What is the CDM Core?

• A. A summary of field training requirements
• B. A general guideline for decision making in emergencies
• C. Ethics, Values, Proportionality - Sanctity of human life (also includes Mission statement and Ideals that Define the Agency)
• D. A matrix of incident command roles

Answer: (C)

At the heart of CDM decisions is the ethical framework: ethics, values, proportionality, and the sanctity of human life, along with the mission statement and ideals that define the agency. This core provides the non-negotiable boundaries for every action, ensuring responses to juvenile offenders in emergency medical contexts prioritize life, dignity, and a proportionate, principled approach. It’s not a field-training checklist, nor a broad emergency decision guide, nor a chart of incident command roles. Instead, it anchors every judgment in the agency’s principles, guiding choices when time is critical and stakes are high.