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MASS-FATALITY MANAGEMENT as after-hours contact information, various planning checklists, infection control procedures for staff handling human remains, job action sheets (JAS) for personnel with specific responsibili- ties in mass-fatality response, and an equipment and supplies checklist. Response Reality The response phase of a mass-fatality incident must be grounded in a sound mass-casualty incident response plan. Emergency medical services agencies must obviously first address the needs of those patients who are alive and/or most likely to survive. The discussion about mass-fatality management only reasonably occurs after mass-casualty response planning has already occurred. Using the National Incident Management System (NIMS) model, incident priorities are established as: • Life safety • Incident stabilization • Property conservation • Environmental protection. One question that arises regarding response is, where in the ICS continuum does fatality management fall? Is it an EMS, public health or law enforcement function? It is essential that these questions are addressed prior to the event, during the planning phase. Fatality manage- ment should rightfully fall after life safety, but prior to property conservation. Consider Your Current Capability In the United States, someone dies approximately every 11 seconds (www. census.gov). Every community is forced to adapt its fatality plan to local condi- tions. The agencies and resources involved with a single fatality will all have roles in addressing the require- ments for mass-fatality management. For this reason, planning for a “mass- fatality” incident—”an incident where more deaths occur than can be handled by local resources”—must have an established foundation in the jurisdic- tion’s “single-fatality” plan. There is no doubt that every community across the country has had to respond to a fatality. The logical question must be asked: What number will overwhelm your community resources? Has the exact number even been considered? To understand your single-fatality plan, one of the most appropriate ways to proceed is to ask some simple yet thought-provoking questions of all the relevant agencies and non-governmental organizations involved. These would include: HOW IS A SINGLE FATALITY ADDRESSED? Engage those agencies and non- governmental organizations that would normally address a single-fatality inci- Certified Ambulance Group reliable accessible reliable accessible experienced experienced Fire Rescue EMS Post Office Box 290184 Wethersfield, CT 06129 866-435-7224 www.certambgroup.com Economic Stimulus Packages for all EMS, Fire & Rescue Agencies For More Information Circle 30 on Reader Service Card 52 JULY 2011 | EMSWORLD.com For More Information Circle 31 on Reader Service Card See Us at Firehouse Expo Booth #205 RESPOND TO YOUR BILLING NEEDS. LET