Firefighter Emergency Response Guide

Introduction

• Instructions are provided for Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel regarding immediate assistance requests
• Instructions are provided for how to manage resources during a firefighter emergency
• Fire grounds are fast paced and dynamic setting where unexpected circumstances arise
• A difficult situation occurs when a firefighter's life is at risk, and help is requested immediately
• Calls for help must be made quickly so resources for rescue can be assigned without delay
• The included policy aims to boost effectiveness of everyone involved in a firefighter emergency
• Instructions are for all sworn personnel, including on-call firefighters
• The Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations is in charge of content, revisions, and reviews of this document
• Refer to Appendix I for Firefighter Emergency Communications Table I
• Refer to Appendix II for Firefighter Emergency Communications Table II
• Refer to Appendix III for definitions

Responsibilities

• The responsibilities of all department personnel include initiation of a firefighter emergency
• To initiate a firefighter emergency, transmit "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" on the primary tactical channel (TAC)
• This is done when one's own life, or the life of a fellow firefighter is in danger
• Personnel should be ready to assist with rapid intervention tasks as assigned
• Clear any accidental emergency alert button (EAB)/E-Trigger activations from their radio right away
• Personnel should make proper notifications after clearing accidental emergency alert button (EAB)/E-trigger activations

Responsibilities of Operations Section Chiefs, Supervisors and Officers

• Shall immediately notify the incident commander (IC) of any reported firefighter emergency
• Shall provide the IC with regular updates that may affect plans, priorities and objectives
• Must adjust tactical objectives for effective rescue of lost, injured, separated, trapped, or down members
• When ordered, give an accurate personnel accountability report (PAR) of their company or resources
• Be ready to assist with rapid intervention operations; take initiative to perform an immediate rescue
• Company officers must engage, and report (TIER) actions to the IC

Responsibilities of Incident Commanders

• Clear radio traffic on command/tactical frequencies after a MAYDAY call by using an alert on the TAC channel
• Communicate that there is a MAYDAY in progress and the channel must be cleared for the member with the MAYDAY
• Immediately implement a rapid intervention operation after a MAYDAY call is received
• Request more alarms and resources to manage the incident
• Adapt the Incident Action Plan (IAP) to include updated objectives, organization, and resource status
• Provide accountability of resources and personnel, according to department policies

Policy

• Any member at an incident must call MAYDAY when they know a life is in danger
• A TAC radio must be used in the following situations that can be recalled using the LIST-30 mnemonic:
• Lost and/or separated from crew
• Limited visibility
• No physical contact with hose line, lifeline, and/or partner
• Injured and/or disabled
• Injury results in reduced ability to exit safely
• Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) malfunction or low air
• SCBA malfunction or low air alarm, unable to reach an exit safely
• Trapped, pinned, and/or entangled in debris
• Mobility impaired by heat, collapse, debris, or blocked exits
• Any life-threatening condition that cannot be resolved in 30 seconds
• The 30-second rule serves as self-rescue reminder and to gather information

Procedures

• If confronted with a LIST-30 situation, key the mic on the assigned TAC channel and state:
• "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Name, and Unit assigned,” such as "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is FF Smith on Engine 1"
• All radio traffic must stop after a MAYDAY call is heard
• The Incident Commanders must:
• Send an alert tone to all resources on the TAC radio
• Notify all Command and Tactical frequencies of the firefighter emergency in progress and maintain radio discipline
• Key the mic to open the channel, then depress the orange E-Trigger button while keying the mic to generate an alert tone
• The distressed firefighter must give the following information:
• Who is calling MAYDAY? "This is FF Smith on Engine 1"
• What is the emergency? "I'm lost"
• Where is the firefighter located? "I think I am on the first floor"
• Include any other effective information such as "I took the 300' transverse line off Engine 3", "I was going up the staircase", "It feels like a storage room"
• If unsuccessful in contacting the IC, the firefighter shall:
• Key the mic on the assigned TAC channel
• Repeat "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Name, and Unit."
• If the second attempt to contact the IC is unsuccessful, the firefighter shall immediately activate the EAB/E-Trigger
• Depress and hold EAB/E-Trigger on the radio for two seconds
• Listen for the Hi-Lo warble tone and repeat, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is FF Smith on Engine 1."
• Depress the orange button on the radio for two seconds to activate the EAB/E-Trigger, which is confirmed by a momentary hi-lo tone
• The EAB/E-Trigger activated radio will send a radio identification (ID) signal until the radio is reset

EAB/E-Trigger activation with no verbal transmission

• The IC must find the individual whose EAB/E-Trigger is activated without verbal contact by:
• Finding the individual using the on-screen radio identification and PAR
• Simultaneously using the Command and TAC radios to transmit "Emergency Traffic" to clear radio traffic
• The transmission must include the rank and equipment assignment
• Request information from the individual responsible for the EAB/E-Trigger activation
• If the EAB/E-Trigger activation is due to a firefighter emergency request, the IC shall follow the procedures in IV. Procedures A. 3. of this policy
• If the EAB/E-Trigger activation is accidental, the individual whose radio was activated shall notify the IC immediately. Once the accidental activation is cleared, the radio shall be reset
• The IC shall advise all personnel by releasing the "Emergency Traffic" declaration and saying, "All clear, resume normal radio traffic."

How to Command a Firefighter Emergency

• After a MAYDAY call or EAB/E-Trigger activation, it is the IC's responsibility to command the firefighter emergency
• The IC/rapid intervention group supervisor (RIGS) must document the firefighter's name or radio ID from the radio screen
• The term “EMERGENCY" and the firefighter's name or radio ID indicates who activated the EAB/E-Trigger
• The IC transmits Who, What, and Where information back to the distressed firefighter to confirm the information was heard
• The IC instructs the firefighter to perform self-survival procedures of GRAB LIVES
• The Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) deployment is communicated
• The IC uses Command and TAC radios simultaneously to transmit an "Emergency Traffic” declaration that includes rank, equipment assignment, problem, and location
• The IC requests additional resources from the LA Communications Center (LACC)
• The IC shall notify all units to continue their tactical assignments, keep the channel clear for the IC, RIC & firefighter
• The IC directs officers to use the assigned command channel for all radio traffic
• Extreme caution must be used when trying to switch units in an IDLH environment
• The risk of switching to the wrong channel and losing contact is greatly increased
• The IC should consider expanding the Incident Command System to include the firefighter emergency
• The RIC/RIGS should communicate and coordinate rescue efforts with the distressed firefighter
• The IC must update the incident IAP to include firefighter emergency operations
• The RIC/RIGS must attempt to contact the supervisor of the firefighter and find their last known location
• If that is unsuccessful, the next ranking person should be contacted
• The RIC/RIGS should coordinate rescue efforts while keeping the IC updated with status reports
• Companies not performing critical tasks should be made available to assist the RIC
• Resources must maintain command and communication with their supervisor
• When entering an area to be searched, the RIC must work in teams of two
• RIC members should be silent and listen for PASS devices, other sounds
• Trapped firefighters can be located by rescuers listening

Continued actions upon rescue

• The Incident Commander must request a PAR and ensure all incident units confirm their personnel count
• IC reconciles PAR reports to ensure all incident personnel are accounted for
• After the firefighter is rescued, the IC must inform the LACC and all personnel via an “all clear” message

Firefighter Emergency Communications

• It is noted that the following tables are examples of the typical communication flow, but can vary depending on the situation
• Situations where communication is limited due to injury or equipment malfunction may vary from the below tables

Appendix I - Summary

• The Appendix includes Firefighter Emergency communications for a variety of positions
• Also includes the radio band to use and notes for each transmission
• This chart assumes communications are available by the firefighter or personnel involved in the situation

Appendix II - Summary

• The second appendix includes Firefighter Communications based on Structure Fire
• Includes communications for the pre-mayday event and during mayday operation
• All tactical channels should be monitored at the ICP for possible secondary MAYDAY broadcasts

Appendix III - Definitions

• Firefighter emergency: A situation where a firefighter's life is in danger and immediate aid is needed
• This term is used post "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.”
• MAYDAY: A term used on the radio to alert of a life-threatening situation and need for assistance
• It is broadcast three times, “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,” and includes identification/situation
• EAB (Emergency alert button) OR E-trigger: An orange button on radios that locks the mic open and transmits radio identification
• If an E-trigger activates on a LAC plan, the radio remains on its parked frequency; if on a partner agency’s frequency, it may default to a “Firefighter Emergency” channel
• Alert/Warble Tone: Generated bypassing the E-Trigger, and only sends an alert tone on the radio
• Rapid intervention crew (RIC): A group of at least two personnel with a supervisor
• Ready for rapid entry, search, and rescue during an emergency
• The RIC should have a designated leader and be fully equipped for hazards
• Maintain awareness of members, location, function, and time of entry. RIC should remain near the command post
• Rapid intervention group supervisor (RIGS): A Chief or company officer, who coordinates operations of large RIC teams
• The RIGS reports to the IC and monitors communications of the RIC team
• GRAB LIVES: Mnemonic used to aid in self-rescue, assist in survivability, and help the IC, RIC, and adjacent companies
• G - Gauge (Check air gauge)
• R - Radio (Radio for assistance)
• A - Activate (Activate the PASS device)
• B - Breathing (Conserve air by controlling breathing)
• L - Low (Stay as low as possible)
• I - Illuminate (Turn on lights)
• V - Volume (Make loud noise)
• E - Exit (Find an exit)
• S - Shield (Protect your airway)
• LIST-30: Mnemonic for when to call MAYDAY: Lost, Injured, SCBA malfunction, Trapped
• Admin channel: For communication between the IC and the LACC
• Command channel: For communication among ICS personnel
• Primary tactical channel: For informal communication; the channel for MAYDAY calls
• Secondary tactical channel: Used at the IC's discretion with extreme caution
• LAC-RIC channel: Only for large RIC teams on 2nd alarms and greater; command post support must monitor