For this week's discussion, we will be looking at local or national response protocols that were initiated during a critical incident, and you will choose your topic!
Search reputable local and national media for a man-made disaster to discuss.
Search for critical instances such as: hostage situations, mass shootings, multiple-vehicle or mass transit accidents with multiple critical injuries, and disease outbreaks.
In your initial post, describe the incident and address the following:
· Determine the incident type and explain your reasoning.
· What resources were deployed for this incident?
· What protocols were implemented successfully, and which were unsuccessful?
· Discuss way to improve the response to this type of incident in the future.
Support your answer with evidence.
Full Answer Section
Resources Deployed: The following resources were deployed for this incident:
- Law enforcement: The Uvalde Police Department, the Uvalde County Sheriff's Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety all responded to the incident.
- Fire department: The Uvalde Fire Department responded to the incident to provide medical assistance and to help evacuate the school.
- Medical personnel: Multiple ambulances and medical personnel responded to the incident to treat the injured.
- Crisis counselors: Crisis counselors were also deployed to the scene to help the survivors and the families of the victims.
Protocols Implemented: The following protocols were implemented for this incident:
- The school was placed on lockdown.
- Law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the school.
- Medical personnel began to treat the injured.
- Crisis counselors began to provide support to the survivors and the families of the victims.
Protocols that were Successfully Implemented: The following protocols were implemented successfully:
- The school was placed on lockdown, which prevented the gunman from entering other classrooms and killing more people.
- Law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the school, which prevented the gunman from escaping.
- Medical personnel began to treat the injured as soon as possible, which saved lives.
- Crisis counselors began to provide support to the survivors and the families of the victims, which helped them to cope with the trauma of the event.
Protocols that were Unsuccessful: The following protocols were not implemented successfully:
- The gunman was able to enter the school and kill 19 students and 2 teachers.
- It took law enforcement officers over an hour to enter the school and stop the gunman.
- There was a lack of communication between law enforcement agencies, which delayed the response to the incident.
Ways to Improve the Response to This Type of Incident in the Future:
The following are some ways to improve the response to this type of incident in the future:
- Schools should have more robust security measures in place, such as metal detectors and security cameras.
- Law enforcement agencies should have better communication protocols in place so that they can respond to incidents more quickly.
- There should be more funding for mental health resources so that people who are struggling can get the help they need.
- There should be more public awareness about mass shootings so that people can be prepared to respond if they happen.
Sample Answer
Here is a critical incident that I found from a reputable local media:
Incident: The Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
On May 24, 2022, a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and 2 teachers. The gunman was later killed by law enforcement.
Incident Type: This is a mass shooting incident. A mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are killed, excluding the shooter.