Major Incident Awareness & The METHANE Report: Staying Calm When It Matters Most

Major Incident Awareness & The METHANE Report: Staying Calm When It Matters Most

In the heat of an emergency, every second counts.

Whether you’re a police officer, paramedic, security professional, hospital worker, or part of a site’s incident response team, you may find yourself at the sharp end of a major incident, a sudden, unexpected event that overwhelms normal resources and demands immediate, coordinated action.

In those moments, two things matter most:

1. Rapid awareness – recognising a major incident early.

2. Clear communication – passing accurate information up the chain.

   
   

This is where the METHANE report comes in, a simple, structured way to share what you know, so that decision-makers can mobilise the right help, fast.

1. What is a Major Incident?

A major incident is any situation that presents a serious threat to life, health, property, or the environment, and requires special arrangements for response.

Examples include:

• Large road traffic collisions with multiple casualties

• Terrorist attacks or active shooter incidents

• Industrial accidents (chemical leaks, explosions)

• Natural disasters (flooding, storms)

• Fires in high-occupancy buildings

• Mass casualty events at sports or entertainment venues

What makes an incident “major” isn’t always its size; it’s whether it overwhelms routine resources.

A busy hospital dealing with multiple stabbing victims at once may declare a major incident, even if the casualty numbers are in single digits.

2. The Importance of Early Notification

A delayed declaration can cost lives. If the first people on scene (police patrol, security team, ambulance crew, or even a trained member of the public) can recognise the signs and report them quickly.

Command can:

• Mobilise extra resources (medical teams, fire units, specialist police)

• Activate emergency plans (hospital major incident protocols, evacuation procedures)

• Set up coordination points and cordons

• Alert nearby agencies and public services

And the fastest way to send that initial alert? The METHANE Report.

3. What is a METHANE REPORT?

METHANE is a mnemonic used in UK emergency services for giving a quick, structured, initial report of a major incident.

It stands for:

• M – Major incident declared (State if you believe a major incident should be declared)

• E – Exact location (Grid reference, street name, landmark)

• T – Type of incident (Explosion, collision, fire, hazardous material release, etc.)

• H – Hazards present (Fire, smoke, chemicals, secondary devices, structural collapse)

• A – Access/egress routes (Safe ways in and out for responders)

• N – Number of casualties (Dead, injured, walking wounded, trapped – give best estimate)

• E – Emergency services present and required (Who is there now, and who else is needed?)

4. How to Deliver a METHANE Report

Here’s a step-by-step process you can follow:

1. Stay calm & prioritise safetyBefore you pick up the radio or phone, make sure you’re not putting yourself in danger. A dead or injured first responder can’t help anyone.

   
   

2. Contact the right control pointUse your designated emergency channel or the control room number. In the UK, emergency services often use Airwave radio or call via 999.

   
   

3. Announce it’s a METHANE report, this flags to the receiver that you’re about to deliver structured major incident information.

   
   

4. Give details clearly, speak slowly and clearly, and avoid filler words.

   
   

   Example:

   
   

   "Control, this is Charli three zero with a METHANE report.

   
   

   M – I believe this is a major incident.

   E – Location is the junction of A19 and Chester Road, near the retail park entrance.

   T – Multi-vehicle collision involving a coach and two cars.

   H – Coach leaking fuel, risk of fire, heavy smoke.

   A – Best access from the northbound A19 slip road; southbound is blocked.

   N – Approximately 15 casualties; 3 trapped, several walking wounded.

   E – Fire service and police on scene; require additional ambulances.

   
   

5. Be ready for questions - Control may ask you to clarify or triage numbers, hazard severity, or access points.

   
   

5. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Guessing wildly – Give your best estimate, but say “approximate” if you’re not sure.

• Forgetting hazards – Hazards change quickly; a leaking chemical drum now may be on fire minutes later.

• Omitting access/egress details – This can delay emergency services significantly.

• Over-talking – Stick to METHANE order; extra detail can come later.

6. Why METHANE Works

The structure cuts through the chaos. In a noisy, confusing, high-stress environment, it’s easy to forget key details.

METHANE ensures:

• All critical facts are covered

• Information flows in a predictable format

• Control rooms can log and act on reports immediately

• Responders arriving later know what to expect

7. Practice Makes Permanent

Reading about METHANE is not enough. To be effective under pressure:

• Practice in training scenarios

• Role-play giving and receiving reports

• Test your radio/phone procedure

• Get comfortable with estimating casualty numbers and describing hazards

Final Thoughts

In the early minutes of a major incident, chaos is normal, but confusion is optional.

Recognising the situation quickly and delivering a clear METHANE report can set the tone for the entire response.

It’s one of those skills you hope you never need… but if you do, it might be the most important 30 seconds of your career.