Book excerpt: Section 2 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (2006 MINER Act), Public Law 109-236, [MINER Act 2006] directed operators of underground coal mines to improve accident preparedness and response. This report summarizes the findings of research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) between December 2007 and March 2009 to identify the attributes of an improved escape and rescue system. This report focuses on specific guidelines for escape and rescue from underground coal mines during fire and explosion incidents and contains an investigation of United States and worldwide mine practices. The basic elements of a mine emergency response system (escape, rescue, and incident command) are addressed. Further, knowledge gaps, training, human behavior, and technology challenges are also identified. This report presents a strategy of self-escape and safe-rescue including incident command as an integrated system with consideration given to U.S. underground coal mine demographics. The findings are intended to facilitate the evolution of all miners' capabilities and support institutions so that they will have a greater chance of successfully managing abnormal incidents without injury or fatalities.