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Major incident declaration — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyMajor IncidentsMajor incident declarationDipIMC

You are the first clinician at a coach crash involving many casualties. There is diesel on the road, shouting passengers and unclear casualty numbers; police and fire are en route. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: A — Declare a major incident standby/major incident and send a METHANE report

The first clinician should establish scene safety, recognise the potential major incident and communicate using METHANE. Treatment of individual casualties before command and communication risks losing situational control. Exact numbers are often unavailable early, so an estimate should be sent and updated. The pearl is that early structured communication brings resources to patients you have not yet seen.

Reference: NHS England MITT 2023; MIMMS; JESIP