NCJ Number
194374
Journal
The Beacon Volume: 3 Issue: 6 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 1-6
Date Published
March 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This newsletter focuses on the Illinois Mobile Emergency Response Team (IMERT); the partnership of public and private agencies in critical incident protocol; bomb threat cards; and security planning for the 2001 Super Bowl.
Abstract
In the summer of 1999, the IMERT was funded to develop educational and infrastructure to formalize their ability to respond to mass casualty events. The IMERT Executive Council, consisting of emergency physicians, nurses, and paramedics, was created to oversee development. The mission statement includes responding and assisting with emergency medical treatment at mass casualty incidents, including chemical, biological, and radiological incidents. In addition, members of IMERT will coordinate and participate in educational programs throughout Illinois to emergency medical service participants. Members developed a curriculum for a half-day seminar designed to meet the needs of emergency physicians, medical directors and coordinators, public safety officers, trauma nurse coordinators, and pre-hospital care providers; and covers terrorism from the perspective of emergency medical staff. In 2000, the Critical Incident Protocol -- A Public and Private Partnership, was published containing processes where the public and private sector partner in the assessment, planning, response, and recovery from manmade or natural disasters. Risk assessment, critical incident planning, and emergency response processes were discussed in the Protocol. The Bomb Threat Standoff Card (BTSC) was developed for use by Federal emergency and law enforcement officers, and State and local fire, law enforcement, HazMat, Bomb Squad, emergency medical service, and other organizations that may be involved with the evacuation of areas affected by a terrorist bomb threat. The BTSC is a two-sided, four color, laminated 3 x 5 card with a pictorial representation of eight bomb threats and associated explosives capacities, building, and outdoor evacuation distances. Local, State, and Federal authorities began planning for security about a year prior to the 2001 Super Bowl game in Tampa, Florida. The major areas of concern were the use of a bomb or a chemical/biological device in or around the crowded stadium. In addition to the presence of response teams and high tech equipment, domestic and international intelligence was tasked for information. No unplanned events occurred and the Super Bowl was a success.