Chapter 2: Incident Response and Reporting
It’s impossible to foresee allof the potential hazards that might lead to injuries or incidents that may occur when working in uncontrolled environments, but first aid skills and having emergency plans in place will help manage situations effectively and potentially mitigate negative consequences. Once a situation is stable and urgent medical care needs are met, report incidents to campus to trigger planning of possible University support and evaluation. Reporting procedures, as well as mechanisms to debrief and review lessons learned are outlined below. As a University, we also comply with a variety of reporting regulations, including but not limited to, reporting of injuries and fatalities, Title IX reporting of sexual harassment and criminal behavior, environmental releases or spills, and loss/theft/misuse of research materials or funds. Related campus-specific policies and resources are listed in Appendix B.
When incidents occur in the field that result in injury to people or damage to equipment, there is a natural human tendency to become “amped” up. Effective incident management can include using the STOP response method –Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. Trip leaders or a designated participant should try to note what the observations and plans were, and then when time permits, these need to be documented to ensure that the appropriate response and/or care is provided to those involved.
First Aid & Initial Response
For quick reference first aid instructions, see Appendix D in the back of the book.
This chapter outlines established protocols for initial response to an incident, but in no way is a replacement for maintaining current firstaid certifications. First aid training includes valuable hands-on practice that cannot be replicated in any other way. Keep your certs current! Refresher training and practice is vital to maintain competency in first aid. In most states, the intent of theGood Samaritan Law is to encourage individuals to volunteer to assist others in need during an emergency. Only provide treatment within the scope of your training level and never abandon a patient.
Basic First Aid
By administering immediate care during an emergency, you can help an ill or injured person before EMS arrive. A variety of useful references can also be downloaded to your smartphone (and are accessible without cell or WiFi service) such as the Emergency Medical Response Guide or “EMR Guide” from the National Safety Council and “First Aid” from the American Red Cross. Both are available free from the App Store.
Seeking Medical Care or Other Support
Consider opening theseopportunities up to your crew/team and give them the opportunity to add their observations/actions taken to reports. That could allow for improved situational understanding and aid in post trip review/after action reviews (AAR).
Your department safety committee or coordinator, EH&S staff, research oversight committees, or other personnel on campus may be involved in accident investigation and review of lessons learned.
- Send or give your participants information regarding your course or project. This can include a personal equipment, a description of what to expect, a participant medical form, syllabus, waivers and contact information of leaders and other participants.
- Review your Field Safety Plan, expected hazards and conditions, security concerns, code of conduct, and travel logistics
- Encourage participants to get medical procedures (including dental procedures) taken care of before extended field excursions
- Initiate direct communication with your participants. It may be necessary to talk directly with participants beforehand to determine whether a field class or research expedition is the right choice for them