Emergency Radio Procedures SOG

• This Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) provides general and emergency radio procedures for training or emergency incidents.
• It applies to all Emergency Operations personnel.
• Refer to Radio Communications (PPM FR-O-201) for more information.

800 MHz Radio Communications

• All radio transmissions shall be done with clear text and common terminology.
• No signals or codes shall be used except for security or confidentiality.
• Radio transmissions should follow the "military order model" to ensure the message is heard and understood.
• Unit IDs shall be verbalized as separate numbers to avoid confusion with other units that sound alike.
• Building sides and exposures shall be identified using phonetic spelling.
• Personnel should "echo back" fireground/tactical orders to ensure they are understood.
• Units should avoid interrupting ongoing communication, unless initiating Emergency Procedures.
• Interrupting units should be told to "stand-by" before the original communication continues.
• Radio discipline should be utilized during all IDLH incidents; avoid nonessential transmissions.
• Communicate clearly, control emotions, avoid unnecessary phrases, and think before keying the microphone.

Radio Procedures

• All personnel at an emergency scene must have a portable radio.
• Use the Mobile Data Computer (MDC) Center for “Responding," "Arrival," and "Available” or stat with the Communication Center on the appropriate TAC channel.
• Units going available on a move up, must verbally stat with the Communication Center.
• Units must also verbally stat with the Communication Center upon arrival in the move up zone and station.
• Personnel dispatched to non-emergency incidents shall remain on Firemain (TAC 1A) to monitor for emergency incidents.
• A unit assigned to a non-emergency incident can handle an emergency incident if they advise the Communication Center, who will then advise switching to the appropriate TAC channel.

Additional TAC Channels

• The Communication Center will advise on the radio channel to operate.
• The Incident Commander may request a separate tactical channel.
• 800 MHz radios have limited range in large reinforced structures.
• Radios not communicating inside a building should switch to a fireground simplex channel (TAC 14A, TAC 15A).
• Notify the Communication Center before switching to a fireground simplex channel (TAC 14A, TAC 15A).
• Fireground simplex channels (TAC 14A, TAC 15A) typically operate within a 1-mile radius.
• Request an additional TAC channel for Incident Management assignments.

Additional Alarms

• Units responding to additional alarms shall respond on their Battalion TAC channel and MDC's.

Benchmarks for Structure Fires

• "Primary Complete, All Clear" indicates the primary search is completed and no victims have been found.
• “Secondary Complete, All Clear” indicates the secondary search is completed and no victims have been found.
• “Water on the fire” indicates the company has found the seat of the fire and is applying water.
• “Fire under Control” indicates the Fire Attack company has confined the fire, eliminated further fire extension, and protected any threatened exposures.
• “Fire Out” indicates overhaul operations are complete.

Benchmarks for Medical Incidents

• "MCI level ____" indicates a Mass Casualty Incident.
• “Extrication in Progress” indicates that extrication activities have begun.
• “Extrication Complete” indicates that all patients have been removed from the vehicle and no extrication needs still exists.
• "Trauma Alert" indicates the need for a patient(s) to be transported to a Trauma Center.
• “Stroke Alert” indicates the need for a patient to be transported to designated hospital.
• “STEMI Alert” indicates the need for a patient to be transported to the hospital for cardiac treatment.
• “Med Alert” indicates a high probability of an infectious or contagious patient.

Mayday Terms

• “MAYDAY Firefighter(s) Located" indicates the mayday firefighter is located.
• “MAYDAY Firefighter ID Confirmed” indicates the mayday firefighter ID is confirmed.
• “MAYDAY Firefighter out” indicates the mayday firefighter is out.

Open Water and Dive Rescue Operations

• "Swimmer in the Water" and "Diver in the Water" indicate a swimmer/diver has entered the water; announce the total number.
• “Object located” or “3 pulls” indicates a victim/object located; use "3 pulls" for discreetness.
• “Object Out of the Water” indicates the victim is out of the water.
• "Rescue Mode" indicates there is a chance to save a life.
• “Recovery Mode” indicates there is no chance to save a life.
• "Swimmer Out of the Water" and "Diver Out of the Water" indicates a swimmer/diver has exited the water; announce the total number.
• "Swim Terminated" or "Dive Terminated" indicates the swim/dive operations have been terminated.

Arrival Report (CANS)

• The first unit arriving on scene shall give an Arrival Report, except for typical medical calls.
• The Arrival Report shall contain four basic components, CANS:
  • Conditions: Describe visible conditions.
  • Actions: State immediate actions to be performed.
  • Needs: List additional resources needed.
  • Statement of Incident Command: State the Incident Command name, location and mode.

Personnel Accountability Report

• Personnel Accountability Reports shall be followed in accordance with SOG 220-01 Personnel Accountability.

Progress Reports

• Progress reports are essential to incident management, effective decision making and revision of the IAP.
• Company Officers should provide timely Progress Reports to confirm progress and outcomes against objectives.
• Effective progress reports should be timely, complete, and concise, with “CAN” information.
• Progress reports will occur frequently early in incidents, typically every 5-10 minutes.
• Communicate changing conditions to the Incident Commander so strategies may be modified.
• The Communication Center will announce benchmarks every 10 minutes.

Emergency Radio Procedures

• Priority Traffic:
  • Trauma Hawk may call for “Priority Traffic” when immediate communication is required.
  • Once done, release it with “Priority Traffic, All Clear".
• Emergency Traffic:
  • Use “Emergency Traffic" for imminent danger, announced by the dispatcher.
  • Any company with immediate communication can request “Emergency Traffic".
  • The Communication Center uses Emergency Traffic to broadcast safety information.
  • If Emergency Traffic is advised, the Communication Center sounds alert tones and broadcasts for all units to stand-by.
  • Used to advise personnel of imminent danger when communicating an Exclusion Zone.
  • Once danger is cleared, release with “Emergency Traffic, All Clear”.
• Emergency Evacuation:
  • Use “Emergency Evacuation” to advise personnel of imminent danger requiring evacuation to a safe place.
  • The Communication Center will sound alert tones and advise to evacuate twice.
  • Units on scene blast air horns intermittently (1-10 seconds blowing and silence) for 50 seconds.
  • Once clear, release with “Emergency Evacuation, All Clear”.

Code 10-24

• The code 10-24 is Law Enforcement's code for help, for Fire Rescue personnel in a life-threatening situation needing immediate Law Enforcement assistance.
• Do not ask the unit for a reference, nor should radio alert tones be activated.
• Emergency Traffic shall be in effect until Law Enforcement arrives, and/or the requesting unit advises the scene is secure.

Alert Tones and Channel Marker

• Sound radio alert tones only for Emergency Traffic, Mayday, and Emergency Evacuation.
• The Communication Center must initiate the channel marker upon alert tone activation.
• The channel marker indicates an emergency is in progress; minimize radio transmissions.

Multi-Jurisdictional Incidents

• During a multi-jurisdictional incident, the Incident Commander shall verify that other agencies have direct communications with Incident Command. This can be accomplished by:
  • Compatible Radio Systems to utilize incoming units.
  • Incident Command Post Representative for incompatible radio systems.
  • Disseminate Radios for mutual aid companies.
  • Merge Companies mutual aid companies.

VHF Radio Procedures

• In VHF radio communications, hail the other agency by using their name three times, then Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR).
• Each radio transmission shall end with "over."
• Terminate communications by stating the agency name followed by “out.”

USCG Response

• Use Channel 16.
• PBCFR will contact the Communications Center to contact a Bridge-tender to hold a bridge for emergency vehicles.
• VHF Radios can contact the Bridge-tender holding a drawbridge for emergencies using VHF Channel 9 - “Hailing Channel.” Hail the Bridge - Tender twice, identify agency name and request, finalized with “Over.”