Mass Casualty Incident Management Resources

Updated 06/29/2009

Just Released! The 2009 Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Guide

The 2009 Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Guide is intended as the primary reference and guide for use by EMS Agencies operating within the Peninsulas EMS Council and Tidewater EMS Council regions when responding to a multiple or mass casualty incident. This document is designed as an "all hazards" guide and addresses techniques in field operations that must be employed during a multiple or mass casualty incident.

We strongly recommend that all Emergency Medical Technicians, EMS Agency Officers/Supervisors, Operational Medical Directors, Emergency Department Nurse Managers, and Emergency Department Staff members familiarize themselves with the contents of this document. 

This minor revision of the Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Guide contains several additions to the MCI Resources Annex. Other features of this document include chapters and annexes such as:

  • Emergency Management of Contaminated Patients

  • Guidance on Managing Victims with Special Needs and Assistance Animals

  • Air Operations Section

  • Demobilization Guidance

  • Emergency Communications Directory

  • NIMS Compliant Prehospital Job Checklists

  • Emergency Department/Hospital MCI Forms

  • Driving Directions to Hospitals

  • Regional Specialty Teams

  • State & Federal Mass Casualty Incident Response Resources

  • Mass Casualty Incident Management Training Resources

The April 2009 Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Guide is available in a Kelly Green, three ring binder, to each licensed EMS agency, each emergency department/hospital, each jurisdictions' Emergency Manager & respective Emergency Communications Center/911 Dispatch Center. The document is also available in electronic (*.pdf) format.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   to request a copy of the 2009 Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Guide.

2007 Hampton Roads MCI Pocket Guides Are Still Available

An abbreviated version of the Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Guide is published as the Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Pocket Guide. The cover of the 2007 version of the MCI Pocket guide is now "florescent green" in color. This version replaces the September 2001 version of the pocket guide with the orange cover.

Distribution: One hard copy of the MCI Pocket Guide has been printed for every certified EMS provider in the Tidewater & Peninsulas EMS Council regions, plus one copy for each emergency vehicle.  Each licensed EMS agency will receive one hard copy of the MCI pocket guide for every certified provider whose primary affiliation is with that agency.

Once your agency receives their copies your agency is responsible for distributing one copy of the pocket guide to each of their primary affiliated EMS providers, and placing one copy is each of your licensed emergency vehicles. 

Check your ambulance, zone car or apparatus. If you do not have a copy of the pocket guide in your vehicle(s) please contact us to request additional copies of the pocket guide. Request your copies by e-mailing the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You can also download a copy of the pocket guide by clicking on the link below:

2007 Hampton Roads Mass Casualty Incident Response Pocket Guide

(Please note that this pocket guide may be difficult to print. The pocket guide is in *.pdf format which was originally developed as a Microsoft Word booklet. In order to print this document properly you will need to set your printer to print on duplex (both sides of the paper.) and make additional adjustments to your printer settings.)

Commonwealth of Virginia Triage Tag Order Form

The state has a contract with Columbia Business Forms in Columbia, South Carolina for the official Commonwealth of Virginia Tag. The state contract number, the vendor's contact information, billing and shipping information can be found on the Triage Tag Request Form. Download the Triage Tag Request Form and submit the form with your order.

BASIC ORDERING INFORMATION:

Unit of Issue: Package (There are 75 tags in a package)
Cost:  $102.00 per package

Click here to download the Commonwealth of Virginia Triage Tag Order Form.

2009 Mass Casualty Incident Management  - Module I   Course Schedule 

Virginia Mass Casualty Incident Management - Module I (Awareness Level) courses are available FREE of charge to:

  • All licensed EMS Agencies
  • Agencies/Organizations sponsoring First Responder & EMT Training Courses
  • Fire Departments (both career & volunteer)
  • Hospitals
  • Law Enforcement Agencies (Police, Sheriff, Dept. of Corrections, Virginia State Police, etc.)
  • Citizens Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
  • Medical Reserve Corps Units (MRCs)
  • Other Health Care Organizations
  • Other Community Organizations (Boy & Girl Scouts, etc.)

 The courses are currently scheduled for the following dates:

  • Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 0900-1700
  • Saturday, November 07, 2009 from 0900-1700

To register for one of these courses click on the "Training Calendar" on the left side of this screen. Then "Jump to (the) Month" when the couse is scheduled and select the appropriate date.

 Mass Casualty Incident Management - Module II   (Operations Level)

Mass Casualty Incident Management - Moduel II courses are available upon request.  Please e-mail the Mass Casualty Preparedness Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (757) 963-0632 to request a course.

U.S. Fire Administration Online Course Prepares EMS Responders
To Operate at Multiple-Casualty Incidents

Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, has announced a new online course designed to assist EMS personnel to respond more effectively when faced with a multiple-casualty incident (MCI). The new independent study course, “EMS Operations at Multi-Casualty Incidents,” is a four-hour, web-based course that addresses preparedness planning; management of the incident; safe and efficient triage, treatment and transportation of patients; and the de-escalation of the response. It is not intended to provide detailed steps in the care of patients.

Upon successful completion of this course, the participant/student will be able to:

  • Describe the characteristics of multiple-casualty incidents.
  • Describe the types and indicators of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) agents.
  • Describe the steps of responding to a multiple-casualty incident, including preparedness planning, triage, treatment, transportation and incident demobilization.
  • Describe the purpose of triage and how to perform it.
  • Describe the purpose of decontamination and the resources required to perform it.
  • Describe specialized medical treatment that can be administered to victims of CBRNE incidents.

EMS experts from across the country worked with training specialists at FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to develop this course. The USFA has many other training programs, both online and classroom-based, that are designed to assist emergency responders in becoming better prepared for all types of emergencies. Information on these training programs and other USFA initiatives and publications can be found at http://nfaonline.dhs.gov/browse/index.shtm.

NOTE:  "Q" courses will no longer be available through the National Emergency Training Center Virtual Campus; all students must enroll through NFA Online.

Mass Casualty Drills & Exercise Support

The Tidewater EMS Council (TEMS) in collaboration with the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response System (HRMMRS) is prepared to assist your agency/organization in the design, development, execution, patient scenarios, moulage, and the evaluation of mass casualty incident drills and exercises tailored to your needs.

Please e-mail the Mass Casualty Preparedness Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (757) 963-0632 to request assistance.

Comments or Questions

If you have any questions or comments regarding these documents, MCIM I & II training, or mass casualty drills & exercises please e-mail the Mass Casualty Preparedness Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (757) 963-0632.