homepage > Glossary
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A Government website with practical advice to help in emergencies.
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Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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A&E
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Accident and Emergency
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ACCOLC
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Access Overload Control: Access & usage control protocols of the mobile phone network
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ACPO
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AIO
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Ambulance Incident Officer - The officer of the ambulance service with overall responsibility for the work of that service at the scene of a major incident. Works in close liaison with the medical incident officer (MIO) to ensure effective use of the medical and ambulance resources at the scene
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Ambulance Loading Point
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An area, preferably hard standing, in close proximity to the casualty clearing station, where ambulances can manoeuvre and load patients.
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Ambulance Safety Officer
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The officer responsible for monitoring operations and ensuring safety of personnel working under her/his control within the inner cordon at a major incident site. Liaises with safety officers from other emergency services.
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Ante mortem data
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Information obtained from family, friends, etc. about a person who is believed to be among the deceased.
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ASA
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ASLEF
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ATOC
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ATSAC
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ACPO Strategic Advice Centre
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BBC
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BCG
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Bronze Coordinating Group
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BCI
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BCP
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Business Continuity Planning
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Discretionary scheme for providing central government financial assistance in exceptional circumstances to affected local authorities in the event of a major emergency.
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Body Collection Point (or Holding Area)
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A point close to the scene where the dead can be temporarily kept until transfer to the mortuary. Ideally the premises should be secure, dry, cool and have ample drainage. (See Temporary Mortuary).
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BSIA
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BT
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BTP
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C&C
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Command and Control
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CAA
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CAC
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Central Ambulance Control
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Cascade System
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System whereby one person or organization calls out the others who in turn initiate further call-outs as necessary.
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Casualty
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A person directly involved in or affected by the incident (injured, uninjured, deceased or evacuee).
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Casualty Bureau
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Central contact and information point for all records and data relating to casualties.
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Casualty Clearing Officer
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The ambulance officer who, in liaison with the Medical Incident Officer, ensures an efficient patient throughput at the Casualty Clearing Station
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Casualty Clearing Station
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An area set up at a major incident by the ambulance service in liaison with the medical incident officer to assess, treat and triage casualties and direct their evacuation.
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C&W
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CFOA
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CBRN
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CCDC
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Consult in Communicable Disease Control
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CCS
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Civil Contingencies Secretariat: Provides the focus for the cross-departmental and cross-agency commitment, co-ordination and co-operation that will enable the UK to deal effectively with disruptive challenges and crisis.
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CCTV
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Closed Circuit Television
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CCV
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Command and Control Vehicle
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CDC
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Centre for Disease Control (USA)
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CEGB
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Central Electricity Generating Board
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CEO
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Chief Executive Officer
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CEPU
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Central Emergency Planning Unit
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CHAPS
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Chemical Hazards and Poisons (part of the Health Protection Agency)
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Chemet
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A scheme administered by the meteorological Office, providing information on weather conditions as they affect an incident involving hazardous chemicals.
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CMO
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Chief Medical Officer
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CNN
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CO
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COBR
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Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.K.A. COBRA
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COMAH
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Command
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The authority for an agency to direct the actions of its own resources (both personnel and equipment).
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Formerly the Office of the Deputy Prim Minister (ODPM)
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Control
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The authority to direct strategic and tactical operations in order to complete an assigned function and includes the ability to direct the activities of other agencies engaged in the completion of that function. The control of the assigned function also carries with it a responsibility for the health and safety of those involved.
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Controlled Area
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The area contained by the outer cordon that may be divided in geographical sectors.
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Co-ordination
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The harmonious integration of the expertise of all the agencies involved with the object of effectively and efficiently bringing the incident to a successful conclusion.
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Co-ordinating Group
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A group comprising the senior representative at the scene of a major incident from each service or agency present. The group is normally chaired by the police and decides on actions to be taken.
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Cordon
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The perimeter of an area, for example the rescue zone or a sector. May be physical or improvised. For further details see Scene Management
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COSHH
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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
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Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, formerly NISCC National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre
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DCMS
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DEFRA
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Devolved Administrations
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DfBERR
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DfT
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DoH
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DPH
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Director Public Health
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EHO
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Environmental Health Officer
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EOC
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Emergency Operation Centre
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EP
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Emergency Planning
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EPA
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EPC
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EPCU
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Emergency Planning Coordination Unit
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Epidemic
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A particular problem (e.g. disease) that affects a large proportion of an area or large number of people, animals or plants at the same time
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EPLO
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Emergency Planning Liaison Officer
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EPO
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Emergency Planning Officer
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EPU
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Emergency Planning Unit
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Evacuees' assembly point
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A location of safety, near the scene, where evacuees can initially be directed for assembly before being transported to rest centres.
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FCO
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FCP
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Forward Control Point
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FEMA
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (USA)
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Forward Control/ Command point
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A control point/ forward command post dealing directly with activity at the scene and the respective emergency service resources at the scene.
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Friends and Relatives Reception Centre
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Secure area set aside for use by friends and relatives arriving for interviews with them. This will usually be operated and maintained by the police.
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FSA
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Food Standards Agency http://www.food.gov.uk/
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GB
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Great Britain
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GCG
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Gold Coordinating Group
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GICS
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Government Information Communications Service - Part of the Cabinet Office
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GMC
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GNN
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GO
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Government Offices
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GORs
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GOSE
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GOE
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GOEM
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GOSW
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GOL
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GONW
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GONE
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GOWM
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GOYH
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GOLD
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Strategic commander
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GP
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General Practitioner
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GPO
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General Post Office
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GPS
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Global Positioning System
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GTPS
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Government Telephone Preference Scheme landline priority access protocols
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HA
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Health Authority
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HAZMAT
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Hazardous Materials
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HEPA
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Hospital Emergency Planners
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HGV
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Heavy Goods Vehicle
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HMIC
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HMRI
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HMT
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HO
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Hospital Friends and Relatives Reception Centre
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An assembly point at a receiving hospital where friends and relatives can be received and arrangements made for their special needs. The receiving hospital is responsible for establishing the centre.
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Hospital, Receiving
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The hospitals to be alerted by the ambulance service to receive casualties in the event of a major incident. The first one will be requested to provide the medical incident officer. Receiving hospitals must be adequately equipped to receive casualties on a 24-hour basis and be able to provide, when required, the medical incident officer and a mobile medical/nursing team.
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HPA
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HQ
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Headquarters
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HSE
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HSUS
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ICU
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Intensive Care Unit
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Identification Commission
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Group representing all aspects of the identification process, which is set up to consider and determine the identity of the deceased to the satisfaction of HM Coroner
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IEM
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Integrated Emergency Management - An approach to preventing and managing emergencies that entails five key activities - assessment, prevention, preparation, response and recovery. IEM is geared to the idea of building greater overall resilience in the face of a broad range of disruptive challenges
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Incident Officer
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An Officer at the scene who commands the tactical response of his/her respective service
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Incident Control Point/Post
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The point from which each of the emergency services tactical managers can control their services' response to a land-based incident. Together, the incident control points form the focal point for co-coordinating all activities on site. Also referred to as "Silver control". In London, incident control points are grouped together to form the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC)
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Investigating Agencies
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Those organizations that are legally empowered to investigate the cause of an accident (Air Accident Investigation Branch, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, HSE, etc.)
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JESCC
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Joint Emergency Services Control Centre
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LA
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Local Authority
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LAEPSC
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Local Authority Emergency planning sub committee
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LALO
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Local Authority Liaison Officer
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LGA
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LGD
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Lead Government Department - Department which, in the event of a major catastrophic incident, co - ordinates central government activity
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LRF
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Local Resilience Forum
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Major Incident Control Room
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Established in protracted emergencies to co-ordinate the overall response, deal with ongoing resource and logistical requirements and provide facilities for senior command functions. Often referred to as Gold Control
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Marshalling Area
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Area to which resources and personnel from all services can be directed to stand by. Fire Brigade relief's may be directed there to be briefed before final deployment by silver fire
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Marshalling Officer
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Service representative at marshalling area
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MCV
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Mobile Communications Vehicle
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MDAT
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Major Disaster Advisory Team - A police service team available at short notice to give advice on certain aspects of major incident management
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Media Centre
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Central contact point for media enquiries, providing communications and conference facilities and staffed by press officers from all organisations
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Media Liaison Officer
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Representative who has responsibility for liaising with the media on behalf of his/her organization
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Media Liaison Point
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An area adjacent to the scene, which is designated for the reception and accreditation of media personnel for the briefing on arrangements for reporting, filming and photographing, staffed by media liaison officers for appropriate services
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MEF
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Media Emergency Forum
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Providers of environmental and weather-related services
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Security Service, responsible for protecting the UK against threats to national security
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MI
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Major Incident
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MIO
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Medical Incident Officer - Medical officer with overall responsibility (in close liaison with the ambulance incident officer) for the management of medical resources at the scene of a major incident. He/she should not be a member of a mobile medical team
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MOD
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MOU
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Memorandum of Understanding
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Mutual Aid Arrangements
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Cross-boundary arrangements under which emergency services, local authorities and other organizations request extra staff and/or equipment for use in a disaster
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NBC
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Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
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NGC
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NGO
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Non Government Organisation
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NHS
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NRF
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National Resilience Framework
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NSCWIP
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O
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OFCOM
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OFGEM
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OGC
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Office of Government Commerce
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Outer Cordon
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Seals off a controlled area around an incident to which unauthorised persons are not allowed access
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Overall Incident Commander (Gold)
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Designated principal officer of each service who assumes the co-coordinating function for the operation as a whole on behalf of their service
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Pandemic
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A particular problem (e.g. disease) that affects almost all of an area or almost all of a group of people, animals or plants at the same time
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Paramedic
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A qualified NHS ambulance person who has obtained the IHCD Certificate in Extended Ambulance Aid Training. They may also be permitted to administer specified drugs
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PC
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Personal Computer
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PCT
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Primary Care Trust
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PFE
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PLP
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Press Liaison Point - A point at or adjacent to the scene designated for exclusive use by accredited media representatives and through which official press releases will be issued
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Police Media Representative
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Senior police appointee chosen by the overall incident commander to be responsible for the release of information on behalf of the police
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PPP
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Private Public Partnership
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PSR
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Pipeline Safety Regulation
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PSTN
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Public Services Telephone Network
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PTS
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Patient Transport Service
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RA
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Risk Assessment
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RAF
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RAYNET
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Radio Amateurs Emergency Network - National Voluntary group of UK government licensed radio operators able to provide emergency radio communications
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RCCC
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Regional Civil Contingencies Committee - Gold Co-coordinating Group
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RDPH
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Regional Director of Public Health
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Receiving Hospital(s)
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Any hospital selected by the ambulance service from those designated by health authorities to receive casualties in the event of a major incident
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REPPIR
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Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information
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RRD
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Regional Resilience Directors
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RSPCA
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RVP
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Rendez-Vous point - A point selected by the emergency services as the location for all personnel and vehicles to report to before to before attending the major incident. It is situated within the outer cordon
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Rendezvous Point Officer
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Police officer responsible for supervision of the RVP
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Rescue Zone
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The area within the inner cordon
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Rest Centre
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Premises designated for the temporary accommodation of evacuees
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SAR
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Search and rescue - Operations for locating and retrieving persons in distress, providing for their immediate needs and delivering them to a place of safety
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SC
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Sub-committee
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SCG
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Strategic-Co-coordinating Group A group comprising senior officers of appropriate organisations, which aims to achieve effective inter-agency co-ordination at strategic level. This group should normally be located away from the immediate scene
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SCOSS
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Standing Committee on Structural Safety Sector Commander (Bronze) - The officer in command of an operational area and having the functional responsibility within the controlled area for fire/rescue purposes
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Silver Fire/ Medic/ Police
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The service incident commander at the scene
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SIO
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Senior Investigating Officer - Police Senior detective office appointed by gold to assume responsibility for all aspects of the police investigation
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SITREP
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Situation Report - A broad description of progress at a certain time
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SME
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Small and Medium sized Enterprises Local businesses
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SMS
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Short Message Service
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SSSI
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Site of Special Scientific Interest Statutory Services - Those services whose responsibilities are laid down in law: for example, police, fire and ambulance services, HM Coastguard and local authorities
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Strategic level (gold)
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A strategic level of management establishes a policy and overall management framework within which tactical managers will work. It establishes strategic objectives and aims to ensure long-term resourcing/expertise
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Survivor Reception Centre
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Secure area to which uninjured survivors can be taken for shelter, first aid, interview and documentation
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TA
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Tactical level (silver)
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A tactical level of management provides overall management of the response to an emergency. Tactical managers determine priorities in allocating resources, obtain further resources as required, and plan and co-ordinate when tasks will be undertaken
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A site, which has been designated by the coroner as being the mortuary for a particular incident
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Triage
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Process of prioritising the evacuation of the injured by the medical or ambulance staff at the casualty receiving station
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UK
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United Kingdom
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Website of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office
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WARP
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Warning, Advice and Reporting Point
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WG
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Working Group
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WRVS
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