[HCRA] FW: [VWS] FW: NIMS Alert 002-06: Feb. 8, 2006, More About 10-Codes and Plain Eng

[Daniel Sullivan]

-----Original Message-----
From: NIMS-Integration-Center [mailto:Nims-Integration-Center at dhs.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 3:20 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: NIMS Alert 002-06: Feb. 8, 2006, More About 10-Codes and Plain
English


NIMS Alert




NA: 002-06

The NIMS Integration Center, Feb. 8, 2006

NIMS-Integration-Center at dhs.gov

202-646-3850





More About 10-Codes and Plain English



WASHINGTON - In Washington, DC, if a police officer says 10-50, he or she is
talking about a car accident. Across the line in Montgomery County,
Maryland, 10-50 means an officer needs help. And that's the way it is across
much of the country, 10-codes used in one jurisdiction are not the same as
those used in another. That's why it is important that responders and
incident managers use common terminology. There simply is no room for
misunderstanding in an emergency situation.



The use of plain language in emergency response is 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 and other states as well as
the federal government, know and utilize commonly established operational
structures, terminology, policies and procedures. This is what NIMS and the
Incident Command System (ICS) are all about - achieving interoperability
across agencies, 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.
The ability of responders from different jurisdictions and different
disciplines to work together depends greatly on their ability to communicate
with each other.



It is required 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, 2006, federal
preparedness grant funding is contingent on the use of plain English in
incidents requiring assistance from responders from other agencies,
jurisdictions and functional disciplines.



While the NIMS Integration Center doesn't require plain English for internal
operations, we strongly encourage it. We believe 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 we do hope that over time, everyone will understand the
important of using common terminology, that is, plain English, every day.



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