What basic questions should notes address during an incident?

• A. Weather conditions and mood.
• B. Only who and what.
• C. Who, what, when, where, why, and how the incident occurred, along with actions taken.
• D. Opinions of staff unrelated to incident.

Answer: (C)

In incident notes, the goal is a complete, objective record of what happened. The most thorough approach is to document six essential questions: who was involved, what occurred, when it happened, where it occurred, why it happened (the cause or contributing factors), and how the incident occurred (the sequence of events), along with the actions taken in response. This structure supports accountability, investigation, and prevention by giving a clear, factual picture of the incident and its outcome. Focusing only on weather conditions and mood misses critical elements like timing, location, causation, and response, making the record incomplete. Limiting details to who and what omits the sequence and rationale, which are needed to understand and learn from the incident. Including opinions not related to the incident would undermine objectivity and usefulness of the notes.