Field Manual for the Mayday Incident Command & Triage Kit

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Field Manual for the Mayday Incident Command & Triage Kit | SOP

Category: Emergency Tools & Kits

Difficulty Level: Tier 4: Professional or Advanced Training Required

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Written by: Valerie Ellis Lavin

Quick Overview

The MAYDAY Incident Command and Triage Kit is a field-deployable command and triage system used by CERT teams, workplace response teams, and campus responders to establish organized incident command and execute S.T.A.R.T. triage at mass casualty incidents before professional first responders arrive.

The kit is built around four core capabilities: establishing an Incident Command Post, implementing scene control through defined operational zones, executing systematic mass casualty triage, and maintaining field communication across the operational area. Equipment is organized into four functional groups: Command and Scene Control, Triage System, Team Member Support, and Communications and Logistics. Each component serves a specific tactical role, from the high-visibility legend vests that identify key personnel at a glance, to the three rolls of barricade tape that physically define the ICP, staging area, and public information zone.

Triage operations use the S.T.A.R.T. protocol, with victims categorized into four priority levels: RED for immediate life-threatening injuries, YELLOW for serious but delayed cases, GREEN for minor walking wounded, and BLACK for deceased or expectant victims. Each victim receives a triage tag from the 50-pack included in the kit, which stays with the victim as a consistent identifier for incoming medical units. Four color-coded tarps anchor the Casualty Collection Point, laid out in sequence to direct victim flow and eliminate confusion under pressure.

The kit is designed to function for a defined window, typically 20 minutes or less, until professional incident command arrives and assumes control. At that point, the non-professional IC delivers a structured briefing covering scene safety status, victim counts by category, CCP and ICP locations, and known hazards, then transitions the team to a support role. Readiness is maintained through quarterly inspections and full reconstitution after every deployment, drill or actual incident.

Field Application Steps

1. CONDUCT SCENE SIZE-UP: Transport the kit via integrated wheels or two-person carry to a safe position outside the hazard zone. Assess the scene for active hazards including power lines, structural instability, and HAZMAT conditions, estimate victim count, and identify a safe operational area before opening the bag.

2. ESTABLISH INCIDENT COMMAND: The Team Leader assumes the IC role, dons a legend safety vest, and takes a clipboard and pencil. Use one roll of barricade tape to designate and mark the Incident Command Post in a location that is safe, upwind, uphill, and has a clear view of the scene.

3. ASSIGN ROLES AND MARK ZONES: IC assigns a Triage Officer and Safety Officer, who each don a labeled safety vest immediately. Use the remaining barricade tape rolls to mark the Staging Area for incoming volunteer check-in and the Public Information Area to zone media away from operations.

4. INSTALL BULLHORN BATTERIES: Insert the two pairs of alkaline C batteries into the bullhorn before any operational use. Verify both voice and siren functions are operational. The bullhorn is the IC's primary command tool and is non-functional without confirmed battery installation.

5. DEPLOY THE CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT: The Triage Officer identifies a large, accessible, and safe area away from the hazard zone for the CCP. Lay out the four triage tarps side by side in this order: Black, Red, Yellow, Green. Distribute triage tags to all triage team personnel before teams enter the scene.

6. EXECUTE S.T.A.R.T. TRIAGE: Triage teams move systematically through the scene performing rapid S.T.A.R.T. assessments on every victim. Apply a triage tag to every victim and tear the perforations to the appropriate color category. Direct ambulatory GREEN victims via bullhorn to free responders for RED and YELLOW casualties.

7. MAINTAIN COMMAND DOCUMENTATION: IC records a running victim count by category on the clipboard throughout triage operations. Log all resource assignments, hazard observations, and significant events as they occur. This documentation is the foundation of the handoff briefing.

8. ACTIVATE LOW-LIGHT PROTOCOLS IF NEEDED: Deploy green 12-hour light sticks to mark triage areas, hazards, or team positions if incident operations extend into low-light conditions. Distribute whistles to team personnel. Three short whistle blasts signal immediate evacuation of the operational area.

9. MONITOR OFFICIAL BROADCASTS: Use the FM/Weather/Shortwave Radio to monitor official emergency broadcasts and weather alerts throughout the operation. This radio is for receiving only and cannot be used for transmission. Track any changing conditions that affect scene safety.

10. EXECUTE TRANSFER OF COMMAND: Upon arrival of the first professional Fire or EMS unit officer, the IC delivers a concise verbal briefing from clipboard documentation in this sequence: scene safety status, victim count by category, CCP and ICP locations, and known hazards. Transfer command formally and transition the team to a support role under professional incident command direction.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER & SAFETY WARNING:
The information provided in this Luminary Global Field Manual is strictly for educational and informational purposes. It is not a substitute for formal medical, tactical, or professional training. In the event of a medical emergency, immediately seek professional help or contact emergency services. Luminary Global assumes no liability for the misuse of equipment, improper application of techniques, or any injuries/damages resulting from the use of these guidelines. Always rely on your official agency training, local laws, and established protocols during a crisis.