Risk assess and adopt the appropriate level of casualty care

Control Measure Knowledge

Fire and rescue services may identify the requirement to provide casualty care that is over and above the first aid regulations. If this decision is taken, it is strongly advised that they obtain clinical governance leadership from a healthcare professional. This person should have the competencies to lead and co-ordinate clinical governance for the organisation, to ensure that any casualty care provided is of an appropriate standard and to support personnel in its delivery.

Governance is usually owned and developed from within the organisation providing casualty care, to ensure that it is applicable and achievable. It may be appropriate to establish clinical governance through a regional or cross-service agreement. However, this should only be done if the ability to own and develop the actions highlighted throughout clinical governance can be achieved through the organisation administering casualty care.

Clinical governance covers aspects such as:

  • Clinical care
  • Training
  • Research
  • Clinical audit
  • Adverse incident investigation
  • Quality control
  • Practice development
  • Performance review
  • IT
  • Casualty records

Clinical governance will provide tailored guidance on the best actions to take for specific injuries, based on local capability and facilities for treatment, resulting in an effective and efficient response that will improve the potential outcomes of a casualty.

Personnel may be required to provide casualty care under the direction of medical responders. A competent firefighter should be nominated to effectively assist in the care administered to the casualty.

Strategic Actions

Tactical Actions