SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
First arriving Unit
A. Size up the situation based on the following factors:
B. Duties
1. Signs and symptoms exhibited by the victims
a. Tearing eyes
b. Myosis
c. Nausea and vomiting
d. Muscular convulsions
2. Physical signs at the incident scene
a. Unusual odors (sharp, musty, fruity, like garlic or newly mowed hay, etc).
b. Report of small explosion or gaseous cloud release.
3. Accounts of onlookers or victims
1. Don SCBA and PPE
For all responders working in the warm zone away from the hot zone, the greater health
risk is respiratory protection. Donning SCBA offers maximum protection and structural
firefighting ensembles will protect the skin.
2. Seal off the area and deny exit or entry.
Using available personnel, fire line tape, rope or other suitable material, seal off the area
to ensure that potentially contaminated victims do not vacate the area and are directed to
the decontamination corridor and that others do not enter the contaminated area.
3. Establish a Command Post
a. Be positioned upwind from the incident site (hot zone).
b. Provide access and egress to the site.
c. Be easily identified by all personnel, especially non-fire agencies.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 101
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley