TFD MAYDAY Policy

Overview of MAYDAY Policy

• This document outlines TFD's MAYDAY policy
• It details procedures for when a firefighter's life is in danger during an emergency
• Procedures include declaring a MAYDAY in various scenarios
  • Declaring a MAYDAY with no response from command
  • Declaring a MAYDAY when unable to communicate
  • Firefighters lost or trapped in a structure
• This policy applies to all TFD uniformed personnel
• It supersedes previous versions
• No forms are associated with it
• Refer to other TFD documents for related information
  • TFD Incident Management System Plan
  • TFD Policy 2019: Two In/Two Out
  • TFD Policy 2020: Personnel Accountability
  • TFD Policy 2022: Rapid Intervention Crew Operations
  • TFD Policy 5026: Safety at Violent Incidents

Responsibilities Defined

• The Deputy Chief, Operations Bureau (or designee) maintains the document
• The Incident Commander is in charge of:
  • Communication with lost/trapped firefighters
  • Initiating rescue efforts using RIC and/or Rescue Group
  • Assigning roles based on incident needs
  • Maintaining command presence throughout the MAYDAY event
• The Rescue Group Supervisor(assigned a TFD Chief Officer if available) manages resources, including RICs, for firefighter rescue

Responsibilities of Officers, Crews, and FCC

• TFD Company Officers and Team Leaders immediately report missing personnel
• The Incident Safety Officer is in charge of:
  • Assessing hazardous situations
  • Ensuring personnel safety
  • Preventing unsafe acts
  • Monitoring channels for MAYDAY transmissions
• Rapid Intervention Crews (RIC) must be ready to find/rescue firefighters
• The Rescue Group locates/removes endangered personnel as directed
• FCC personnel responsibilities encompass:
  • Monitoring communications channels
  • Notifying personnel of a MAYDAY
  • Dispatching resources as requested
• TFD firefighters must:
  • Acknowledge when they have limitations/are endangered
  • Declare a MAYDAY when endangered
  • Know what to do when lost or trapped
  • Take steps to assist with their rescue

Definitions

• Alert tones: Three 1,000-cycle tones via Fire Communications radio
• Chief Officer: Fire Chief, Deputy/Assistant Fire Chiefs, and Battalion Chiefs
• Company Officer/Team Leader: Person in charge of a company/team
• Direct Channel: 800 MHz radio channel bypassing repeaters
  • It allows direct communication without FCC monitoring or emergency button use
• Emergency Button: Orange button on 800 MHz radios which
  • When pressed, it shifts to Emergency Channel 16
  • It sends a TFD Fire Communications Center notification
  • It is not functional on a direct channel
• Endangered: Firefighter feels life is in danger during TFD operation
• FCC: Fire Communications Center
• Group: Operational level managing a function (e.g., Rescue, Ventilation)
• ISO: Incident Safety Officer
• Lost/trapped firefighter: Individual without visual, audible, physical, or electronic communication in a hazardous area
• MAYDAY: Call for help when lost, trapped, or injured
• PASS: Personal alert safety system
• Personnel Accountability Report (PAR): Roll call to confirm personnel and accountability
• PPE: Personal protective equipment
• Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC): Standby rescue team
• Rescue Group: Works with RIC for additional search and rescue
• SCBA: Self-contained breathing apparatus
• Team: Two+ people assigned a task in communication, coordinating and supporting each other

Guidelines and Rules

• The policy aims to ensure that an endangered firefighter's call is promptly received and acted upon
• A crew member in a hazardous area without communication is assumed lost/trapped
• Upon a lost/trapped firefighter report, the Incident Commander takes action
  • Directs FCC to transmit tones and announce MAYDAY on tactical channel and Channel 16
  • Calls for resources, PAR, and launches RIC
  • Assigns a Rescue Group Supervisor and maintains fire attack
  • Adjusts strategies to support rescue
• TFD personnel must stay with assigned tasks
• The RIC leader and ISO must monitor designated channels for MAYDAY transmissions
• FCC personnel must monitor tactical channel and Channel 16 continuously

Declaring a MAYDAY

• Firefighters need to proactively announce an emergency before SCBA exhaustion or incapacitation
• Declare a MAYDAY for a life-threatening emergency in this order of priority:
  • Tactical channel
  • Emergency button (Channel 16)
  • Radio off, then on
  • Direct Channel 15
• Direct Channels are not monitored by the FCC, cannot be scanned and do not allow use of the emergency button
• The emergency button selects Channel 16, turning the radio off and on is required to access other channels
• Situations for MAYDAY include:
  • Injury
  • Being Trapped
  • Disorientation/Lost
  • SCBA Malfunctions
  • Dangerously low air supply
  • Compromised PPE

Procedures After MAYDAY Declared

• Company Officers/Team Leaders account for personnel and expect a PAR
• A PAR contains:
  • Who: Radio designator and names
  • What: Current assignment
  • Where: Location
• TFD personnel on scene must be ready to change strategy/tactics for rescue
• Incident Command organizes communications in one of three ways:
  • Run both incidents on the same channel originally assigned
  • Move all other personnel to a channel designated by the FCC
  • Have the firefighter declaring the MAYDAY switch to emergency channel 16
• Rescuers stay alert and carry out Incident Commander's orders
• The Incident Commander may order a roll call if there is:
  • Lost/trapped firefighter
  • Change in strategy
  • Withdraw from a building
  • Catastrophic event
  • Any time the Incident Commander feels it is necessary
• Alert tones and an announcement precede the order to abandon a building

Actions when Declaring MAYDAY

• Declare MAYDAY on the tactical channel with as much "who, what, where" info as possible
• Consider radio needs, battery life, and noise when using a PASS device
• Follow procedures in Section 8.0
• FCC personnel notify on-scene personnel of rescue efforts
  • Transmit alert tones
  • Announce MAYDAY on the tactical channel

Actions When No Response Received

• If no response from Command on the tactical channel:
  • Activate the Emergency Button for Channel 16 and transmit MAYDAY
• If FCC does not respond to MAYDAY:
  • Transmit “who, what, where” information
  • Reposition and repeat MAYDAY with same information
• If still no response, switch to Direct Channel 15, turning the radio off then on, and repeat MAYDAY
• Once the MAYDAY transmission is acknowledged, provide as much information about who, what and where
• Exiting the building and reporting to the command post is a last resort
• FCC personnel:
  • Transmit alert tones
  • Announce the MAYDAY on specified channels
  • Repeat MAYDAY information to the Incident Commander and firefighters
  • Receive acknowledgment from Command

Procedures for Lost or Trapped Firefighters

• Use radio to request a MAYDAY alerting others, searching for a way to safety
• The channel priority to declare a MAYDAY is: The Tactical Channel, the Emergency Button (Ch. 16) and the Direct Channel 15
• Once the Emergency Button has been activated, turn the radio OFF then ON to access Direct Channel 15
• Manually activate the PASS device
• Relay Command information on whereabouts:
  • Building description
  • Sounds/visuals of nearby operations
  • Information to help rescuers
• If in a crew, maintain the "buddy system"
• Use a hoseline and couplings to find the exit direction
• Locate unlocked/open doors, then windows
• Get to a window and signal rescuers
• Reach an exterior wall, doorway, or hallway
• Consider hallways if exterior walls are inaccesible
• Find a safe location for protection from fire
• Inform the Incident Commander of the safe location, if possible
• Signal rescue teams by turning lights off and on, If possible
• Control emotions and breathing rate
• Conserve SCBA air by limiting physical activity and talking
• Begin filter breathing, if required
• Lie horizontally to maximize the PASS device sound
• Direct flashlight beam towards the ceiling