MAYDAYMAYDAY

20042004

This presentation is a work in progress and has This presentation is a work in progress and has not yet been adopted as policy. It is meant as a not yet been adopted as policy. It is meant as a training guide to better prepare our crews for the training guide to better prepare our crews for the policy that will be adopted in the near future. policy that will be adopted in the near future. Your Fire Training Division has been working with Your Fire Training Division has been working with the Salt Lake Valley Fire Alliance to standardize the Salt Lake Valley Fire Alliance to standardize operational policies in the valley. operational policies in the valley.

PURPOSEPURPOSE

All fire personnel operating in the geographical area of All fire personnel operating in the geographical area of the Salt Lake Valley shall have a common Mayday the Salt Lake Valley shall have a common Mayday Standard that is accepted and practiced by all Standard that is accepted and practiced by all departments. This standard shall have guidelines to be departments. This standard shall have guidelines to be followed in the event of a lost, trapped or injured followed in the event of a lost, trapped or injured firefighter and to identify the roles and procedures of all firefighter and to identify the roles and procedures of all the parties involved at the incident where a the parties involved at the incident where a “MAYDAY”“MAYDAY” has been transmitted.has been transmitted.

STANDARDSTANDARD

Due to the nature of the fire service activities, fire Due to the nature of the fire service activities, fire department personnel may be called upon to operate department personnel may be called upon to operate in hazardous environments. It is the standard that all in hazardous environments. It is the standard that all members shall take every precaution to safeguard members shall take every precaution to safeguard themselves and their crew members at all time during themselves and their crew members at all time during operations. If any member becomes lost, trapped, operations. If any member becomes lost, trapped, injured or in any way needs assistance while operating injured or in any way needs assistance while operating in a hazardous environment, this standard shall be in a hazardous environment, this standard shall be followed.followed.

EMERGENCY TRAFFICEMERGENCY TRAFFIC

Emergency Traffic is the term used to alert allEmergency Traffic is the term used to alert all operating personnel of an emergency or imminentoperating personnel of an emergency or imminent danger. Any member operating in or around thedanger. Any member operating in or around the incident can request “Emergency Traffic”. Whenincident can request “Emergency Traffic”. When Emergency Traffic communication is complete,Emergency Traffic communication is complete, Command should state “All clear, resume normalCommand should state “All clear, resume normal radio traffic”. radio traffic”.

MAYDAYMAYDAY

All reports of “Mayday” shall receive priorityAll reports of “Mayday” shall receive priority

radio traffic. The term “Mayday” shall beradio traffic. The term “Mayday” shall be

reserved reserved ONLY ONLY to report firefighters into report firefighters in

immediate danger. immediate danger.

HOW TO CALL MAYDAYHOW TO CALL MAYDAY

The term “Mayday” typically will be used in the following The term “Mayday” typically will be used in the following situations:situations:

By the company officer, group / division officer, or By the company officer, group / division officer, or any member who cannot account for a firefighter(s) any member who cannot account for a firefighter(s) operating in the hazard zone.operating in the hazard zone.By a member who witnesses or discovered a trapped By a member who witnesses or discovered a trapped or injured firefighter in trouble.or injured firefighter in trouble.To ensure that the message is transmitted and To ensure that the message is transmitted and received, the term “Mayday” should be repeated at received, the term “Mayday” should be repeated at least three (3) times (e.g., “Mayday, Mayday, least three (3) times (e.g., “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”).Mayday”).

GENERAL PROCEDUREGENERAL PROCEDURE

Command, through the use of theCommand, through the use of the Personnel PersonnelAccountability System (PAR)Accountability System (PAR), shall track the, shall track thelocation of all personnel at the emergencylocation of all personnel at the emergencyincident. In the event a firefighter cannotincident. In the event a firefighter cannotbe located through PAR, or any other time abe located through PAR, or any other time afirefighter is reported missing, the Incidentfirefighter is reported missing, the IncidentCommander or any fire-ground personnel shall Commander or any fire-ground personnel shall announce a “Mayday”.announce a “Mayday”.

……GENERAL PROCEDURESGENERAL PROCEDURES

Command shall respond to the “Mayday” Command shall respond to the “Mayday” by implementing the by implementing the Rapid Intervention Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)Team (RIT) standard. standard.

Until accounted for, a missing firefighter(s) Until accounted for, a missing firefighter(s) is assumed lost or trapped. Rapid, concise is assumed lost or trapped. Rapid, concise decisions and actions must be taken to decisions and actions must be taken to increase survivability. increase survivability.

……GENERAL PROCEDUREGENERAL PROCEDURE

Command and others shall take the Command and others shall take the following actions for a reported missing following actions for a reported missing or distressed firefighter(s).or distressed firefighter(s).

The following guidelines do not The following guidelines do not necessarily need to be accomplished in necessarily need to be accomplished in the order listed:the order listed:

MAYDAY INITIATIONMAYDAY INITIATION

A) The firefighter(s) in distress or the firefighter A) The firefighter(s) in distress or the firefighter that recognizes a need for assistance shall call a that recognizes a need for assistance shall call a “Mayday” (e.g., “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”).“Mayday” (e.g., “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”).

B) Upon the recognition of a missing or distressed B) Upon the recognition of a missing or distressed firefighter or a declaration of “Mayday”, firefighter or a declaration of “Mayday”, Command shall immediately gain control of the Command shall immediately gain control of the assigned fire ground frequency by announcing assigned fire ground frequency by announcing “Emergency Traffic” to acknowledge the Mayday “Emergency Traffic” to acknowledge the Mayday and alert all personnel working at the incident and alert all personnel working at the incident (e.g., “Command copies a Mayday.. emergency (e.g., “Command copies a Mayday.. emergency traffic…repeat…emergency traffic…go ahead traffic…repeat…emergency traffic…go ahead Mayday”)Mayday”)

……MAYDAY INITIATIONMAYDAY INITIATION

C) If possible, the Mayday firefighter(s) gives a C) If possible, the Mayday firefighter(s) gives a report using the report using the E.S.C.A.P.E.E.S.C.A.P.E. acronym: acronym:

EE- Engine/Truck number, current - Engine/Truck number, current assignment and position. assignment and position.

SS- Situation- SituationCC- Conditions- ConditionsAA- Air Supply- Air SupplyPP- Position- PositionEE- Escape Plan- Escape Plan

E.S.C.A.P.EE.S.C.A.P.E example: example:

““Command from attack team 1, this is Command from attack team 1, this is Truck 2 alpha…I’ve fallen through Truck 2 alpha…I’ve fallen through the first floor, I’m pinned and the first floor, I’m pinned and injured…heavy smoke, zero visibility, injured…heavy smoke, zero visibility, moderate heat…my low air alarm is moderate heat…my low air alarm is sounding..I think I’m somewhere in sounding..I think I’m somewhere in the basement in the middle of the the basement in the middle of the room..I can’t move.”room..I can’t move.”

MAYDAY INITIATIONMAYDAY INITIATION

D) Command, or RIT Support Officer, if in place, shall confirm D) Command, or RIT Support Officer, if in place, shall confirm Mayday report, attempt to get more information using the Mayday report, attempt to get more information using the E.S.C.A.P.E. acronym, give direction, and support if possible.E.S.C.A.P.E. acronym, give direction, and support if possible.

1. Are others trapped / lost or is the firefighter alone?1. Are others trapped / lost or is the firefighter alone?2. Last known assignment and / or operating area?2. Last known assignment and / or operating area?3. Can they hear anything (fans, saws, air-horns, radios) 3. Can they hear anything (fans, saws, air-horns, radios) 4. Activate PASS (refer to 4. Activate PASS (refer to training procedure) and training procedure) and flashlight.flashlight.5. Direct firefighter(s) to a doorway, window or wall.5. Direct firefighter(s) to a doorway, window or wall.6. Positive emotional support and calm them down.6. Positive emotional support and calm them down.

MAYDAY INITIATIONMAYDAY INITIATIONE)E) Command shall deploy RIT and immediately announce, “We Command shall deploy RIT and immediately announce, “We

have a RIT activation”. have a RIT activation”. (See RIT Standard)(See RIT Standard)

F) Command shall direct dispatch to activate the emergency F) Command shall direct dispatch to activate the emergency traffic alert tones and:traffic alert tones and:

1.1. Advise the Mayday and RIT crews to Advise the Mayday and RIT crews to remain on current fire channel.remain on current fire channel.

2.2. Advise all others on the current fire channel to Advise all others on the current fire channel to switch to switch to alternate Channel 16.alternate Channel 16.

G) Command shall conduct a PAR of all companies on G) Command shall conduct a PAR of all companies on alternate Channel 16. The RIT Support Officer will keep PAR alternate Channel 16. The RIT Support Officer will keep PAR for RIT and mayday crew. (for RIT and mayday crew. (See RIT See RIT Standard)Standard)

COMMUNICATION CENTER COMMUNICATION CENTER RESPONSIBILITIESRESPONSIBILITIES

A)A) The Communications Center shall notify Command The Communications Center shall notify Command when they have received a “Mayday” from a when they have received a “Mayday” from a portable radio and inform them which firefighter portable radio and inform them which firefighter positions the radio was assigned. positions the radio was assigned.

B) If the Communications Center is contacted by the B) If the Communications Center is contacted by the missing firefighter(s) on any fire channel, the missing firefighter(s) on any fire channel, the Communications Center shall keep the firefighter(s) Communications Center shall keep the firefighter(s) on that frequency and advise Command on that frequency and advise Command immediately. immediately.

C) When a firefighter is declared lost, trapped or C) When a firefighter is declared lost, trapped or injured, the Communications Center, upon the injured, the Communications Center, upon the direction of Command, shall repeat the “Mayday” direction of Command, shall repeat the “Mayday” message on all fire ground channels.message on all fire ground channels.

……COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RESPONSIBILITESCENTER RESPONSIBILITES

D) Restrict the channel to D) Restrict the channel to “Mayday” “Mayday” traffic only.traffic only.

E) The Communications Center E) The Communications Center shall shall dedicate an additional dedicate an additional dispatcher to dispatcher to assist on the assist on the Mayday channel until Mayday channel until Command Command advises dispatch the advises dispatch the Mayday is Mayday is terminated. terminated.

……COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RESPONSIBILITESCENTER RESPONSIBILITES

F) The Communications Center shall have an F) The Communications Center shall have an additional alarm and ambulance respond to the additional alarm and ambulance respond to the scene unless otherwise directed by Command. scene unless otherwise directed by Command. When radio traffic allows, dispatch shall inform When radio traffic allows, dispatch shall inform Command of the response. Command of the response.

G) All non-emergency activity in Communications G) All non-emergency activity in Communications Center shall be suspended and all fire channels Center shall be suspended and all fire channels shall be monitored closely for any transmissions shall be monitored closely for any transmissions from the missing firefighter(s).from the missing firefighter(s).

MAYDAY TERMINATIONMAYDAY TERMINATION

Mayday shall be terminated upon the direction Mayday shall be terminated upon the direction of Command.of Command.

Upon the direction of Command, the Upon the direction of Command, the Communications Center shall broadcast the Communications Center shall broadcast the termination of Mayday on all fire ground termination of Mayday on all fire ground channels. channels.

At the discretion of Command, units can be At the discretion of Command, units can be switched back to the original incident channel switched back to the original incident channel and PAR performed.and PAR performed.