Kent County Chiefs Association

Standard Operating Guidelines &

Standard Operating Procedures

Subject: Personal Accountability

SOG # 1-1-1

Approved

January 1996

Approved by: President James L. Price, Jr.

Reaffirmed

April 2025

I.                    PURPOSE

To establish a procedure to efficiently account for personnel at the scene of an emergency incident.

II.                 IMPLEMENTATION

A.            Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT)

Every member of the Kent County Fire/Rescue/EMS service shall be issued a PAT.

1.              The PAT shall consist of snap fastener with a personnel identification card attached.  (see attachment A.)

2.              Each member shall keep his/her PAT attached to an existing “D” ring on their running coat when not operating on an emergency incident.

3.              Replacements are available through the Kent County Fire Chiefs’ Association at the expense of the individual’s company and/or department.

B.            Collector Ring

Each emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a collector ring.

1.              The collector ring shall consist of a large ring with a unit identification tag attached.  (see attachment B)

2.              The collector ring shall be maintained in the cab of each unit and shall be removable.

III.              UTILIZATION OF THE PAT SYSTEM

A.            Level I Accountability

1.              The Officer shall collect PATs before responding and place them on the collector ring in the cab.  Collector ring must be visible while standing on the ground with the Officers door open, when the Officer leaves the cab.

2.              After arriving on the scene and when time permits, the diver/operator shall ensure that all personnel have attached their PATs.  The Company and/or Department Officer or Senior Firefighter in charge shall be responsible for all personnel riding on the apparatus.

3.              At any time during the course of an incident, the Incident Commander has the option of directing units to account for the number of personnel operating with that company and/or department by means of PATs and collector rings.  (see flow chart, attachment C)

4.              Any personnel arriving via private auto shall report to the command unit to have their PAT collected.

B.            Level II Accountability

1.              At the order of the Incident Commander, all collector rings shall be brought to and maintained at the command post.

2.              The collector rings shall be organized at the command post by the Incident Commander or his/her designee by utilizing an Accountability Control Chart to record crew assignments (see attachment D) and the Command Assignment Board to record officer assignments (see

      attachment E).

3.              Company and/or Department Officer shall ensure that all personnel assigned to their unit are accounted for prior to leaving the incident scene.

4.              It shall be the reasonability of each member to ensure that his or her PAT is removed from the collector ring at the completion of the incident or before leaving the incident scene.  The Company and/or Department Officer shall ensure compliance.

5.              Each Officer shall ensure that the collector ring is returned to their unit at the completion of the incident or before leaving the incident scene.

C.            Level III Accountability

1.              When the Incident Commander determines that the incident requires more stringent accountability, he/she shall implement Point of Entry Control.

2.              To implement Point of Entry Control, the designated Officer(s) shall monitor all points of entry into the structure, confine space or areas involved.  These individuals shall be referred to as “ENTRY CONTROL”.

3.              Entry Control shall ensure that each member’s name, company and/or department number, duration of air supply, time of entry, and assignment is recorded on the Entry Control Chart.  (see attachment F)

4.              Entry Control shall ensure that members are relieved as appropriate.

5.              As members exit a control point, the time of exit shall be recorded.  Members, who exit at a point remote from the control point, shall inform Entry Control personnel of their exit from the controlled area.

6.              Entry Control shall ensure that search and rescue operations are initiated for unaccounted personnel.

D.            COMPLIANCE

1.              The PAT shall be considered an issued item of personal protective equipment.

2.              If a PAT is lost or misplaced, a replacement shall be obtained as soon as possible.

3.              Each member’s PAT shall be inspected monthly when the member’s personal protective clothing is inspected.

4.              The mechanism to quickly account for personnel must be available to the Incident Commander at any point during an incident.  In order to ensure the effectiveness of this system and the subsequent safety of all personnel, accountability procedures shall be strictly adhered to at all times.

5.              To notify of an Emergency Evacuation, A one-minute solid blast on the apparatus air horns shall be sounded and the Incident Commander shall have Kent Central put out a 3-second tone followed by the announcement of the situation.  All personnel are to move to a safe zone in their sector.  All sector Officers shall report to the command post for accountability.

6.              Emergency Medical Services personnel who are subject to respond from the scene shall maintain their PAT in the cab of their unit unless specifically directed otherwise.

7.              All visiting ride along shall be issued a visitors PAT, so that everyone on the scene will be the system.

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Renny Grapes

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief John Darling

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Charles Boyles

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Albert (Bert) Piasecki, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Jason Lobley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Mike Pinder

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Lynn Sutton

Submitted for Emergency Service Board Approval on ______June 2nd, 2025_____________

Compliance Date ____July 2nd, 2025_____________________________________________

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