must be executed primarily to facilitate the medical response by
medical personnel, i.e. the fire brigade works with the release of
passengers from the vehicle. Time can be crucial in such cases.
We can differentiate between dynamic and static incidents and
accidents (Fredholm, 1995). A dynamic incident or accident de-
velops and changes with time, partly because of its inherent dy-
namism and partly because of measures that are initiated,
coordinated and executed. A fire is a typical example of a dyna-
mic incident. The tactical complexity in this case is in some re-
spects greater. A static incident or accident on the other hand
undergoes no change after it has occurred, apart from medi-
cally. A traffic accident is an example of such. The tactical
complexity is here not as great. In the event of a dynamic incident or
accident, such as a fire, the damage situation changes continu-
ously, partly because of the measures that are taken but probably
above all because of the dynamism of the fire itself. The tacti-
cal complexity is then greater. Moreover we can differentiate
between stable static and unstable static incidents and accidents.
A stable situation is characterised by all the relevant elements at
an incident site being in a state of secure equilibrium. There is litt-
le or no risk of an instantaneous increase in the damage caused.
An unstable situation is characterised by an insecure equilibrium.
Instantaneous change could occur, i.e. within a very short time.
Standard operating procedures
Standard operating procedures present the opportunity to esta-
blish the conditions for obtaining and maintaining control at an
early stage in a response operation. They create the conditions ne-
cessary to execute response operations safely. Generally speaking
they concern defining who shall do what, where it shall be done
and how it shall be done. They make if possible for the applied
resources to activate and start up a response operation even if
the commander cannot for some reason allocate tasks. Standard
operating procedures create a feeling of security, but they should
be applied with a degree of caution. If they are going to be establis-
hed, they should be based on the most common types of response
operations, such as, for example, traffic accidents or flat fires.
In more formal terms we can define a standard operating proce-
dure is a set of directives that stipulate a standard working met-
hod at an incident site. Their purpose is primarily to increase the
effectiveness of the units involved. The measures executed at an