| Paramedic Services | Effective Date: April 30, 2022 |
| Topic: Operations Directives | Replaces: April 30, 2019 |
| Subject: Disaster/Continuity Plan | Policy No. G.3.14. |
To outline the roles and responsibilities of every employee during a disaster to ensure an orderly and organized execution of duties during and after the incident.
1. Every employee shall ensure that they:
a) Are fully familiar with the Disaster Plan as it applies to his/her role in the organization.
b) Function accordingly when assigned work during a time of disaster, or a disaster training exercise.
c) Review the plan at least once per year.
2. All Paramedics shall ensure this policy is reviewed through access on each vehicle’s tablet in CERT’n under Regulatory Compliance/ G.3.14.2022 Disaster Continuity Plan.
3. Superintendents shall ensure that the bases have a current Disaster Plan available for review.
4. The Deputy Chief shall provide a copy of the current Disaster Plan to local CACC’s, allied agencies and the Base Hospital.
5. The Disaster Plan shall be reviewed on an annual basis and shall be exercised in conjunction with different municipal emergency plans.
In the event of a disaster, Paramedics shall work co-operatively and respond to the needs of all patients. Personnel shall adhere to the general procedures outlined below:
1. The Chief of Paramedic Services, or designate is responsible to:
a) Update the CAO of the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board;
b) Establish the priority of tasks for subordinate staff;
c) Ensure media releases and/or interviews are approved by the CAO;
d) Ensure resources are available to respond to specific contingencies as needs arise;
e) Obtain and submit documentation related to decision and direction during the event;
f) Evaluate service response through debriefing sessions and investigations;
g) Liaise with the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) and the site.
2. The Deputy Chief of Paramedic Services, or designate shall:
a) Maintain a tactical relationship with the scene command, regarding number of patients, resource requirements and other relevant information;
b) Maintain communication with the Chief of Paramedic Services.
3. The Paramedic Superintendent or designate shall:
a) Confirm Incident Management adherence;
b) Confirm the designation of a Departmental Site Command and where necessary:
i) A Triage Officer
ii) A Traffic Officer
iii) A Safety Officer
c) update CACC as roles are assigned;
d) Contact liaise with the allied agencies and establish/confirm a Command Post designation.
4. The first Paramedic on scene shall:
a) Position their vehicle with emergency lights activated, leaving the vehicle keys in the ignition;
b) Assume the role of Paramedic Site Coordinator, until relieved, and provide relevant communications updates, including the number of patients and the number of resources required;
c) Communicate appropriate incident access and egress.
5. The Paramedic Site Commander shall:
a) Ensure scene safety;
b) Don the Site Coordinator vest;
c) Designate the 1st Ambulance on scene as the Paramedic Command Post;
d) Liaise with Allied Agencies;
e) Determine and communicate additional resource needs;
f) Determine and communicate the Staging Area;
g) Establish access/egress routes;
h) Ensure the presence of a Triage and Traffic Control Officer;
i) Co-ordinate inbound Paramedic resources;
j) Maintain records of departmental activities;
k) Co-ordinate patient transportation;
l) Ensure coordination of any air ambulance response, including establishment of a designated landing site;
m) Establish a patient holding area where required.
6. The Triage Officer shall:
a) Don the Triage Officer vest from the Mass Casualty Kit;
b) Establish a triage area;
c) Conduct the systematic triage and tagging of casualties;
d) Communicate the status of patients and any special assistance requirements to the Paramedic Site Commander;
e) Organize the holding area;
f) Perform secondary triage;
g) Co-ordinate transportation of casualties.
7. The Traffic Officer shall:
a) Don the Traffic Officer vest from the Mass Casualty Kit;
b) Establish a staging area with the Paramedic Ste Commander;
c) Liaise with Police Services to restrict staging area access;
d) Establish access/egress routes from the staging area to the triage/holding areas;
e) Document resource arrivals and departures, including triage tag numbering;
f) Ensure PPE compliance with Paramedics;
g) Ensure compliance with warning system and radio requirements;
h) Update inbound Paramedics on any incident hazards and status.
8. The Safety Officer (if assigned) shall:
a) Don the Safety Officer vest from the vehicle MCI kit;
b) ensure scene safety;
c) ensure all Paramedic personnel are wearing their PPE;
d) Continuously, reassess site safety and determine if relocation is necessary;
e) Co-ordinate with the Site Commander the rotation of Paramedics;
f) Coordinate personnel needs associated with any protracted event;
9. All inbound Paramedic Service Personnel shall:
a) Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, including, but not limited to designated head protection, high visibility outerwear, and approved foot protection;
b) Stage as directed, with warning systems and radio repeater turned off. Ignition keys will be left in every vehicle;
c) Report to the Paramedic Service Site Commander;
d) Follow the direction from Paramedic Site Commander, or Triage Officer;
e) Treat and transport patients as directed by the Triage Officer or the Traffic Control Officer;
f) Complete all documentation in accordance with both legislative and organizational requirements.
Power Outage
In the event of power interruption (either scheduled or unscheduled), the following actions shall take place:
Fire Loss
In the event of any fire event, personnel shall follow the direction set out in Policy G.8.5.2022 Notification of Fire Services.
Loss of facility for any other reason
For loss of accommodation for other reasons personnel shall:
Loss of Fleet
Where any deployed vehicle(s) breakdown or be unsuitable for utilization for any reason, Paramedics shall notify the Paramedic Superintendent and the CACC ACO immediately. Restrict resource assignment will be managed in accordance with the deployment Plan.
Loss of Personnel
In the event of personnel loss that may critically impact the delivery of Paramedic Services, the Paramedic Superintendent shall:
Loss of Suppliers
Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Paramedic Services shall maintain a reasonable inventory of equipment and disposable supplies, deemed capable of allowing for a five (5) month inventory. Three (3) months of inventory will be stored at each Paramedic Service station in open storage, while two (2) months of inventory shall be kept in locked storage at the HQ building in Espanola, and locked storage at the Paramedic Service Station in Little Current. Should it become apparent that a supplier(s) is unable to provide the necessary supplies and / or equipment, the Deputy Chief of Paramedic Services and Logistics Coordinator shall:
Inclement Weather
The nature of Northern Ontario is such that severe weather events are can be expected infrequently throughout the year. The role of the Paramedic Superintendent includes monitoring of weather events, and subsequent road conditions. In the event of a severe weather event that impacts on road conditions, the Paramedic Superintendent shall:
Paramedics shall:
BLS Standards
Patient Care Standards
Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Policies
MSDSB Paramedic Services Deployment Plan