At mass casualty incidents, what is especially important for the ISO to ensure?

In mass casualty incidents, it is vital for the Incident Safety Officer (ISO) to ensure that incident scene rehabilitation and management of atypically stressful events are established. This is because mass casualty situations can pose significant physical and psychological stress on first responders and other personnel involved.

Rehabilitation is essential as it allows responders to recover from the physical demands of their work, ensuring they can perform effectively over the duration of the incident. It also provides a space for them to decompress emotionally and mentally, especially given the intensity and traumatic nature of mass casualty events. By establishing a structured rehab and stress management protocol, the ISO can help maintain the overall health and effectiveness of the response team, thus ensuring they are prepared to continue their operations safely.

Provision of scene rehab helps in managing fatigue and stress, which could otherwise lead to diminished performance, errors in judgment, or even secondary injuries. It's a critical component of incident safety, recognizing that the wellbeing of responders directly impacts the care delivered to victims and the success of the overall response.