ICS BASICS
What does ICS stand for?
What is Incident Command System
What is the role of the Safety Officer?
To monitor and ensure responder safety.
What color tag is used for minor injuries?
Green – “Walking wounded.”
What is the first thing you do upon arriving at a scene?
Ensure scene safety.
What agency coordinates large-scale disaster response in the U.S.?
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
What is the main goal of ICS?
To provide a clear chain of command and coordinated response during emergencies.
What does the Operations Section do?
Carries out the tactical response—search, rescue, treatment.
What does START stand for?
Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment
What does BSI stand for?
Body Substance Isolation.
What is mutual aid?
Agreements between agencies to assist each other during emergencies.
Who is the person in charge at an incident scene?
Incident Commander
Who maintains communication with outside agencies and the public?
Public Information Officer (PIO)
A patient is not breathing, but starts breathing after you open the airway. What tag?
Red – Immediate
What type of incident might require establishing a hot, warm, and cold zone?
Hazmat incident.
What system is used for multi-agency coordination and resource management?
NIMS (National Incident Management System)
What is “span of control”?
The number of individuals or resources one supervisor can effectively manage (usually 3–7).
Who is responsible for resources and supplies?
Logistics Section Chief
What tag would a deceased or non-breathing patient (after airway opened) receive?
Black – Deceased/Expectant
What should responders do if a scene becomes unsafe?
Retreat to a safe area and notify command.
During a large incident, who may be assigned to manage multiple incident sites?
Area Command
What document or plan guides how ICS is used nationally?
The National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Who gathers data, analyzes information, and develops the Incident Action Plan (IAP)?
Planning Section Chief
What are the three key assessment areas in START triage?
Respirations, Perfusion, and Mental Status (RPM)
What’s the main difference between a secure and unsecured scene?
A secure scene is controlled by law enforcement; unsecured may still have hazards or threats.
What is the purpose of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)?
To coordinate resources and support field operations.