Risk Assessment & Mitigation Flashcards
7 cards from real CED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Risk Assessment & Mitigation flashcards as text
A caller is reporting that a neighbor is acting erratically and appears to be in mental health crisis. What risk factor should the dispatcher assess to determine appropriate resource deployment?
Answer: Whether the subject has access to weapons or has a history of violence
Weapon access and prior violent behavior are the most critical risk factors in mental health calls because they determine whether law enforcement response is required alongside mental health resources.
Which of the following best describes 'resource typing' in the context of risk mitigation during large-scale incidents?
Answer: Categorizing resources by capability so dispatchers can match the right type to the specific hazard
Resource typing ensures that specialized assets such as hazmat, technical rescue, or mass casualty units are matched to incidents requiring their specific capabilities.
A dispatcher receives a hang-up call from a residential address with no callback response. Which risk-based action is most appropriate?
Answer: Dispatch a unit for a welfare check and attempt continued callback efforts
Hang-up calls with no callback may indicate a caller in danger who cannot speak, making a welfare check dispatch the appropriate risk-mitigation response.
What is the significance of 'critical thresholds' in risk assessment for dispatchers?
Answer: They are pre-defined trigger points that automatically escalate resource deployment when exceeded
Critical thresholds are pre-established conditions — such as a certain number of injuries or hazard size — that trigger automatic response upgrades without requiring dispatcher judgment in the moment.
A dispatcher handling a mass casualty incident notices that all available ALS units are committed. What risk mitigation step should be taken?
Answer: Activate mutual aid immediately to request additional ALS resources from neighboring jurisdictions
Activating mutual aid ensures that ALS-level care continues to be available during a surge event, directly mitigating the risk of patients not receiving appropriate medical treatment.
Which of the following is an example of 'normalization of deviance' as a risk factor in dispatch operations?
Answer: Repeatedly skipping a verification step because it has never caused a problem in the past
Normalization of deviance occurs when repeated protocol violations without immediate consequences lead staff to treat unsafe practices as acceptable.
A dispatcher receives a call about a vehicle accident on a freeway. The caller says traffic is stopped for a mile. What elevated risk does this create beyond the immediate accident?
Answer: Secondary collisions from inattentive drivers approaching the stopped traffic
Stopped freeway traffic creates a high secondary collision risk as approaching drivers may not see the hazard in time, requiring dispatcher-initiated traffic control coordination.