Virginia Beach Treatment Tarps and reminders for MCI response

Following the violent action in Virginia Beach I was listening to reporters and law enforcement experts discuss this and that about the shooting when the helicopter shot swept through a parking lot and captured this brief glimpse of what appears to be the Treatment Area or Casualty Collection Point at the event:


I don't know the MCI policy for this agency and I'm not here to challenge their actions but this image made me want to remind folks about being first in or assigned to Treatment at an MCI:

1. Transmit the location of your Casualty Collect Point CCP on the operations channel.  Make the location easy to find, use nearby signs or geography to avoid confusion.  Example: "Casualty Collection Point is Medic 8 in the West Parking lot." Make sure PD also knows so all victims are brought to the same location.

2. Consider ingress and egress of transport units. Straight line is preferred. Transmit approach to radio and Command.  Example: "Command from Treatment, All transport units should enter the main parking lot from 5th street only."  When able, make sure the Staging Unit also knows ingress.

3. Establish RED immediate treatment area first and locate it directly adjacent to the transport unit arrival area to facilitate easy access and loading.

4. Yellows are just Greens that can't walk, use Greens to bring them to you.

I like the Officer directing the other unit around.

I HATE tarps.  You have to waste bags holding them down and no one can see them.  Plus they only fit 5 patients. Useless. This photo shows the tarps down but where they are isn't going to do much.

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