DCAS Dubai EMS Protocols & Mass Casualty Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The METHANE major incident declaration report stands for:
- Major incident (declared?), Exact location, Type of incident, Hazards, Access/egress, Number of casualties, Emergency services present (Correct answer)
- Medical Emergency, Triage, Hospital notification, Assessment, Number treated, Emergency transport
- Multiple casualties, Evacuation, Triage, Hospital, Air transport, Number, Expectant
- Mass event, Emergency type, Hazmat, ALS required, Number transported, Evacuation
Correct answer: Major incident (declared?), Exact location, Type of incident, Hazards, Access/egress, Number of casualties, Emergency services present
METHANE is the international standard major incident information format: Major incident declared, Exact location, Type of incident, Hazards, Access routes, Number and severity of casualties, Emergency services on scene — enabling effective resource dispatch.
Question 2: In Dubai's ICS (Incident Command System) for major incidents, the 'Operations Section Chief' is responsible for:
- Directing all tactical operations at the scene, including rescue, medical, and hazmat sectors (Correct answer)
- Public relations and media
- Resource procurement and logistics
- Incident documentation
Correct answer: Directing all tactical operations at the scene, including rescue, medical, and hazmat sectors
The Operations Section Chief manages all tactical activities — directly supervising section supervisors (rescue, medical, hazmat) and ensuring the incident action plan is executed at the operational level.
Question 3: The capacity surge response for Dubai hospitals during a major incident involves:
- Activating hospital major incident plans (MAJAX), discharging non-critical patients, cancelling elective procedures, and calling in additional staff (Correct answer)
- Only activating additional A&E beds
- Transferring all patients to military hospitals
- Closing the hospital to new admissions immediately
Correct answer: Activating hospital major incident plans (MAJAX), discharging non-critical patients, cancelling elective procedures, and calling in additional staff
Hospital MAJAX plans systematically increase capacity through multiple measures: early discharge of stable patients, cancellation of elective lists freeing theatres and staff, activation of off-duty personnel, and creation of additional treatment spaces.
Question 4: The 'Body Holding Area' in MCI management is located in the:
- Cold zone, away from treatment areas and transport, managed by relevant authorities (Correct answer)
- Hot zone — closest to casualties
- Warm zone — adjacent to decontamination
- Nearest hospital morgue
Correct answer: Cold zone, away from treatment areas and transport, managed by relevant authorities
The body holding area is established in the cold zone to receive deceased and expectant casualties, managed respectfully and separately from living patients, coordinated with police, medical examiner, and mortuary services.
Question 5: Dubai's 'One Referral System' for major incident patient distribution aims to:
- Distribute MCI casualties equitably across Dubai's hospitals to prevent any single facility being overwhelmed (Correct answer)
- Send all casualties to the nearest hospital
- Route all major trauma to Rashid Hospital
- Allow patients to choose their hospital during MCI
Correct answer: Distribute MCI casualties equitably across Dubai's hospitals to prevent any single facility being overwhelmed
The One Referral System coordinates distribution of MCI casualties across Dubai's hospital network based on capacity and capability, preventing overload at any single facility while matching patient needs with hospital resources.
Question 6: Decontamination of casualties in a mass chemical incident uses:
- Copious water irrigation (wet decontamination) as the primary method — removing the agent from the skin (Correct answer)
- Dry decontamination (removing and bagging clothing) only
- Neutralising chemical agents with specific antidotes at the scene
- Blotting agents from the skin without water
Correct answer: Copious water irrigation (wet decontamination) as the primary method — removing the agent from the skin
Wet decontamination using copious water (and mild detergent for oily agents) is the most effective method for most chemical agents; removing clothing (dry decon) removes 80% of contamination and precedes wet decontamination.
DCAS Dubai EMS Protocols & Mass Casualty Management 5
The METHANE major incident declaration report stands for: