1. East Fishkill Fire District Mayday/Urgent Radio Transmission Procedures

2. Emergency Radio Communications The following information is some of the most important information to know when working on a fire ground. – These messages are not only for an interior firefighter. – You are our eyes and ears on a scene, you most likely will see things we will not. – Never be ashamed to call a “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” if you think you might need to, you probably already should have.

3. Emergency Radio Communications These transmissions are going to possibly save your life or the life of a fellow firefighter. They should not be taken lightly. If you hear a “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” you need to stop using the radio and start listening and watching what is going on. You may be able to make a big difference on the outcome of the emergency. Remember these are the most important transmissions on the radio, we don’t need to know that your pulling up to the scene before we know what the “MAYDAY” is about.

4. Emergency Radio Communications Only to be used in situations where immediate communication is necessary to protect life or prevent injury. Whenever the terms “Mayday” or “Urgent” are transmitted all radio communications on that frequency are to cease, except those between the member initiating the emergency transmission and the IC.

5. Emergency Radio Communications Regular radio use my be resumed after the completion of the emergency message and IC’s acknowledgment unless IC orders otherwise. Distress signal starts by repeating “Mayday” or “Urgent” three times followed by the remainder of the message.

6. Emergency Radio Communications Note Anytime a building or area is evacuated, companies shall account for all members in preparation for a roll call by the Officer in Command. Missing members are to be reported immediately.

7. Emergency Radio Communications Note “Mayday” transmissions have priority over “Urgent” transmissions. To minimize misunderstanding, the terminology used below is MANDATORY. All members must be completely familiar with the terminology and use it exclusively for its intended purpose. No other wording is to be used for emergency transmissions.

8. Emergency Radio Communications Note Continued The term “Collapse” is to be used to indicate Structural Failure only. Incident Commander will require DC911 to broadcast over all fire ground channels that a MAYDAY has occurred. Also request pager tones to be activated and an announcement be made.

9. MAYDAY This transmission is an indication that a life- threatening situation has developed. It may be used only in the following situations: – Imminent Collapse Feared A member becoming aware of the situation is to immediately contact the IC “MAYDAY- MAYDAY- MAYDAY” “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior to Command Mayday” IC will respond in the following format “ Command to FF/Officer Interior/Exterior, go ahead with your MAYDAY”

10. MAYDAY The member with the emergency message will respond in the following format “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior to command, MAYDAY-COLLAPSE IMMINENT” The member should also state the location of the imminent collapse (I.E. rear wall, sidewall exposure 2 side, etc.) and give their location. IC will then transmit “Command to all companies, MAYDAY, GET OUT OF THE BUILDING, GET OUT OF THE BUILDING” and repeat the message as often as necessary. All members will immediately evacuate the building on transmission of this message.

11. MAYDAY The Company Officer will immediately conduct a Company/Sector roll call and account for all members. Upon MAYDAY transmission, all members are to report back to the apparatus they arrived on or sector they came from (I.E. Staging area, First due Engine)

12. MAYDAY Structural Collapse has occurred – A member who has become aware of the condition is to immediately contact the IC “MAYDAY- MAYDAY- MAYDAY” “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior to Command Mayday” – IC will respond in the following format “ Command to FF/Officer Interior/Exterior, go ahead with your MAYDAY”

13. MAYDAY The member with the emergency message will respond in the following format “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior to command, COLLAPSE HAS OCURRED” The member should also state the location and extent of the collapse, number and nature of injuries, and if anyone is trapped. IC will immediately assign specific units to assist at the location of the collapse and simultaneously have Officer/Sector conduct a roll call and account for all members.

14. MAYDAY In the event of an unconscious or injured firefighter, the initial communications are the same. – FF/Officer giving the MAYDAY will respond in the following format “FF/Officer to command, MAYDAY- INJURED MEMBER” and provide the location, company identity of the injured member, and the extent of the injuries. – IC will assign specific units (i.e. FAST) to assist with the injured members as well as requesting an ALS Ambulance to the scene.

15. MAYDAY In the event an officer becomes aware that a member has become missing or a team member notices there officer is missing. – Initial communications are the same. – Officer/FF will respond in the following format. “Officer/FF to command MAYDAY-MISSING MEMBER” And provide the missing member’s assignment, (roof, Interior/Exterior, etc.) Last known location, name of the member, members assigned company and whether member has a radio.

16. MAYDAY IC will assign specific units (i.e. Fast) to conduct a search for the missing member and simultaneously contact each company/Sector on the scene by radio to attempt to locate the missing member.

17. MAYDAY If a member gets trapped or lost the initial communications are the same but they will have to manually activate there PASS alarm. – Member giving MAYDAY will respond “FF/Officer to command, MAYDAY-MEMBER TRAPPED/LOST”, Provides the number and identity of the members involved, location if known, last recognizable reference point if location is unknown.(ex. Basement near the furnace) and any imminent conditions that might affect the trapped members(fire nearby low air)

18. MAYDAY – IC will immediately assign specific units (i.e. FAST) to locate the members involved as well as request an ALS ambulance to the scene.

19. MAYDAY ****Any of those situations are MAYDAYS. They are to serious and life threatening to be considered URGENTS. ****

20. URGENT The procedure for an URGENT message is the same as the procedure for a MAYDAY. – The words MAYDAY are replaced with URGENT in the transmission. – “URGENT-URGENT-URGENT” “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior to command URGENT” – “Command to FF/Officer Interior/Exterior, go ahead with your urgent.” – Communications will continue from there.

21. URGENT If a member suffers a non life threatening injury that would be an URGENT. Member would respond to command “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior to command, URGENT- INJURED MEMBER” provide the location, company identity of the injured member and the nature and extent of the injury. IC will assign specific units (i.e. Fast) to assist injured members, as well as medical attention for the member

22. URGENT If an interior attack is to be discontinued and an exterior attack instituted. – IC will transmit a message as follows “URGENT-URGENT- URGENT” “command to all companies URGENT-ALL COMPANIES- URGENT, BACK OUT, BACK OUT” on transmission of this message all members will withdraw from the building. – Upon transmission of this message IC will contact Operations officer to confirm the message was received – IC will require company officers to conduct a roll call of all companies/sectors and account for ALL members.

23. URGENT If there is a structural problem indicating a danger of collapse – The member who discovered the problem would call issuing the urgent then once acknowledged “FF/Officer Interior/Exterior, URGENT – COLLAPSE FEARED” provide the location and conditions discovered. Operations Officer/IC will determine required actions.

24. URGENT If there is a loss of water, which would endanger members. – Pump Operator would communicate urgent and inform as follows. “Engine#, Driver/Pump Op. to command, URGENT – WATER LOSS”, state the problem and identify the units whose lines are affected. The IC contacts by radio, all units affected as well as units operating above the units affected to insure they know about the problem.

25. RADIO CONTROL The IC may wish to gain control of the Fire Ground Channels in order to alert all units a “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” has been received Also may wish to request radio silence except for those units operating with the “MAYDAY” or “URGENT”

26. MISSED TRANSMISSIONS Sometimes the IC does not hear the “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” signals. In order to ensure that the IC receives these signals the following must be done: If you are calling a “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” repeat it until IC or an officer acknowledges it. Any officer hearing a “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” signal that does not get acknowledged by IC must: – Acknowledge and obtain all information for the “MAYDAY” or “URGENT” – Relay all information to the IC.

27. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are searching the second floor of a residential structure and you notice that a member of your team who has gone missing. What actions do you take up to and including your message to command?

28. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are footing a ladder on the outside of the structure and you notice the outside wall is starting to bow out. What actions do you take up to and including your message to command?

29. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are on an interior attack and you feel the floor starting to get spongy underneath you as you crawl. What actions do you take up to and including your message to command?

30. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are advancing a line from the first floor to the second floor and the stairway collapses underneath you sending you into the basement. What actions do you take up to and including your message to command?

31. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are running the pump of the attack engine and you lose the water being fed to you and only have the water in your booster tank. What actions do you take up to and including your message to command?

32. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are on the ground helping with exterior operations when you observe the firefighters working on the roof fall through the roof. What actions do you take up to and including your message to command?

33. PRACTICE SCENARIOS You are the IC and you observe that someone is not answering your radio transmissions while they are inside performing an interior attack. As IC what actions will you take and what will you say?