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A Tactical Pause

This image shows a helicopter air-lifting a firefighter for medical evacuation for injuries from a 100-foot fall in steep desert terrain.

A firefighter receives a medical evacuation after taking a 100-foot fall. This was the third injury/medical event that happened to this same crew during a one-week timespan in 2015.

During a one-week timespan, a handcrew experienced three significant injury/medical events.

The Events:

-Rolling Rock Injury: The first event occurred while the crew was breaking for lunch and a rock rolled loose above them—striking a crewmember in the arm.

-Exposure Event: The second event consisted of an “exposure” incident to several crew members who complained of headaches while mopping-up near an oil field and naturally occurring carbon monoxide vents.

-Firefighter Falls: The third event was a crewmember falling and sliding approximately 100 feet—requiring a medevac for his injuries.

Above all, the Forest—concerned about the safety of its employees—wanted to provide the folks on this crew the adequate time to evaluate these recent injury events.

After these events occurred, an operational tactical pause/safety check was conducted to:

  • Check the tempo of the crew
  • Create a climate where they could learn, and
  • Share a set of lessons from these incidents with a view to risk management, crew organizational dynamics, and human factors.

What is a Tactical Pause?

When properly employed, an operational or tactical pause allows a leader to retain the initiative in the fire environment by temporarily halting operations. This allows the individual a moment to step back, reevaluate, and ensure the operation is still relevant, meets the needs of the objectives, and helps to ensure that participants are clear on strategies and tactics.

LESSONS:

  • This handcrew designates each Monday as “Medical Mondays” for a drill or evolution to practice medical situations.
  • This practice set them up for success for the hoist/medevac operation of their crewmember injured in the fall.

Does your crew utilize Tactical Pauses?

  • When would you call a tactical pause for safety concerns?
  • When new crew members arrive to replenish crew numbers, do they get the same pre-season briefings on crew processes?
  • What indicators or weak signals do you use for crew safety?

To read the entire 3 Incidents Tactical Pause report:

3 Incidents Tactical Pause 2015 | Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (wildfire.gov

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