Hoffman Estates Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS – 002 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS – 002 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: MAYDAY and Emergency Traffic/Evacuation Revision: 3 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2026 Fire Chief 3 PURPOSE The term “MAYDAY” will initiate an emergency alert which will provide for notification of all personnel working on an emergency scene that rescue efforts are needed for a firefighter in danger. Emergency Traffic is to assure a quick and uninterrupted communication to the Incident Commander or Dispatch. DEFINITIONS “MAYDAY” – to be used when a firefighter(s) is in danger, such as:  Injured and need of immediate assistance  Lost or missing  Trapped  Out of SCBA air  Any circumstance that can seriously injure firefighter(s)  To be used by any firefighter who locates another firefighter(s) or who determines that he/she/they would be in any of the above noted situations. “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC” – to be used to alert all others that a perilous or dangerous situation is imminent or has already occurred, such as:  Structural collapse without entrapped firefighters  Burst hose line  Rapidly changing fire or incident conditions  Evacuation of the structure or area followed by five air horn blasts  Change from Offensive to Defensive Operations PROCEDURE “MAYDAY” The term “MAYDAY” will be utilized by any unit or firefighter encountering a dangerous or immediately perilous situation to a firefighter(s). This communication may be repeated two or three times over the radio. This transmission will receive the highest communications priority from Incident Command (IC), Northwest Central Dispatch (NWCD), and “ALL FIREGROUND 1 PERSONNEL OPERATING ON ANY RADIO FREQUENCY” At the transmission of “MAYDAY” all units on the radio frequency are to cease transmissions. The frequency absolutely belongs to the individual giving the “MAYDAY” call. The Incident Commander should consider moving all other radio traffic to an alternate frequency. EXAMPLE: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”. The IC will transmit “MAYDAY” and “Unit with MAYDAY go ahead”. It may not be feasible for the calling unit to allow time for the IC to return the message. The IC or NWCD will repeat the MAYDAY message. The firefighter should also push the emergency button on the radio. Once the Mayday is acknowledged the firefighter should activate the PASS device. This device may need to be silenced at times to not interfere with communications. The firefighter should draw attention to their location by any means possible. “MAYDAY” can only be terminated by the IC. “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC” The term "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" will be utilized by any unit encountering an immediately perilous situation and will receive a high communications priority from Incident Command (IC), Northwest Central Dispatch (NWCD), and “ALL FIREGROUND PERSONNEL OPERATING ON ANY RADIO FREQUENCY”. Units may initiate emergency communications by verbally contacting the IC or NWCD. EXAMPLE: Command from Engine 22 "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC", IC will transmit "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" and "Unit with EMERGENCY TRAFFIC go ahead". IC or NWCD will then repeat the emergency traffic message. At the transmission of "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" all units on the frequency are to cease transmissions. The frequency absolutely belongs to any unit giving the "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" call. “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" can only be terminated by IC. STRUCTURE EVACUATION GUIDELINE The signal for immediate evacuation of a structure is five (5) consecutive blasts of the air horns of all the apparatus on the scene. In addition to this guideline, local alerting guidelines may also be deployed. EXCEPTIONS Where MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference or MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements are in conflict with HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines, HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines will take precedence. REFERENCES MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements MABAS Operating Guideline #212 2 End of Document 3