Lost, Missing or Trapped Firefighters PDF

LOST, MISSING OR TRAPPED FIREFIGHTER PURPOSE: To alert the Incident Commander (IC) when a firefighter is lost, trapped or missing and expedite a search and rescue effort. POLICY: Firefighters who find themselves lost or trapped must immediately transmit "May-Day" over the tactical channel and then p...

LOST, MISSING OR TRAPPED FIREFIGHTER PURPOSE: To alert the Incident Commander (IC) when a firefighter is lost, trapped or missing and expedite a search and rescue effort. POLICY: Firefighters who find themselves lost or trapped must immediately transmit "May-Day" over the tactical channel and then press the emergency button which will transfer the radio to the Mayday channel while they continue attempting to find their way out. Notification must occur as soon as the firefighter THINKS he or she is in trouble. Lost or trapped firefighters must manually activate the PASS device on their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and the emergency radio button on their portable radio. Upon transmission of a "May-Day" the Incident Commander (IC) will immediately activate the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) or the Initial Rapid Intervention Team (IRIT) to perform search and rescue operation. RESPONSIBILITY: A. It is the responsibility of the Fire Department Safety Officer (FDSO) to review and update this policy. B. It is the responsibility of every member of the Fire-Rescue Department to be familiar with and follow the procedures set within this policy. PROCEDURE: 1. Emergency Communications A. The radio transmission "May-Day” followed by depressing the Emergency Button. will be used by a lost or trapped firefighter in trouble and needing rescue. These transmissions are to be used with discretion and reserved only to report lost, trapped or missing firefighters. B. The radio transmission “Emergency Traffic” should be used where immediate communication is necessary to protect life or prevent injury (i.e., communication with lost or trapped firefighters, possible building collapse, etc.). C. Any report of “May-Day” will receive priority radio traffic. Upon pressing the Emergency Button the radio will be transferred and locked on Mayday channel. All communication on the Mayday will be directed toward search and rescue efforts. All other communication (i.e., fire suppression) will remain on the tactical channel unless another channel is ordered by the Incident Commander. Edited: 10/21/10 D. When a firefighter is declared lost, trapped or missing, the Alarm Office will sound a tone on all channels and advise all personnel we have a “May-Day” for a lost, trapped or missing firefighter. E. All non-emergency activity in the Alarm Office will be suspended and all channels will be monitored closely for any transmission from the firefighters in trouble. If a missing firefighter comes up on a channel other than the Mayday channel, the dispatcher will maintain communication with that firefighter and request that he press the emergency button. The Incident Commander (IC) will be advised of what channel the missing firefighter is on and determine how communication will continue with the missing firefighter. It is essential that once communication has been established, that it not be lost. F. The Alarm Office will automatically dispatch another building assignment and the EMS Battalion Captain (Car 74) on a report of a lost, trapped or missing firefighter. G. The Fire Central Information Office (FCIO) will notify the Fire Chief, the Deputy Chief of Operations, and the Assistant Chief of the Emergency Response Division (ERD), the Public Information Officer (PIO), and the Fire Department Safety Officer (FDSO). II. Incident Commander (IC) A. The IC will implement a RIT (may initially use an IRIT until the arrival of a RIT) at all emergency incidents where firefighters are subject to hazards. At complex incidents, consider implementing more than one RIT and placing them at strategic locations or increasing the number of RIT members. B. Immediately after a report of a “May-Day” the IC will send the RIT to the most appropriate location (typically the last reported work area) to initiate search and rescue efforts. Consider crews in the immediate vicinity to assist RIT. The importance of crews working together and the IC knowing the location of where the crews are working cannot be over emphasized. Additional RIT(s) should be assigned to protect rescue crews. C. The Technical Rescue Team (TRT) and other specialized equipment should be dispatched at structural collapses with trapped firefighters. TRT can provide collapse shoring equipment along with supplied air in the event an airline could be extended to those trapped. The IC will need to consider staging for these additional units. D. Adjust fire ground strategies to a priority search and rescue effort. E. Initiate a Personal Accountability Report (PAR). An absent member of any crew will be assumed lost or trapped in the hazard zone until otherwise determined safe. Edited: 10/21/10 F. Do not abandon firefighting positions. The IC and crews should take aggressive measures to protect lost, trapped or missing firefighters from the effects of the fire. Efforts should be concentrated on keeping the fire out of the rescue area and providing appropriate ventilation and lighting. G. Strong supervision and control will be required of all officers. Firefighters in this situation will tend to want to freelance or take higher risk. Crowd control of our own non-essential personnel may be required. H. Assign a safety officer to rescue operations. A safety officer in the affected area will help control risk taking. I. The IC at a minimum must expand the Incident Command System (ICS) to include a Search and Rescue branch. This branch will include the units required for the search and rescue of the lost, trapped or missing firefighter, the RIT (or IRIT) assigned, plus a stand-by Rescue ready to treat any rescued individuals. III. Company Officer A. Company Officers who are unable to locate firefighters assigned to them, must immediately use “May-Day” to notify command and all personnel operating on the fire ground, who is missing, last known location, and actions being taken. B. When assigned RIT (or IRIT) duties, be familiar with and follow guidelines established in RIT POLICY (EOM, Article 1, Section 4) IV. Lost or Trapped Firefighter A. Firefighters must not delay reporting to the IC if they become lost, trapped or in need of assistance (MAYDAY). Company Officers must also not delay the reporting of lost firefighters or inability to complete accountability reports. B. Lost firefighters should give the IC information as to who they are, how many firefighters need assistance, where they think they are, description of surroundings and nearby activities (i.e., noises from ventilation activities or hose lines etc.), or any other information that might direct rescue crews to their location. If possible, trapped firefighters should include their level of entrapment (i.e., lightly entangled in wires or heavily trapped by timbers etc.). C. On the portable radio, activate emergency button which will transfer you to the Mayday channel. (The emergency button will not work in “Talk About”). Any other means of communication such as a telephone in a room, etc. could be used to call FCIO (305-579-6245) or the Alarm Office (911), (305-579-6275). Edited: 10/21/10 D. Manually activate PASS device on SCBA. E. A lost firefighter should always attempt to get out of the building by whatever means possible. Where doors, windows, or other egress is not available, firefighters should attempt to reach an exterior wall. Once at the wall he/she will be able to search for windows, doorways and hallways that generally lead to the outside. Rescuers should first search hallways, around walls, and around windows and doors, before sweeping large interior areas. For this reason, it is imperative that firefighters make every possible effort to reach an exterior wall. Getting to one of these areas increases chances of being rescued early. These actions also provide predictable activities that will aid rescuers. F. Stay calm and conserve air. A conscious effort must be made to control breathing. G. Practice basic survival skills. Edited: 10/21/10