Response

Overview

The Response tab is where you record incident times, apparatus and crew details, and track REHAB status. The response tab includes the following sections:

Disclaimer

NERIS is currently under development by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). This guide reflects the system as implemented in EPR FireWorks. Functionality may evolve as NERIS continues development toward full national implementation by January 2026.

Times

The Times section captures essential timestamps during an emergency response, forming the foundation for NERIS incident reporting and analytics. Timestamps are organized into two subsections: Dispatch Summary and Incident Summary, ensuring a comprehensive timeline of response activities. These fields are typically imported from a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system or entered manually.

Dispatch Summary

This subsection logs critical dispatch-related timestamps, which are vital for documenting response efficiency.

Field	Description
Call Arrival at PSAP/Dispatch Center	Time when the initial emergency call reaches the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or dispatch center.
Call Answered At PSAP/Dispatch Center	Time when a dispatcher answers the emergency call at the PSAP or dispatch center.
Call Processing Begin Time	Time when call information is processed for dispatch to response units.

Incident Summary

The Incident Summary provides metrics automatically calculated based on unit timestamps, offering an overview of the incident timeline.

Field
Alarm Time (Earliest Dispatch)	Time when the first unit is dispatched to the incident.
En Route	Time when the first unit begins traveling to the scene.
Arrival	Time when the first unit arrives on scene.
Last Unit Cleared	Time when the final unit leaves the scene.

Apparatus Info

The Apparatus Info section captures details about response vehicles and their crews, enabling accurate tracking of resources deployed during an incident. This section supports resource allocation analysis and ensures compliance with NERIS reporting standards by logging unit activities and personnel assignments. Selecting a unit (e.g., RSQ10) opens a detailed view with timestamps, identifiers, and response details, which may indicate Mutual Aid if the unit is from another department. The summary view includes the # of Personnel field, with detailed personnel assignments available in the Personnel subsection below.

To add an apparatus to the incident, do as follows:

In the Apparatus Info section, click Add.
The Unit sidebar will open on the right. Select the Apparatus ID from the list
Complete the fields according to the table below.
When finished, click Done. The apparatus details will appear in the Apparatus Info table.
Enter the apparatus narrative:
1. In the apparatus row, under Narrative, click the icon.
2. Add additional details in the Apparatus Narrative.
  Note:
  - You can generate a narrative from the apparatus details by clicking Generate.
  - To add timestamps to the narrative, click Add Time Stamp.

Field	Description
Apparatus ID	Unique identifier for the response vehicle, assigned by the system (e.g., RSQ10).
NERIS Unit ID	Unique identifier assigned by NERIS for national reporting and interoperability.
Emergency/Non-Emergency	Indicates whether the unit is responding in Emergency mode (e.g., with lights and sirens) or Non-Emergency mode.
CAD Unit ID	Identifier assigned by the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for integration purposes.
Dispatch	Time when the unit is dispatched to the incident.
Dispatch Acknowledged	Time when the unit acknowledges the dispatch, confirming receipt of the call.
En Route	Time when the unit begins traveling to the scene.
Arrival	Time when the unit arrives on scene.
Staging Time	Time when the unit is staged, awaiting further instructions before proceeding to the scene.
Cleared	Time when the unit is cleared from the scene.
Cancelled Time	Time when the unit’s response is cancelled, if applicable.
Back in Service	Time when the unit is back in service and available for another call.
Response Delays	Factors causing delays in the unit’s response.

The Personnel icon in the apparatus row displays the number of responders assigned to a given apparatus. Clicking the icon opens a sidebar on the rig that providesng detailed information for each responder. This includes individual roles, response types, and activity timestamps, ensuring precise documentation of crew involvement during the incident.

Only responders properly assigned to apparatuses are eligible for Payroll.

See the Payroll tab for further information.

To add personnel to an apparatus, do as follows:

In the apparatus row, under personnel, click +. The personnel sidebar will open on the right.
For each responder, complete the fields according to the table below.
When finished, click Done.

Field	Description
Name	Name of the responder assigned to the unit.
Position/Role	The responder’s role or position during the incident (e.g., Firefighter, Paramedic).
Arrival	Time when the responder arrived on scene with the unit.
Cleared	Time when the responder is cleared from the scene.
Response Type	Type of response for the responder (e.g., Emergency, Non-Emergency).

REHAB

The REHAB section monitors responders' rehabilitation status, ensuring their health and safety during prolonged incidents in compliance with NFPA 1584 standards. This section logs responder details, rehabilitation duration, and equipment usage in a summary view. After clicking + Add, a detailed form (REHAB Check Details) allows for additional data entry, including vital signs and check status.

Adding REHAB Checks

For each responder undergoing REHAB, complete the check details as follows:

Click + Add. The REHAB Check Details form will open to the right.
In the Check Details sidebar, complete the fields as follows (see the tables below for field descriptions):
1. Enter basic details: Name, Unit, # of SCBA Bottles , Provider, and Check Time.
2. Record vital signs if applicable (e.g., BP, HR, RR, SpCO, SpO2, Temp, Skin).
3. Add additional observations in the Narrative field.
When finished, click Done. The REHAB row will update with Name, Unit, Rehab Time (Min), # of SCBA Bottles, Rehab Start Time, and End Time (from Time Out).

REHAB Check Details Key

Field	Description
Name	Name of the responder
Unit	Unit identifier for the responder’s assigned vehicle
Rehab Time (Min)	Total duration of the rehabilitation period, displayed in minutes
# of SCBA Bottles	Number of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles used by the responder.
Rehab Start Time	Time when the responder enters rehabilitation
Provider	Name or identifier of the medical provider conducting the rehab check
Check Time	Time when the rehab check is performed
Check Status	Status of the rehab check (e.g., Cleared, Sent to Rest, Transported)
BP	Blood pressure of the responder (systolic/diastolic)
SpCO	Carbon monoxide level in the responder’s blood (percentage)
Temp	Temperature of the responder
HR	Heart rate of the responder (beats per minute)
RR	Respiratory rate of the responder (breaths per minute)
SpO2	Oxygen saturation level in the responder’s blood (percentage)
Skin	Condition of the responder’s skin (e.g., Normal, Pale, Sweaty)