Functional Areas
The scene should be divided into functional areas. Specific activities take place within each area. This makes it easier to allocate and assign resources. Below is a typical scene response with the functional areas identified and defined.
Command Post: Location where Unified Command and other key staff manage the incident. May also house communications assets.
Incident Operations Area (IOA): Vicinity where the majority of front-line operations takes place. Does not include ancillary activities.
Security Perimeter: Established according to the type of incident. Active shooter, hazardous materials, or explosives events may all require different distances depending on the size of the Incident Operations Area.
Staging Area: This is where all resources not utilized in the Incident Operations Area are housed. It is far enough away from the IOA so that any escalation will protect assets, yet close enough for a rapid response.
Transport Corridor: In this diagram, the Transport Corridor is between the Treatment Areas and the Staging Area. This is to enhance the rapid loading and transport of injured victims. In other cases, the Transport Corridor may be to the left of Staging in order to better account for arriving resources. In either case, the Transport Corridor must be kept clear and operating at all times.
Treatment Area: Location of victims who have been evacuated from the IOA. There may be one single Treatment Area,as in this diagram, or several in order to identify and divide seriously injured (Red Patients) from lower priority victims (Yellow and Green). In this scene a Black Tag Area has also been created. This is for Dead victims who cannot be resuscitated. Refer to the MCI Triage online course for more information on performing MCI Triage.
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