Final paper

Running head: FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 1

FIR 4313 Final Paper

Derek Yossifon

Columbia Southern University

Commented [A1]: Hi Derek! It is best practice in academic writing to use a title/Running head that has something to do with your topic and not use the name of the assignment or class.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 2

FIR 4313 Final Paper

Mass casualty incidents can happen anywhere without warning. When such an

incident happens, the response involves stabilizing the scene, rescuing the casualties, and

recovering the dead and evidence. The recovery and response to the incident should be

methodical and systematic to reduce the loss of life and contamination of evidence. The

response involves first responders, who include public safety officers, law enforcers,

firefighters, and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. This paper establishes the

initial response to the terrorism incident and gives the framework for preserving life and

property.

My first assignment will be to set up an incident command center using the

“National Incident Management system (NIMS)” to mitigate the terror attack. The center

will be a safe point for the incident commanders. Because of the nature of the operations, I

will direct the Emergency Medical services to have a casualty collection points (CCP) at

about 180-degree perimeter about the coliseum and near the site to help the escapees;

however, the locations should not be accessible by the terrorists’ fire. Second, I will notify all

of the local hospitals and clinics to prepare to receive casualties. The ambulances service

provider will be on standby to move the victims outside the hot zone to different hospitals,

depending on the seriousness of the injuries.

The casualty collection point is also referred to as a field treatment site. The CCP is

used for assembling, stabilizing, and evacuation of the casualties (Thompson, Rehn, Lossius,

& Lockey, 2017). The location of evacuation will ensure that emergency medical personnel

attending the victims are safe. According to the field treatment site regulation, each hospital

Commented [A2]: Comma Introductory phrases When you have an introductory clause, you must follow that

clause with a comma. Main clauses will often have single

words, phrases, or other clauses that introduce them. Use a

comma to connect the introductory element to the main

clause that follows. See the examples below (the highlighted

parts are introductory elements):

When the computer began to beep wildly, Donald grabbed

the monitor and threw it out the window.

In English class, no one wants to sit next to Eli because he is

always smacking his gum loudly.

Commented [A3]: Avoid language like “this paper will…” This sort of language is great for an abstract, where you are describing what a paper will discuss, but not for your introduction or topic sentences. Jump straight to the heart of the matter. Tell you topic and your point in the sentence.

-Incorrect: This paper will examine the need for laptops in the classroom. -Correct: Laptops are needed in the classroom because they place information at students’ fingertips.

Commented [A4]: FIRST and SECOND PERSON Avoid using first (I, me, mine, we) and second (you, your) person unless your professor allows it. In academic writing you should use 3rd person (one, he, she, they).

Commented [A5]: Quotation marks in formal writing should only be used for direct quotes.

Commented [A6]: Put this in lowercase since it is not a proper noun. If you need more info about nouns, please watch the following tutorial: http://columbiasouthern.adobeconnect.com/nouns/

Commented [A7]: Use commas to set off non-essential phrases that come at the end of a sentence. Captain Mal has many responsibilities as the Serenity’s captain, such as keeping an eye out for Reavers and on occasion sporting a pretty bonnet. Inara had six packages arrive for her at the station, which is much higher than the amount she usually receives. Notice that both of these phrases could be removed with the sentence and the sentence would still be complete. This means that these are non-essential phrases.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 3

should have one CCP and an alternative site. The hospital's concern should be to set up, staff,

and equipment at the casualty collection points. Prior evaluations should be conducted to

determine the number of professional and paraprofessional personnel at each point. The

volunteer medical practitioners will report to the nearest CCP facilities. In this case, the CCPs

will be determined based on ease of access for casualties and the ability to keep the place

secure.

The causalities need to get to medical facilities. Medical personnel in the CCP

facilities will use speakers to call out to the people who need assistance. The call will sort

patients with severe injuries and minor wounds and will also help clear the scene. The other

way which can be used to evacuate the wounded to the nearest medical point is to use water

transport to ease the traffic of the intact bridge. It is; ,however, important to decide where the

casualties will go. The allocation of casualties is based on the equipping levels and

availability of specialists. The USNS center is set to receive critical cases and treat some of

the wounded.

I will use the triage concept to sort the casualties. The triage procedure is used

to identify priority cases based on the level of injuries of the victim. Triage is used to control

the care given to patients in cases where there are insufficient resources to allow for the

treatment of all casualties (Bett, Reedy, & Riley, 2020). The triage is used in nearly all

emergency cases. In this case, triage will start before the arrival of transportation and at the

initial stages of the rescue process. Triage will involve sorting the victims of the attack into

three groups; those with minor injuries, those victims that require immediate attention, and

the deceased. The assessment of patients will be done by the paramedical personnel. The

EMS personnel have defined protocols and will adhere to the incident command’s directions

Commented [A8]: Indent paragraphs only five spaces.

Commented [A9]: Comma Interrupter Use commas to set off an interrupter, a phrase that interrupts

a sentence or could be removed from the sentence without

damaging the basic sentence structure. Interrupters can be

single words, phrases, or clauses. The sentence form will be

First part of the sentence , interrupter , remainder of the

sentence. See the following examples (the highlighter

portion is the interrupter):

My experience, on the other hand, has not included the need

to write in an academic environment.

The company has, unfortunately, failed to properly enforce

EPA regulations and is now facing fines.

Commented [A10]: Use a colon here since you have a list. Colon When using a colon, the part of the sentence before the colon

needs to be an independent clause that could stand on its own

as a complete sentence.

Commented [A11]: Possessive Make possessive. Examples: Expressing possession: Incorrect – The students uniform is new. Correct – The student’s uniform is new. Expressing possession AND plurality: Correct – The students’ uniforms are new.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 4

on what actions to take. The medics will label the victims after identifying them, display the

findings of the assessment, and highlight the patient’s treatment needs.

Advanced triage is employed in cases where the number of living casualties gets

high importance. An increase in the number of casualties results in strain to the medical

resources to serve all the injured persons. In advanced triage, trained medics choose people

who will get advanced care and, in the process, they deny people who are critically wounded

treatment because they are likely to die. The limited resources necessitate the directing of

resources to people who have high chances of surviving. The advanced triage is used where

some victims are likely to die because of severe injuries despite medical care. Thus, advanced

triage will involve giving maximum medical attention to casualties patients who are likely to

survive.

Once patients are sorted according to the severity of the injuries, they should be sent

to the appropriate medical center depending on their condition. The critically injured and

those likely to survive will be taken to the nearest hospitals depending on the availability of

transport service. The evacuation is conducted in the hope that the police and security officers

hold control of the area. In the event the number of casualties surpasses the available

ambulances, the victims will be ferried to the USNS comfort by use of the marine vessels

before being taken to hospitals. The choice of hospital will depend on the capacity to handle

the situation. However, there will be coordination with the clinics and hospitals in

preparation for receiving the casualties and identifying where to admit victims. The hospitals

that can handle serious cases will be reserved for critically injured patients to maximize their

use. Patients with minor injuries will be handled at the USNS Comfort center and other

clinics that are not designated for the seriously wounded patients.

Commented [A12]: Is this the name of a ship? If so, capitalize it.

Commented [A13]: Parallelism Each part of your list needs to be parallel (match in number and form). Since the majority of your points start with –ing verbs, I recommend updating the other points to lead with – ing verbs as well. If you need more info, please watch the following tutorial: http://columbiasouthern.adobeconnect.com/parallelism/

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 5

Media can be the weakest link in disaster response. The media is covering the events

as they unfold through the live coverage of events. Many families will follow the

development of the evacuation and attack from their homes and will require constant updates

through the media. To give the coverage, the media will have a view of the place within the

defined perimeter. I will give a limit to what the media will report on the condition. It is

important to note that live coverage of the attack and evacuation will most likely reach the

attackers through the media broadcast. This means that the state has a loophole through

which law enforcement can dupe the attackers based on their gullibility. I will use media to

my advantage in this case.

Controlling information is challenging in this era of information technology and

social media sites. However, to manage the information I will start by establishing the Joint

Information Center (JIC) during the emergency. The JIC will have a Joint Information

System (JIS) and Public Information Officers. I will designate a public information officer

(PIO) to coordinate the release of information and direct all media inquiries to the PIO.

Moreover, I will use media to communicate to the public through press briefings to inform

the citizens about the situation and, in the process, give them hope, reduce tension, and

curiosity.

To capitalize on the media, I will order restrictions to film with the defined space

formed to give cover to the escaping victims and police. Second, I will work with the FBI

agents to control media coverage with the 180-degree perimeter. Third, I will contact the

management of media houses present at the scene and instruct them to direct their reporters

on ground zero not to take video footage of activities within the 180-degree perimeter to deny

the attackers' updates on the development. The media houses should be controlled and

Commented [A14]: Capitalize job titles only if a person’s name comes after them.

Commented [A15]: Oxford Comma The comma before “and” or “or” in a list of more than two

items is necessary in academic writing. The Oxford comma

adds clarity, as, sometimes, leaving it out can make a

sentence confusing.

Without: “I’d like to thank my parents, Lisa and John.” This

could mean that my parents are Lisa and John or that I’m

thanking Lisa and John in addition to my parents.

With: “I’d like to thank my parents, Lisa, and John.” This

makes it clear that Lisa and John are not my parents.

Commented [A16]: This word is plural and not possessive. Plurality v. Possession Please note that showing plurality and possession require

different formats.

Expressing plurality: Incorrect – The student’s studied.

Incorrect – The students’ studied.

Correct – The students studied.

Expressing possession: Incorrect – The students uniform is new.

Correct – The student’s uniform is new

Expressing possession AND plurality: Correct – The students’ uniforms are new.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 6

regulated by not giving the terrorists intelligence and by establishing no Fly Zones with the

FAA.

I will further use the media house to my advantage by working with new anchors to

deliberately give misleading information about the rescue mission in the Coliseum. For

example, I can report that security officers have not managed to make significant moves since

the occurrence of the incident. The reason behind this misleading information is to reduce the

advancement of the terrorists. For media to work to my advantage, I will rely heavily on the

critical intelligence and connections to the media fraternity.

The FBI SWAT (special weapons and Tactics) are American police units that use

specialized military equipment in combating security threats. When the SWAT team decides

to invade the Coliseum, they still need my direction. In the event that they advance towards

the 180-degree perimeter, they will face substantial resistance. There is an ongoing exchange

between the police and the attackers, and the enemy is seemingly prepared. It is wise to

maintain fire personnel from a different point to keep the attackers distracted and possibly

exhaust their ammunition while the specialized unit makes its way from a different end of the

Coliseum.

I will deploy the SWAT units in the first wave and then send EMS once the security

officers have neutralized the attackers and taken control of the venue. Then I will redirect the

SWAT to deal more with the armed attackers instead of protecting the EMS officers. This

will ensure the SWAT gives the paramedic space to save lives and not fight the terrorists.

The idea of spreading the point of invasion is to neutralize counterattacks and reduce

resistance from the terrorists. The FBI SWAT will move in different waves to protect the

emergency medical service personnel from the heavy fire.

Commented [A17]: Put this in italics since it is a name and thus a proper noun.

Commented [A18]: Comma Introductory phrases When you have an introductory clause, you must follow that

clause with a comma. Main clauses will often have single

words, phrases, or other clauses that introduce them. Use a

comma to connect the introductory element to the main

clause that follows. See the examples below (the highlighted

parts are introductory elements):

When the computer began to beep wildly, Donald grabbed

the monitor and threw it out the window.

In English class, no one wants to sit next to Eli because he is

always smacking his gum loudly.

Commented [A19]: “FANBOYS” You should add a comma here, but you do not always need to put a comma in front of and (or the other FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). These words are called conjunctions. Only use a comma + conjunction combination to do the following: -End a comma series Ex: red, blue, and yellow -Connect 2 independent clauses (a.k.a. clauses that could stand alone as sentences) Ex: She likes red, but he likes yellow. Both “she likes red” and “he likes yellow could function by themselves as sentences, so the comma + conjunction combo is appropriate here. Do not use a comma in front of conjunctions that do not fit one of these instances.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 7

The SWAT team has gained access to the parking lot and discovered that the

attackers had withdrawn into the interior of the Coliseum. In such a case, it is not advisable to

use explosives because it can wound the patrons. Firefighters have to make a breach in the

wall for the SWAT team to gain access to the facility. The firefighters will need prying tools

to make forceful entry into the building. The prying tools are used for opening doors,

windows, and locks. The common example of manual prying tools is a crowbar, flat bar, claw

tool, Kelly tool, and Halligan tool. Halligan bars are commonly used by firefighters to

breach walls for entry into unreachable spaces. The SWAT team should give cover to the

firefighters as they make a way in the wall.

Controlling and possibly extinguishing the fires around the Coliseum require the

service of firefighters. Thus, I will call the Oakland fire department to extinguish the fire

around the scene (Skryabina, 2017). The smoke from the burning vehicles will obstruct the

operations of the SWAT teams. The Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCAC) from the nearest

camp Pendleton will bring equipment and trucks necessary to extinguish the flames. I will

use airdrops and the fireboats to extinguish the fires. Also, the fire crew will use a helicopter

to drop water on the fire in the parking lot. The SWAT officers will provide security to the

firemen as they go about their assignment. After extinguishing the fire, the firefighter will

breach the wall, and the SWAT teams will take over the operations and neutralize the threat.

After the intervention of the firefighters and SWAT team, there is a report that the

Coliseum is secure, and there is no active resistance. The fires are extinguished in the parking

lot however, about 38,000 casualties have injuries from exposure, dehydration, and gunshot

wounds. This situation requires the attention of the emergency medical service team to assess

the situation and sort the victims and give first aid. The second move will be to triage and

Commented [A20]: Run-Ons A run-on occurs when there is insufficient punctuation to connect two independent clauses (sentences that can stand on their own). There are three ways to correct the error. 1. Create two separate sentences by using a period and capitalizing the first word of the second sentence 2. Place a semicolon between the two main clauses 3. Place a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) between the two main clauses I recommend the following tutorial: http://columbiasouthern.adobeconnect.com/runons/

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 8

finally evacuate the casualties promptly. At the scene, I have ambulances and choppers, but I

will require integrated efforts in managing the emergencies.

Emergency response is based on five principles, which are: engaged partnership,

tiered response, adaptable and flexible operational capabilities, and readiness to take action

(Hirsch, 2017). The coordination to evacuate the survivors will involve making telephone

contacts with various agencies. I will keep in touch with highway patrol to clear traffic of

congestion and allow emergency vehicles and ambulances to move unrestricted as they move

the casualties. I will also involve nearby institutions such as schools and parks to reserve

space for emergency operations. The choppers will move the critically wounded to hospitals,

and the minor injuries will be addressed at the USNS Comfort.

The terrorist invasion has resulted in deaths of 2,531 victims at the scene while

an additional 253 people have lost their lives while undergoing treatment at various local

hospitals and the USNS Comfort. Moreover, 140 attackers have also lost there their lives at

the venue. The management of this case is overwhelming. Handling the dead in disaster

response is critical because of the long-term effects on both the survivors and the community

involved.

According to the Disaster Manuals and Guidelines, there should be a special team

in the emergency operations center to coordinate the management of the dead (Hogan,

Waeckerle, Dire, & Lillibridge, 2012). The key stakeholders include the Disaster Mortuary

Operational Response Team (DMORT), local funeral homes, the Red Cross Organization, the

civil defense, and morticians. For hospitals which cannot manage morgue operations, the

DMORT appoints a forensic pathologist or medical examiner to manage morgue operations.

The bodies in the venue will be ferried to different funeral homes for identification. The team

Commented [A21]: There: direction Their: belonging to them

They’re: they are

Commented [A22]: Put titles of magazines, journals, movies, and books in italics when you mention them in your papers. But put the titles of articles from a magazine or journal in quotation marks when you mention them in your papers.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 9

members will have different responsibilities, which include body recovery, body

identification, storage of the dead, communication, and logistics. Since the friends and

relatives of the deceased will be traumatized and emotional, I will set up a counseling center

to handle and comfort the victims and their families.

As the head of the fire department, I need to plan for the next possible attack. In

the process of the attack, some terrorists may have gained intelligence on the emergency

service response (Aylwin, König, Brennan, & Shirley, 2007). This means there is a need to

prepare, plan, and train the staff for possible retaliation. My first step will procure and source

preventive equipment and tools that will deter another incident or attack. I will work closely

with members of the public to gather information on a possible attack. The public is a source

of intelligence and can feed the police with information about unusual developments in the

neighborhood. In the future, the well-equipped Eemergency medical service team personnel

should be deployed to venues for the mass gathering. The EMS will be accompanied by a

well-trained and prepared security team to ensure they carry out their operations effectively

in case of a natural disaster or terror attack.

Finally, I will advocate for the formation of research rescue task force and training

of the Emergency Response team to handle a larger number of casualties. Additional training

will help the EMS improve the response time, improve efficiency in handling the wounded,

and dealing with emergency cases. The success of the future response to attacks or disasters

will depend on the coordination of all departments involved (Maniscalco & Christen, 2012). I

will plan for a mock drill between fire departments, the emergency medical service

personnel, and the police. I believe in practice to perfect the response time and effectiveness.

Commented [A23]: Make lowercase.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 10

I shall try to coordinate the flow of information between the concerned parties and homeland

security.

Commented [A24]: EXCELLENT info, Derek!!  Just a reminder to be sure that you are adding in-text citations for all outside info and adding them every 2-3 sentences for paraphrased info from the same source. In-text Citations, Detailed

Any time you directly quote or paraphrase from a source,

you will need to include an in-text citation to reference your

source. The in-text citation should include the author(s)’

surname(s) and the publication year. Citations following

direct quotes should also include the page or paragraph

number. Below are some examples of in-text citations for

paraphrases and for direct quotations.

Summary or Paraphrase

According to Smith and Brown (2007)…

…..(Smith & Brown, 2007).

Direct Quotation

According to Smith and Brown (2007) “….” (p. 738).

According to Smith and Brown (2007) “….” (para. 4).

“…” (Smith & Brown, 2007, p. 738).

“…” (Smith & Brown, 2007, para. 4).

Any time you paraphrase or summarize from a source or

simply use a source to get information, you must also include

an in-text citation. It is not sufficient to cite only once at the

end of a paragraph; citations should be placed after every

two or three sentences containing similar information from

the same source. It is important to cite all information used

from outside sources to avoid accidentally violating CSU’s

academic integrity policy. The following link is a webinar

that focuses on proper use of in-text citations:

http://columbiasouthern.adobeconnect.com/intextcitations/

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 11

References

Aylwin, C. J., König, T. C., Brennan, N. W., & Shirley, P. J. (2007). Reduction in critical

mortality in urban mass casualty incidents: aAnalysis of triage, surge, and resource use

after the London bombings on July 7, 2005. The Lancet(368), 2219-2225.

Bett, N., Reedy, G., & Riley, P. (2020). The role of emergency preparedness exercises in the

response to a mass casualty terrorist incident: A mixed methods study. International

Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 46. Retrieved from

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101503

Commented [A25]: Do not put the word References in bold. Use the examples I have provided to fix your references. I also suggest that you watch the following tutorial, which will show you how to format your references in proper APA style: http://columbiasouthern.adobeconnect.com/references201 4/

Commented [A26]: Sentence Case Articles, books, and webpages listed within your references should be in sentence case, which means that you should capitalize only the first word of the title, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon or hyphen.

Commented [A27]: Add the issue number if it is available. See the example below.

Commented [A28]: Add the retrieval info here.

Commented [A29]: Be sure to add the volume, issue, and page number if they are available. See the example below.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 12

Hirsch, M. (2017). The medical response to multisite terrorist attacks in Paris. Lancet, 26, 2535-

2538.

Hogan, D. E., Waeckerle, J. F., Dire, D. J., & Lillibridge, S. (2012). Emergency department

impact of the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing. Annals of emergency medicine, 34(2),

160-167.

Maniscalco, P. M., & Christen, H. T. (2012). Understanding terrorism and managing the

consequences. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

FIR 4313 FINAL PAPER 13

Skryabina, E. (2017). What is the value of health emergency preparedness exercises? A scoping

review study. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 21, 274-283.

Thompson, J., Rehn, M., Lossius, H. M., & Lockey, D. (2017). Risks to emergency medical

responders at terrorist incidents: a narrative review of the medical literature. Critical

Care, 18(521). doi: 10.1186/s13054-014-0521-1