Scene survey

Scene approach should consist of several stages. On all calls you should turn off emergency lights and sirens as you near the scene. It is not wise to announce your arrival before you have made a careful through the windshield scene survey for danger. It is important to practice the same protocol each time so that the practice becomes automatic behavior. Never assume that the dispatch information regarding the call is accurate and that the scene is safe. 

The first emergency responders on-scene should do a scene survey and ascertain the scope of the incident. If help is needed, it should be requested before engaging in rescue activities. During your survey of the scene, if you discover a bomb or something you believe to be a bomb, immediately leave the area and notify Incident Command. The bomb should not be moved or tampered with in any manner, and nothing should be placed upon it. 

First, and most importantly, you are responsible for your own safety in any lab. If the behavior of supervisors (or professors) and co-workers (other students) creates a hazardous lab situation, that is something that needs to be addressed. Don t let the poor habits of others or an unsafe culture of a particular lab jeopardize your safety. Conducting your own periodic scene survey or inspection (see Section 8.3.1) can be useful in maintaining a safe lab and protecting yourself. 

Similarly, an EMT coming upon the scene of a multicar accident needs to do a scene survey. This can involve a quick estimation of the number of vehicles involved, the number of patients, fire hazards, leaking fluids, downed power lines, unusual contents in vehicles, vehicle stability, and unusual circumstances (such as a wild animal that may have caused the accident ) Upon closer inspection, the... 

For both fire and accident scenes, does the initial scene survey suggest that you have enough resources and personnel on hand (or arriving), or do you need more ... 

Special incidents require even more thought. Firefighters wonder Is this a fire in a residence, or in a manufacturing facility with many other potential hazards EMTs consider I am about to treat a gunshot wound is the shooter still here Special circumstances require extra factors in the scene survey. 

Students walking into college classrooms see pretty much the same scene for both small and large classrooms. There are seats (fixed or movable), tables (fixed or movable), or chairs with armrests, whiteboards or chalkboards, perhaps bulletin boards on a wall, a projector screen, and audiovisual equipment that may include projectors and computers. Some science classrooms might have a chemical hood. However, the hazards are minimal. No one conducts a scene survey (except perhaps with regard to who the rest of the students are ) when walking into a classroom. 

What are the hazards in a lab Well, perhaps many. Academic labs for introductory classes likely have only limited numbers of chemicals and equipment, placed there for a particular lab. Bunsen burners aren t hazards until the gas stopcock is opened (assuming that it was closed properly by the last user ) and/or matches or strikers set the gas on fire. Electrical outlets are usually abundant, but no more hazardous than home outlets (except when near ubiquitous sinks). Most hazards in introductory labs are readily identified. Introductory organic labs are not much more hazardous, although the likelihood of encountering flammable solvents is much higher. So, your first few years of college chemistry classes likely do not provide the opportunity to have you conduct a scene survey since the labs you enter are not filled with unexpected hazards. It s easy to get complacent about walking into labs. 

Of course, the answers to many of the questions posed in the paragraph above will not be obvious with a quick scene survey. This tells you that there may be many safety hazards present that are not obvious. This is the reason to be continually alert in the lab, seeking out more information all of the time. 

When walking into a new lab, or even visiting a lab for a few minutes, stop at the door and do a quick scene survey. What you don t know about the laboratory can hurt you. When starting to work in a new research laboratory, take time to learn carefiilly about the experiments and equipment. Don t necessarily rely on the current occupants to have assessed all safety hazards thoughtfully. 

It s pretty easy to apply RAMP (recognize hazards, assess risks, minimize hazards, and prepare for emergencies) as long as you do at least a cursory scene survey. ... 

Performing a scene survey as described further in Section 7.3.6 allows one to consider the range of hazards in a laboratory. This can be done calmly and methodically in advance of any emergency. Some good questions to consider are ... 

For both fire and accident scenes, a scene survey is a quick recognition of hazards and assessment of risk - just as we should complete in a lab. 

FIGURE 7.3.6.1 Scene survey of a lab. When you walk into this lab what do you observe that indicates what hazards may exist (National Institutes of Health)... 

After conducting a scene survey it s very important to apply RAMP ... 

Why do emergency rescuers perform a scene survey before taking any actions at the scene ... 

Rapid scene survey Any evidence that personnel shouldn t attempt resuscitation ... 

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