger area. Protect people in the downwind hazard area or within the radius of the incident. - also contains protective action distance
What is crucial during disasters
Knowledge of your community - officer will know the needs before and after a disaster
Notification in public safety
Lets you know the first thing to do when called to scene. Also, advises other responders of incident conditions, type and amount of material and resources
Assessing the credibility of a threat
Locate the person that received the threat, since the recipient is sometimes the most important witness. Do not allow them to leave the scene. The owner or building representative must give permission to search or evacuate, unless an emergency or you find a device
Recognizing a suspicious item
Many bombs do not appear to be bombs at all, and they could be concealed with some form of packaging. - if you find a suspicious item, note the type, color, shape, and size of the device, as well as signs indicating type of explosive
Facility documents in reference to hazardous materials
Many places require facilities to keep documents that outline the type of hazardous materials stored or manufactured on site. - one example is Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Symptoms of chemical suicide
Mild exposure: irritate the eyes, nose, and throat Moderate exposure: headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, coughing, and difficulty breathing High exposure: severe respiratory irritation, severe eye irritation, convulsions, coma, and death
Protective clothing in public safety
Most agencies do not furnish protective clothing to patrol officers
Class 9: miscellaneous dangerous goods
Not belonging to Classes 1-8 these hazardous materials are subject to DOT regulations on transportation. Some examples are molten sulfur, PCBs (Poly chlorinated biphenyls), and hazardous waste.
Observations during approach to a bomb threat
Note landmarks to give specific directions and look for secondary devices or suspicious package and signs of hazardous materials
On-scene debriefing
Officers are advised of the materials to which they may have been exposed, signs and symptoms of overexposure, and who to contact if they notice signs or symptoms of overexposure
Incident critique phase
Officers provide information on operational strengths and weaknesses
Emergency Response to spill or leak
Personnel engaged in controlling spills and leaks must have proper protection and training. Operational level personnel can perform spill control, and activate remote shut off. Technician level responders can perform leak control
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Provides ICS training on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.
Materials used to make meth
Readily available items, such as filters, bottles, blenders, batteries, matches, cold tablets, stove fuel, drain cleaner, and bleach
Many active shooters...
Show their desire to hurt others before carrying out a mass shooting - through social media - journal writings - making statements to people
Low risk senses
Sight and hearing - these can be used at safe distances to look for pressure release, smoke/fire, gas leaks, reactions, casualties, and condensation
Higher risk senses
Smell, touch, and taste - never use them to identify a hazardous material
NFPA 704 Diamonds
Standard facility and vehicle marking system created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - blue: health hazards (think of Florida blue healthcare) - red: flammability hazards (think of fire) - yellow: reactivity (think of bee sting reactions) - white: other (special hazards) - numbered 0-4, with 0 being no hazard and 4 being highest hazard
The effectiveness of your response to critical incidents can impact....
The publics confidence in law enforcement and can affect a community's ability to recover from a critical incident
Using radio and transmitting equipment
There is no universal agreement on whether to do this at or near a bomb threat scene. However, avoiding radio use may stop the accidental triggering or detonation of a bomb designed to explode by radio waves
Critical incidents
These are events that can put lives at risk and cause major damage to property and the environment - can be natural or result of human acts/error
Class 4: flammable solid, spontaneously combustible, and dangerous when wet
These materials are neither liquid nor gas. They may burn in the presence of an ignition source, in the presence of heat or friction, ignite spontaneously, or when in contact with water. Some examples are magnesium, sulfur, and calcium carbide.
Class 3: flammable liquids and combustible liquids
These materials burn in the presence of an ignition source. Some examples are gasoline, diesel fuel, and acetone.
Class 8: Corrosive substances
These materials include acids, solvents, or other materials that may cause irreversible damage to human tissues.
Class 6: toxic materials and infectious substances
These materials include medical waste and biological hazards
Class 7: radioactive substances
These materials include nuclear waste, radioactive medical materials, and X-ray equipment.
Class 5: oxidizers and organic peroxides
These materials may cause spontaneous combustion or increase the intensity of a fire. Examples include bromine or calcium hypochlorite (bleach).
What do personnel not at the scene or the command post depend on as they arrive?
They depend on the responding officers to provide regular updates as the events develop, and communicate in plain language since different radio codes are used in other agencies
Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED)
When a motor vehicle can be used as bomb. Can be very powerful and dangerous. Capable of carrying extremely large amounts of explosives. And pieces of the vehicle can act as shrapnel
The obvious place to search is...
Where it is mentioned in the threat
To make accurate decisions, it is essential that....
You identify the type of hazardous material involved
Chemical suicide
also known as detergent suicide, is a way of committing suicide that involves mixing two or more easily acquired chemicals. - typically occurs in vehicles, closets, bathrooms, or other confined small places
Meth labs
are locations where methamphetamine is manufactured. Can be as small as a side bottle or as large as a warehouse. A simple chemical process converts pseudoephedrine or ephedrine into methamphetamine
Active shooter
as one or more individuals participating in a random or systematic killing spree demonstrating their intent to harm others with a firearm. - goal is mass murder, not criminal acts like robbery or hostage taking
Incendiary devices
can start fires, destroy property, and harm people - Molotov cocktails, napalm, fire bombs - used by rioters, arsonists, and criminals
Most common method of chemical suicide
hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide.
Shelter-in-place
means taking immediate shelter in a readily accessible location or remaining inside a structure to prevent exposure to a dangerous situation that exists outside of the structure.
Placards
signs indicating a type of hazardous material in a container - on all four sides of a vehicle, rail car, or other large container, and on the individual packaging of the vehicle
Protective action distance
the distance that people should stay from a hazardous spill
Right after the disaster, your work will shift from evacuation to...
Search and rescue and delivering supplies; providing security to shelters, distribution centers, and hospitals; and keeping the peace - your role will help the community return to a sense of normalcy and order
Responses to active shooter incidents
- Previously focused on containing a threat and awaiting arrival of SWAT teams. - Current tactics focus on immediately locating the active shooter and ending the threat before helping the injured
Family emergency plan includes:
- family meeting location - at least one out of town contact - a list of emergency management contacts for your community - a method for your family to contact you once the disaster is over
Certain characteristics of active shooters
- have experienced hate, anger, and the feeling that they have been victimized by others, even if it is untrue - very few have had previous arrests - difficult to identify - there is not a single profile for a mass shooter - these indicators do not mean that person is likely to commit a shooting
When acting as part of the initial response to a critical incident, obtain what necessary information from dispatch?
- identify the type of incident or threat - determine if the situation requires PPE - establish ICS - set up a command post - determine the resources needed, including assistance from other agencies - determine whether shelter in place or evacuate
Different factors that impact search considerations during a bomb threat
- if permission is obtained - the level of risk - the credibility or amount of detail provided - possibility of secondary devices - agency policies on searching for explosives
Main objectives in a hazmat situation
- isolate the area - keep people away from the scene - ensure people are upwind and out of low lying areas
Common traits seen in active shooters
- loss of significant relationships - changes in financial status or loss/termination of job - feelings of victimization - major adverse changes to life circumstances - feelings of perceived injustice
Approaching the scene of a bomb threat safely and tactically
- never park too close to the incident or any suspicious item - choose a route that leads to a stopping point a safe distance from the area
Where to do bomb threats come from?
- telephone - voicemail - note left at the scene - social media - mailed letter - fax - email
Initial information that is collected about a bomb threat includes
- the nature of the complaint - the means of the threat - the time the threat was received - the alleged time of detonation - the description of the device - the location of the device - who received the threat
Do not rescue or resuscitate a person if the following indicators are present at a scene
- unresponsive person in a vehicle - warning signs taped to doors - odor of rotten eggs, sulfur, or almonds - suicide note inside - pennies tarnished with residue - yellow green or white residue on seats, windows, dash - bag over the persons head - inside door handles removed
Common methods used in making meth are
1. One pot "shake and bake" method 2. The red phosphorus method 3. The Nazi (anhydrous ammonia) method All produce strong odors similar to rotten eggs and cat urine, surrounded by areas of dead vegetation
Occupancy in reference to hazardous materials
Refers to a structure and its use. Will help you anticipate what hazardous materials may be there Ex. Manufacturing facilities, storage, retail, and residences
Location in reference to hazardous materials
Refers to an area and its use. The type of location may affect how you respond to a potential hazard - parks, business districts, agricultural areas, and neighborhoods - details such as traffic patterns, time of day affect the hazard
Placards and labels in reference to hazardous materials
Regulations govern the use of them on vehicles and facilities that store or transport hazardous materials. - it is required by USDOT for vehicles transporting hazardous materials to display placards that describe the class of hazardous materials
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Regulations require a structured termination process from their involvement in a hazmat incident, with 3 steps (on-scene debriefing, incident critique, and after-action analysis)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Requires all pesticides and some other chemical substances to show warning labels on the outside of the container to indicate harmful contents
Common materials used in the manufacture of incendiary devices
Roadway flares, gasoline or motor oil, and glass containers
What can identify a bomb's location
Street maps, building layouts, or someone familiar with the area can help provide additional, more detailed information related to the device's location - hazards to location are tanks, stored chemicals, pressurized gas, steel rods, rolls of wire, containers of nails
Classes of Hazardous Materials
The USDOT defines 9 common classes of hazardous materials
After-action analysis
The agency's goal is to review any weaknesses and implement any additional or corrective training, as necessary.
