A METHANE approach to the example scenario (adapted from ‘Clinical Guidelines for Major Incidents and Mass Casualty Events’ Version 2, September 2020, NHS)6
| METHANE | Specific questions | Example: School bus crash |
| Major Incident | Has a major incident been declared? Record the date and time of ‘standby’ and ‘declared’ status. |
3 March 2022 10:20 hours Major incident declared
School bus vs Truck |
| Exact location | What is the exact location of the incident? | M1 Junction 11 |
| Type of incident | Fire/Flood/Blast/Explosion/Gunshots/Building collapse/Chemical/Nuclear /Biological/Radiation | Road traffic accident |
| Hazards | What hazards or potential hazards can be identified? |
Fuel—potential for fire/explosion
Weather—hypothermia |
| Access | What are the best routes for access and exit to the hospital site? |
ETA: 30 min
Access routes—no further information |
| Number of casualties | How many casualties are there, and what condition are they in? |
20 children (age 10–11) 6 adults Prehospital triage score: 1: 3 patients 2: 5 patients 3: Unknown 4: 3 patients Remaining: Uncategorised |
| Emergency services | Which, and how many, emergency services and personnel are required or are already on the scene? |
On scene:
2 police cars 3 ambulances |