The first few moments of any incident often shape everything that follows. Clear scene control early on, positioning of vehicles, clear roles, and decisive communication, makes later decisions easier and safer.
If you arrive at uncertainty, take a second to pause, take a breath, and establish control before moving into action. That brief pause can prevent rushed decisions, reduce risk and help everyone work from the same picture.
It is a small habit, but one that consistently makes a difference.
Remember that, if it is you who are arriving at that uncertainty, providing a windscreen report on arrival can be a huge help to Control as well as other responders who are coming to support you.
A windscreen report is the first, rapid ‘snapshot’ of an incident that you can give after arriving on scene. It is called a windscreen report because it is based on what you can see from your vehicle, before committing your crew or even stepping out. It is quick, simple, and designed to give Control and any other units an immediate sense of what the incident looks like.
A Windscreen Report:
- Gives an initial picture of the incident
- Helps Control assign the right resources early
- Alerts other responders to obvious hazards and access issues
- Begins the process of command and control
It is not detailed – it is a fast, first impression.
Although formats may vary slightly between emergency services, a windscreen report usually includes:
1.What you can see
- Nature of incident (car into tree, car on side etc)
- Number of vehicles and people involved
- Obvious hazards (fire, smoke, fuel spill)
2. Immediate risks
- Danger to life (driver trapped in car with fuel tank)
- Ongoing hazards (oil on road, debris)
- Need for urgent backup (is it obvious that you need help)
3. Initial actions
- What are the first things you will do (fire cover, triage etc)
4. Additional resource required
It’s short, factual, and sets the stage for a more structured M/ETHANE report once the scene is properly assessed.