Tactics, command, leadership

sary to create resources in order to prepare for the risk situation
that exists. These created resources can be needed to maintain a
level of preparedness without there being any real need to apply
them during a particular response. In this case a measure is taken
that could have considerable bearing on the future, but which
would also be a complete waste, if not required. The effect of the
measure is then less obvious, even though it may be considered
important for reducing the risk for personnel directly involved
and, in the wider perspective, the public at large. The links to
other measures then also become less obvious, even if it is accep-
ted that there is a connection. The spreading of foam can have a
longer term effect, for example, on the environment; a connect­
ion that cannot be denied.
There can be direct conflict between the short and long term
effects of various measures, including environmental effects. So-
mething won in the short term may well result in something lost
in the long term and vice versa. It may also be more difficult to
consciously lose in the short term in order to gain in the future.
Such decisions can be both difficult to make and controversial.
Conflicts between long and short term effects can also involve
taking an ethical standpoint. In the extreme it could concern res-
cuing one person now or several later. Peer pressure or the defen-
ce mechanism of an individual could easily cause them to favour
the short term solution over the long term, even though the latter
may be far more advantageous in the big scheme of things (Svens-
son, 2000).
Executing different measures at an incident site is obviously no
end in itself. The purpose of this should be to solve one or more
problems. The choice of measure then should be guided by the ef-
fect or result that can be expected of it, in relation to the problem
to be solved. It concerns selecting the best measure for solving the
specific problem and it is the need to solve this problem which
determines the measure that should be ex ecuted. Some measures
can be expensive, but if the justi fication is solid, these should,
despite the high cost, always be applied. Evacuating a hospital or
blocking off a main road because of pending danger can be costly
and should be thought through carefully, but it should be done if
it is required.