Emergency response, personal safety and incident management
This section covers emergency response, personal safety and incident management. The exam tests whether you prioritise life, act within your training and avoid becoming another casualty.
Emergency priorities
- Life safety first, then property, then the environment. Raise the alarm, call 111 when needed, and follow the site emergency plan.
- Evacuate or confine people as trained. Do not re-enter a dangerous area. Meet emergency services and give clear information.
Personal safety
- Do a dynamic risk assessment: look for exits, weapons, crowds and hazards. Keep distance, communicate your position, and call for backup.
- Do not attempt a solo physical intervention against a violent person. Withdraw, observe from safety and preserve the scene.
Incident management
- Secure the area, preserve evidence, record times and actions, and hand over to police, fire or ambulance. Complete an incident report and seek welfare support after a critical event.
Worked example: The fire alarm sounds and you smell smoke. You do not finish your patrol. You call 111, start evacuation, use the marked route, prevent re-entry, and meet Fire and Emergency New Zealand with a site plan. Reasoning: life safety overrides property checks.
Traps: heroics; delaying 111; re-entering to save belongings; failing to account for visitors; contaminating a scene before police arrive.