"Plain Language"

From the FEMA NIMS FAQ:

The use of plain language in emergency response situations is a matter of public safety, especially the safety of first responders and those affected by the incident. It is critical that all local responders, as well as those coming into the impacted area from other jurisdictions, know and use commonly established operational structures, terminology, policies and procedures. This is what NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS) are all about - achieving interoperability across jurisdictions and disciplines.

The use of common terminology is about the ability of area commanders, state and local EOC personnel, federal operational coordinators, and responders to communicate clearly with each other and effectively coordinate response activities, no matter what the size, scope or complexity of the incident. FEMA requires that plain English be used for multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction and multi-discipline events, such as major disasters and exercises.

Beginning in the fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1, 2007, federal preparedness grant funding is contingent on the use of plain English in major incidents requiring assistance from responders from other agencies, jurisdictions and functional disciplines. It is important to practice everyday terminology and procedures that will need to be used in emergency incidents and disasters. NIMS implementation is a long-term effort and it's probably not possible to persuade everyone
to change ingrained habits overnight. But over time, everyone will understand the importance of using common terminology, that is, plain English, every day. See
http://faq.fema.gov/cgi-bin/fema.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

Submitted by Les Rayburn, N1LF

Mandatory NIMS Training by 2007

From the ARRL Newsletter:

The Department of Homeland Security is requiring all first responders, including volunteers, to complete training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by 2007. This sounds formidable, but in reality there is an Independent Study course from FEMA that covers it. The course is IS-700 - go to
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIweb/IS/crslist.asp and find the course list. Follow directions and you will get to IS-700.

Readers can take the course on line or download the material and do it at their own pace. It shouldn't take more than three hours in any case.

There's a final exam on line, but it isn't going to cost much sweat (or any money - courses are all free). After passing the final, the student will get notification by e-mail or regular mail.

Readers are encouraged to look at the rest of the course offerings on the FEMA training Web site. They represent a wealth of knowledge, organized so that us real people can get through them and actually learn something. They aren't rocket science, just good stuff we needto know!

John Amos, KC6TVM, ADEC
Hospital Net Coordinator
Santa Clara County, California.