brownlab
Member
In Fairfax County-What is the purposes of the "time clock" during "major incidences"?
Thanks
BL
Thanks
BL
Time Clock
- Thread starter brownlab
- Start date
- Status
Brownlab,
What kind of 'major incident'?
For certain medical incidents, the dispatcher will start a time clock so the medics will have an idea of how long they have been working. The longer it takes to stabilize a victim, the less chance they have to survive or fully recover.
I've also heard time clocks for multi alarm fires so the on scene commanders have an idea on how long it takes to control.
A time clock may also be an indicator for move ups or recalls. If you take a large number of units from a geographic area, especially for a protracted period, it leaves that area basically unprotected. All departments have some kind of redistribution plan to provide coverage (somewhat reduced) for their entire service area.
However, mainly the time clock seems to be for severe medic responses (like a seriously injured accident victim, trapped in their car).
Fairfax County may have other reasons, but these are fairly common.
What kind of 'major incident'?
For certain medical incidents, the dispatcher will start a time clock so the medics will have an idea of how long they have been working. The longer it takes to stabilize a victim, the less chance they have to survive or fully recover.
I've also heard time clocks for multi alarm fires so the on scene commanders have an idea on how long it takes to control.
A time clock may also be an indicator for move ups or recalls. If you take a large number of units from a geographic area, especially for a protracted period, it leaves that area basically unprotected. All departments have some kind of redistribution plan to provide coverage (somewhat reduced) for their entire service area.
However, mainly the time clock seems to be for severe medic responses (like a seriously injured accident victim, trapped in their car).
Fairfax County may have other reasons, but these are fairly common.
brownlab
Member
Thank you for your answer. However, I am still interested in why FFC dispatch periodically conveys to the on-scene commander “the time”. For example, on a major accident, the dispatcher will say “you are 24 minutes into the incidence”. How is this information valuable to the officer? Does this have anything to do with the so called “golden hour”?
Also, are there standards regarding how long it should take to extricate and transport victims to the hospitals or how long it takes to “knock down a fire”? That may explain the reasons for these time updates.
I have monitored several fire jurisdictions around the country and Fairfax is one of the few (which I have heard) that uses this practice.
Thank you again for the information.
BL
Also, are there standards regarding how long it should take to extricate and transport victims to the hospitals or how long it takes to “knock down a fire”? That may explain the reasons for these time updates.
I have monitored several fire jurisdictions around the country and Fairfax is one of the few (which I have heard) that uses this practice.
Thank you again for the information.
BL
Brownlab,
There is no set time to extracate a victim, but time is always of the essence. You want to get the victim out. You don't want to tie up traffic any longer than needed, you don't want to tie up personnel and equipment for a protracted period (if they are on scene they may miss a call in their area with a longer response time for the next closer unit) and the longer more complex the rescue, the safety of the rescue crews is also at risk.
The more seriously injured, the quicker the removal and stabilization of the victim.
Your assumption of the 'golden hour' is probably correct. I know that York County will do a clock for serious accidents where there is a trapped seriously injured victim.
I have also heard other departments tell an on scene commander how long units have been on scene at a fire. This could be to provide the commander an idea as to whether he needs to call in additional manpower. There may be a small tough fire and to keep your personnel safe, you want to rotate them.
Like I said previously, where I have heard it, it has been primarily for serious injury accidents.
Every department has its own procedures. Fairfax may run a clock on any multi unit response for any kind of a reason.
There is no set time to extracate a victim, but time is always of the essence. You want to get the victim out. You don't want to tie up traffic any longer than needed, you don't want to tie up personnel and equipment for a protracted period (if they are on scene they may miss a call in their area with a longer response time for the next closer unit) and the longer more complex the rescue, the safety of the rescue crews is also at risk.
The more seriously injured, the quicker the removal and stabilization of the victim.
Your assumption of the 'golden hour' is probably correct. I know that York County will do a clock for serious accidents where there is a trapped seriously injured victim.
I have also heard other departments tell an on scene commander how long units have been on scene at a fire. This could be to provide the commander an idea as to whether he needs to call in additional manpower. There may be a small tough fire and to keep your personnel safe, you want to rotate them.
Like I said previously, where I have heard it, it has been primarily for serious injury accidents.
Every department has its own procedures. Fairfax may run a clock on any multi unit response for any kind of a reason.
Another reason I have heard for doing keeping check of time on fires is so the on-scene commander knows when to conduct personnel checks (PAR checks) to see if everyone is OK. This is to help make sure they don't "lose" someone on a fireground and have a firefighter down without knowing it.
I have heard at least department dispatch call the incident command and tell them it is time for a "PAR check".
John
I have heard at least department dispatch call the incident command and tell them it is time for a "PAR check".
John
brownlab
Member
Very interesting information. Thank you both for anwsering my questiions.
BL
BL
Webodisk
Silent key.
The reason for the time clock is for PAR(personnel accountibilty report) counts, This follows the NIMS( National Incident management system)So the fire ground commander can check the location and make sure crews are not separated in a fire or other incident. In use you would hear the IC call a company or divison and ask his PAR , He would reply ENG 12 PAR 4 which means he has all his members with him or tell the IC one member is at the pump panel running the truck. Most newer CAD systems have that feature built in so it will remind the dispatcher at preset intervals to tell the IC about how long they have been working at an incident
Mike
Mike
To add one other thing to this thread. The reason the dispatcher passes the time on is it normally much easier for the dispatcher to track time than it is for the on scene commander who has many other things on his/her mind without having to watch the clock as well.
- Status
