Casualty-centred rescue from a mode of transport

The Operational Guidance change request, O.G. CC 105, relating to the extrication of casualties from modes of transport, was approved by the Operational Preparedness, Response and Resilience Committee on 22 January 2025 and subsequently published on the NFCC website.

Subject matter experts, who were involved in developing the change request, have identified a paragraph in the revised control measure, Casualty-centred rescue from a mode of transport, which they feel could be misleading:

Casualties should be prioritised based on the extent of their injuries and overall condition, taking into consideration the dynamics of the incident. Casualty extrication should be medically led, but progression to the point of final extrication is a key priority for fire and rescue service teams prior to the arrival of clinical teams. This should be based on a shared understanding of risk considering the type of entrapments, the vehicle and surroundings, and should consider the advice of fire and rescue service regarding appropriate space creation methods.

The subject matter experts have proposed that the above paragraph is replaced with:

Casualties should be prioritised based on the severity of their injuries, overall condition, and the circumstances of the incident. If immediate medical assistance is not available, and the casualty can be safely supported, personnel should take proactive steps to improve casualty outcomes. The medical needs should guide the extrication process and, if a safe environment can be provided, personnel play a crucial role in ensuring that the incident progresses to a point where a safe final extrication can be achieved, before medical responders arrive if required.

This proposal was approved by the NFCC Operational Preparedness, Response and Resilience Committee on 24 April 2025.