Skip to main content

Search

Knowledge Center

Command Setup: Templates

Purpose Statement

Command templates in First Due allow departments to create standardized incident command structures that automatically populate based on dispatch incident types. These templates function as digital tactical worksheets, providing pre-configured command layouts, assignments, checklists, and resource requests tailored to specific incident types, improving response efficiency and ensuring consistent command structure across incidents.

Background Information

Command templates integrate multiple command setup sections into the Command Template. These templates can be automatically recommended based on dispatch incident types, similar to tactical worksheets used in traditional incident command operations. Before creating templates, departments must complete the prerequisite command setup sections to ensure proper template functionality.
 

📝

Important Note:

The Following Command setup sections must be completed first in order to have items and selections to place into the Command Template.

Overall Strategies
Command Staff
Checklists
Assignments
Resource Requests
Divisions
Radio Frequencies

 

Required Permissions

Users must have the appropriate level of the Incident Commands Templates permission configured in their role:
  • Read: View command boards in read-only mode
  • Update: Modify command board settings and information
  • Create: Initiate new command boards and add custom items
  • Delete: Remove command board elements and complete incidents

Video 

Step-by-Step Guide

1.  Navigate to the Response Module and then to Command Setup


 
2.  Select Templates from the Command Setup Menu
 

 
 

3. Use the Search and Filter area at the top to find specific MAYDAY Checklist Item.

 

 

4. Choose the columns to display from the drop down

 

 

 

5. Columns can be arranged, resized and sorted in ascending, descending or default order.

 

 

6.  To create new MAYDAY Checklist Item, select the  "Create MAYDAY Checklist Item Button".


 
7.  In Template Details area enter or select the following:
 
     A.  Template Name (Required)
     B.  Dispatch Incident Type--This is the Incident Types that will be associated with             this template.
     C.  Map Style--Choose between Satellite or Map  (Required)
     D.  PAR Time Threshold  (Required)
     E.   PAR Time Sound
     F.  Overall Strategy

8.  Select the Command Staff to be assigned to this template. Remember that the order they are selected is order they will appear on the Command Board. 
 

 
9. Select the Assignments to be assigned to this template. Remember that the order they are selected is order they will appear on the Command Board. 

 
 
10. Select the Divisions to be assigned to this template. Remember that the order they are selected is order they will appear on the Command Board.
 
 

 

11. Select the Resource Requests to be assigned to this template. Remember that the order they are selected is order they will appear on the Command Board.
 

 
12.  Choose the Radio Frequency from the list to be the default for this Template. The Radio Frequency can be changed in the Command Board.
 

 
 
13.  Select Checklist to bring up the Manage Checklist window.
 

 
14. Choose the Checklist Items from the left side of the menu that you want to appear in the Template and then select the Arrow to add them to the Template.
 

 
15.  When done selecting Checklist Items, they can be rearranged in the window by dragging the Checklist Item Types or the Checklist Items themselves using the hamburger icon. Once the desired order is achieved, select SAVE.
 

 
 
16.  Select Pre-Plan Units to bring up the Manage Pre-Plan Units window.

 
17.  Choose the Pre-Plan Units from the left side of the menu that you want to appear in the Template and then select the Arrow to add them to the Template. Once the desired Pre-Plan Units are selected, select SAVE.
 
⚠️

Warning:

Only 25 Pre-Plan Units can be selected to be assigned to each template. 

 

 
18.  Select SAVE at the top right of the screen to save the Template.
 

 
19.  The new Template will now appear in the Templates list in Command Setup. The Template can be edited by selecting the Pencil Icon, Archived by selecting the File Box Icon or duplicated by selecting the Copy Icon.
20.  If a Template has been Archived, it can be made active again by selecting the Archive menu and then selecting the checkmark to make it active again. It will then appear back in the active template list.
 
 

 

11.   To Bulk Archive MAYDAY Checklist Item, select the checkboxes nest to the desired MAYDAY Checklist Item to archive and then select the bulk archive button.

 

Best Practices

Template Planning:

  • Complete all command setup sections before creating templates
  • Plan template structure based on your department's standard operating procedures
  • Consider incident complexity when selecting command staff and assignments

Incident Type Associations:

  • Each dispatch incident type can only be associated with one template
  • Plan incident type associations carefully to avoid conflicts
  • Remove incident type associations from unused templates to keep options available

Command Staff Ordering:

  • Always place Incident Commander first in the selection order
  • Follow your department's chain of command structure
  • Consider span of control principles when adding command staff

Checklist Management:

  • Include critical safety and tactical items
  • Organize checklists logically by incident phase or priority
  • Use search function to find specific items across multiple checklist types

Template Maintenance:

  • Regularly review and update templates based on lessons learned
  • Remove incident type associations from templates no longer in use
  • Use clone function to create variations of successful templates

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why can't I select a specific dispatch incident type for my template? 
A: Each incident type can only be associated with one template. If an incident type isn't available, it's already associated with another active or archived template. Edit or remove the association from the other template first.

Q: My command staff isn't appearing in the right order on the command board. 
A: The display order is determined by the selection order during template creation. Edit the template and reselect command staff in the correct order.

Q: Can I modify templates after they've been used in actual incidents? 
A: Yes, templates can be edited at any time. However, changes only affect future incidents using that template, not past incidents.

Q: What happens if I archive a template that's associated with dispatch incident types? 
A: The incident type associations remain even when archived. To make those incident types available for other templates, you must edit the archived template and remove the associations.

Q: Can I have more than 25 pre-planned units in a template? 
A: No, the system limits each template to 25 pre-planned unit icons. Choose the most essential icons for your incident types.

Q: Why aren't my custom pre-planned units showing up in template creation? 
A: Custom pre-planned units must be created in the Pre-Planned Unit Types section before they become available for template selection.

Related Articles