VIP Emergency Response Instructions

NPS Photo

Why This Is Here

The more time you spend at Mount Rainier, the more likely it is that an accident will occur in the park while you are here. It is also a very real possibility that you may be the first park representative to arrive on the scene of an incident or that visitors will report incidents to you. As a volunteer you are just as much a part of our team in emergency situations as you are when fulfilling your usual duties. Therefore we want you to feel prepared for and supported in these situations so that you can respond appropriately. We ask that you follow park emergency procedures and provide help to the level you are capable but we will never ask you to put yourself in danger nor provide help at a level beyond for which you have been properly trained.

Outlined below is how we ask our volunteers to respond in emergency situations. Thank you for your cooperation and your service!

 

What To Do if You are the First on the Scene of an Accident

1. Be Safe - Your safety is still your number one priority and responsibility, please do not make the situation worse by putting yourself at risk. Also ask that any bystanders stay clear of the situation unless they have the skills and training relevant to the emergency.
2. Assess the Situation - Maintain a clear mindset and take inventory of what is actually going on and identify your next steps of action. Ask yourself the following questions:
   • What kind of accident do you have and what are the risks and outcomes?
   • Are there any fatalities? Is anyone injured? If so, how many? What are the extent of the injuries? What kind of immediate attention do they need? Will they need to be carried out?
   • Where are you/the incident located? How far away are you from help? How long will it take for help to get here?
   • Are the people involved still in danger? Are you in danger? Are there immediate actions needed to be taken in order to make the situation safe?
   • What actions need to be taken? Do you or someone involved have the neccessary skills and training or will you need outside help?
3. Report - If you have a radio, contact dispatch with your name, followed by "emergency traffic." After dispatch responds, clearly explain the situation and follow their instructions. See Radio Protocol for more details. If you do not have a radio, send a bystander to the nearest ranger station, visitor center, or find someone with a radio to report the incident and request that they return to notify you it has been reported. If that is not possible, leave the scene and report it yourself, and ask dispatch if they want you to return to the scene. Make sure you know how to describe the location of the incident.
4. Respond - Give as much assistance as you are properly trained and equipped for. Ways you can help:
   • Medical assistance (that you are capable of)
   • Direct traffic away from the incident
   • Ask bystanders to help by going to report the accident, directing rangers to the incident if off trail, and for witnesses to stay until rangers arrive or dispatch gives further instruction.
   • Keep yourself, the bystanders, and those involved calm.
5. Stay in Touch - If conditions permit, stay at the scene. If you are unable to do so, stay in a place where dispatch is able to contact you. Often rangers will be in touch to ask you further questions so they can coordinate their response.

Keep in mind as volunteers, we are not asking you to fix the situation, we are only asking that you assist us in securing the situation until our staff can respond.

 

If a Visitor Reports an Incident to You

1. Gather as much information as possible and call dispatch.
2. Do not let the reporting party leave until the responding ranger has instructed them to do so. It is likely more questions will arise as the situation unfolds or the park may need a witness statement from them. Before the reporting party leaves, make sure you have their name, phone number, physical address, and email address and turn in this information to the responding ranger or dispatch.

To report an incident by phone, call dispatch at extension 6600 or dial 9-1-1.

 

Reporting a Crime

If you are reporting a crime in progress, do not get involved, stay at a safe distance, and report to dispatch immediately. Gather and report as much information as possible about the situation and the number of suspects, suspect descriptions, direction of travel, vehicle color, license plate information, etc.