Cold zone definition?

• A. Where incident command post and EMS equipment and personnel are located
• B. Where decontamination occurs
• C. Where the hot zone begins
• D. Where the public gathers

Answer: (A)

Think of incident scenes in hazmat and mass casualty responses as divided into zones by safety risk. The cold zone is the clean area where operations can be conducted safely, away from any contamination. It houses the incident command post, EMS equipment, and personnel who are coordinating and providing care from a safe distance. This is the area where communications, staging, and support functions happen without exposure to hazardous material.

That’s why the statement describing the cold zone as where the incident command post and EMS equipment and personnel are located is the best fit. The warm zone is where decontamination takes place, and the hot zone begins in the most contaminated area. The public is kept separate from the active operation area, not functioning as part of the cold zone.