Record Incident Commander Initial Actions
Each main Job Action Sheet heading is one Initial Action. Expand a heading to review its source checklist guidance. Response phase timeframes are recommended elapsed-time guidance; they are not deadlines and do not create or advance an operational period.
Before you begin
- An incident must be selected.
- The assigned Incident Commander may update Initial Actions while the incident is active.
- Other users who can access the incident may review the workspace without receiving Incident Commander authority.
Understand which actions appear
The incident's activated Hospital Incident Management Team (HIMT) determines the available Initial Actions:
- An Incident Commander-only activation begins with Receive appointment.
- When the activated HIMT includes Command or General Staff, HICSNow adds the remaining Incident Commander Job Action Sheet headings in source order.
- Expanding the HIMT does not remove or rewrite work already recorded.
Each action appears as an expandable menu item and opens fully expanded by default. The status-colored banner provides a quick visual reference:
- Red: Not started
- Yellow: In progress
- Green: Complete
- Gray: Not applicable
The bullet points inside each expanded action are reference guidance. They are not separate action records.
Record an Initial Action
- Under Response, select Initial Actions.
- Confirm the selected incident and Activation Level message.
- Review the Next recommended action.
- Review the source checklist guidance inside the expanded action.
- Select Not started, In progress, Complete, or Not applicable.
- When appropriate, select the responsible User or activated HICS Role.
- Add concise notes or a supporting-record reference when needed.
- Select Save action.
After HICSNow saves an action, its menu item automatically collapses. Select the action heading to reopen it for review or correction.
Activities performed in HICSNow are recorded in the audit log. Initial Action updates include the authenticated acting User and action time. Completing every applicable heading does not close the incident or establish an operational period.
Important authority boundary
Some headings contain responsibilities that must remain with the Incident Commander. HICSNow identifies these as IC authority and does not allow them to be assigned to another HICS Role through the checklist. Recording or viewing an Initial Action does not grant operational authority.