Major Incident Response Flashcards

Which zone at a hazmat MCI is also called the 'exclusion zone' and requires full PPE?

Answer: Hot zone

The hot zone (exclusion zone) is the area of direct contamination where only properly equipped hazmat personnel may enter.

During a building collapse MCI, rescue teams use the term 'void space' to describe:

Answer: An air pocket or cavity where trapped survivors may be found

A void space is a survivable air cavity created within debris where trapped victims may be located and still alive.

A paramedic arriving first at a 40-car pileup should FIRST:

Answer: Establish command and conduct a scene size-up

The first arriving provider must assume command, perform a scene size-up, and communicate findings before beginning individual patient care.

The concept of 'greatest good for the greatest number' in MCI triage means:

Answer: Allocating resources to maximize overall survival across all patients

MCI triage principles aim to maximize total survivors by prioritizing those who need immediate care and are likely to survive with treatment.

In ICS, the term 'span of control' refers to:

Answer: The number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage

Span of control in ICS is the number of individuals one supervisor manages, with an optimal range of 3–7 (ideal: 5).

A patient tagged 'expectant' (black) in MCI triage is someone who:

Answer: Has injuries so severe that survival is unlikely even with immediate care

Expectant patients have critical injuries with very low survival probability even if resources were immediately available, so care is deferred to help survivable patients.

Which of the following best describes the role of the Medical Branch Director at an MCI?

Answer: Oversees all EMS and medical operations within the Operations Section

The Medical Branch Director oversees all medical operations—triage, treatment, and transport—within the Operations Section of ICS.