Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Standard Operating 1. Guidelines Subject: “May-Day” Incidents Adopted: December 17, 2007 Effective Date: December 17, 2007 Last Revised Date: November 2023 Revision Number: 5 Due for Revision Date: November 2026 # 1022.07.00 Table of Conte...

Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Standard Operating 1. Guidelines Subject: “May-Day” Incidents Adopted: December 17, 2007 Effective Date: December 17, 2007 Last Revised Date: November 2023 Revision Number: 5 Due for Revision Date: November 2026 # 1022.07.00 Table of Contents 1022.07.01 Purpose 1022.07.02 Scope 1022.07.03 Definitions 1022.07.04 Declaring the May-Day 1022.07.05 Command Responsibilities 1022.07.06 Emergency Personnel 1022.07.07 Termination of May-Day or Rescue Effort 1022.07.08 Post Incident 1022.07.01 Purpose To identify the roles and responsibilities of all the parties involved at an emergency incident where a “May- Day” has been transmitted. 1022.07.02 Scope This procedure is to be utilized by Department members any time a member is lost, missing, trapped or injured and in need of assistance at an incident in the Hot Zone. 1022.07.03     Definitions Definition of a Mayday Situation o Any situation where a firefighter is unable to safely exit the hazard zone, or any life-threatening event that cannot be resolved by that individual within 30 seconds or less. o All members are empowered to call a Mayday when the above condition(s) exists for either themselves or another member. This can be during response; on-scene of any type of incident or any time when a member believes they are in a life-threatening situation they are unable to resolve without assistance. Early identification of a Mayday situation is critical. The longer it takes to declare a Mayday situation the less likely a successful resolution is possible. Mayday – Term used to request priority radio traffic for all emergency transmissions when there is a life safety issue. Any member may use the term “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” to request such traffic. Red Alert-Term used to request priority radio traffic that could affect a life safety issue. Any member may use the term. EIB-Emergency Identification Button-Orange button on top of the radio. When activated sounds an alert in Lee Control and gives user radio preference when keyed up. When the EIB is activated an emergency tone is transmitted to all consoles in the Dispatch center, along with the numerical identification that is assigned to the radio. This audible signal will continue to alert Dispatch until it is either shut off by them or the source radio is reset. Should Dispatch receive an emergency activation from a portable radio EIB or hear a “May-Day” transmission at an incident where Command has been established, Dispatch will notify Command immediately. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ONCE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, IT NOT BE LOST! 1022.07.04      Declaring the May-Day A Mayday is initiated by any member communicating “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" followed immediately with "Who, What, Where". This declaration shall be repeated until an acknowledgement is received. Who, What, Where o Who is having the emergency? o What is the problem? o Where are you at? *Example: "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. Engine XX, firefighter I'm stuck in wires on division 2", If possible, the initiating member shall then attempt to activate the emergency button on the portable radio. o What does that do? Manual activation of the integrated P.A.S.S. device has been known to interfere with radio communications. Therefore, it is suggested that it be activated only when verbal communication is not possible, or at the direction of the I.C and/or other members directly involved in the attempt to rescue the Mayday member(s), Recall that the integrated P.A.S.S. device will sound automatically if the Mayday member(s) is motionless after 20-30 seconds. o Control emotional response to the situation... B.O.A. - Breath, Organize, Act o Early communication of Mayday situation utilizing the above standard o Utilize preparation and reaction skills (self-survival skills). NEVER GIVE UP! o Obtain/maintain radio communication with the I.C. and rescue crews. 1022.07.05 Command Responsibilities Incident Commander Responsibilities during a Mayday In the event of a Mayday, the on-scene Incident Commander (I.C.) shall have ultimate responsibility to manage the Mayday event. Upon becoming aware of the Mayday declaration, the I.C. shall:  Control emotional response to the situation...Breath, Organize, Act.  Immediately announce over the assigned fire ground radio channel “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC, EMERGENCY TRAFFIC CLEAR THIS CHANNEL FOR A MAYDAY”!  Immediately establish/maintain radio communication with Mayday member. o Ensure Who, What, Where o Coach the Mayday member(s) utilizing a strong, calm, cool, and collected command presence. Control tone, volume, and pitch of voice which will help reassure the Mayday firefighter(s)...your demeanor will be contagious.  Brief and deploy the IRIC or RIT.      Ensure additional alarms are dispatched. Additional Alarms should be assigned a new Tac Channel for travel/staging. Assign a second RIT team. Closely coordinate and control all operating crews and rescue operations. Monitor structural stability. Assign additional arriving chief officers to area of rescue efforts (as available) 1022.07.06 Emergency Personnel Operating Crews Responsibilities during a Mayday In the event of a Mayday, all crews operating on the scene shall immediately:  Control emotional response to the situation... Breath, Organize, Act...the Mayday firefighter(s) life depends heavily on everyone remaining calm, focused, and effectively engaged in the overall Incident Action Plan  Immediately establish “radio silence” unless you have "Urgent" or "Emergency" radio traffic that may/will directly affect the outcome of the rescue effort.  Remain on the assigned fire ground channel...DO NOT change channels unless otherwise directed by the IC  Immediately obtain a PAR for your crew and maintain crew accountability. Only report missing, injured, or ill members to the IC, no unnecessary "chatter."  Maintain currently assigned duties unless otherwise directed by the IC.  If your crew is nearby Mayday member(s), and your crew can safely, and without compromising the overall operation, effect or assist in the rescue of the Mayday member(s), you are expected to do so. *Note: You are required to keep the IC informed of all planned actions. NO FREELANCING! 1022.07.07 Termination of May-Day or Rescue Effort The tactical benchmark for the end point of a Mayday is "Mayday Terminated". The IC is the only member authorized to terminate a Mayday Operation and transmit the "Mayday Terminated" benchmark. The critical points that must be confirmed prior to giving the benchmark of "Mayday Terminated” are:  The member(s) that are experiencing the mayday situation are removed from the hazard zone.  All members involved in the rescue are accounted for and are out of the hazard zone.  All members working in all other areas of the scene are accounted for.  The IC has a PAR of all on-scene members. Termination of Rescue Effort: The IC must continually monitor and evaluate the degree of risk being encountered by rescue personnel. While every effort shall be made to rescue a fallen comrade, even at unusual or extraordinary risk, conditions may deteriorate to the point where a decision must be made to terminate a “Mayday” rescue effort. 1022.07.08 Post Incident Following all “Mayday” incidents or Rapid Intervention Team deployments at an incident, a formal Post Incident Analysis should be conducted to review, revise and/or update existing policies and procedures. Strong consideration should also be given to requesting assistance from a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) team to assist members with any emotional or psychological issues regarding the incident. Every effort shall be made to take care of our own.