Mayday Procedure - Bridgeport Fire Department PDF

Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY 1. Purpose 1.1. 2. Definitions 2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 3. ECC - Emergency Communications Center, AKA Bridgeport LIP - Location, Identification, Problem – The three items all member...

Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY 1. Purpose 1.1. 2. Definitions 2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 3. ECC - Emergency Communications Center, AKA Bridgeport LIP - Location, Identification, Problem – The three items all members need to report when transmitting a MAYDAY. Radio Discipline – Communications on the fire ground should always be thought out, brief and to the point. During MAYDAY operations, radio discipline is a MUST. Limit all communications to those that will have a direct impact on rescue and suppression activities only. Responsibility 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 4. To establish a standard operating procedure for sending a radio message that indicates a life-threatening situation. This procedure is applicable to all members of the Bridgeport Fire Department operating at the scene of an emergency, and supervisors and operators of the Emergency Communications Center. All Members – Shall transmit a MAYDAY when they are lost, disoriented, running low on air, in a life-threatening situation and unable to escape, think they are having a problem, or when they witness another firefighter in distress. All Members – Shall acknowledge the MAYDAY, if the IC or ECC does not acknowledge it and then they shall report it to the IC. IC – Acknowledge the MAYDAY using procedures outlined below. ECC - Acknowledge the MAYDAY using procedures outlined below. Procedure 4.1. Whenever any member is in a situation where they are lost, disoriented, running low on air, in a life-threatening situation and unable to escape, or they think they are having a problem, they shall transmit a MAYDAY. Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY 4.2. 4.3. 4.4. 4.5. 4.6. 4.7. 4.8. Whenever any member sees another firefighter or firefighters in a situation where they are lost, disoriented, running low on air, in a life-threatening situation and unable to escape, or they think they are having a problem, they shall transmit a MAYDAY. Whenever the term MAYDAY is transmitted, all other communications on that frequency shall cease. The individual calling the MAYDAY shall repeat the word MAYDAY three times. 4.4.1. Note: The “Firefighter Down” button, on the radio, and PASS Device shall only be used when the distressed member is unable to communicate. 4.4.2. Whenever possible, the Officer or firefighter transmitting the MAYDAY message shall give their LIP - Location, Identification, and the Problem. If calling a MAYDAY for someone else, give the location of the firefighter or Company in distress and particulars concerning the emergency. 4.4.3. Example: • “MAYDAY”, “MAYDAY”, “MAYDAY”, Engine 1, (FF Name), trapped on #2 floor, running out of air. The Incident Commander shall acknowledge the MAYDAY on the fire ground/operational channel by repeating the location of the distressed firefighter, unit assignment, and the nature of the emergency, activate the RIT Team and advise the ECC on the Dispatch channel that a MAYDAY has been transmitted. When the IC reports a MAYDAY to the ECC, the ECC MAY establish “emergency traffic” by sounding the MAYDAY TONE for FIVE (5) FULL SECONDS over both the dispatch channel and the assigned fire ground/operational channel WHEN REQUESTED BY THE INCIDENT COMMANDER. All members shall maintain radio discipline for the duration of the MAYDAY operation. If the IC receives the “Firefighter Down” button tone or identifier, they shall confirm information with ECC. If the MAYDAY has not been acknowledged by the IC, any member, hearing the MAYDAY, shall acknowledge it by repeating the LIP - the location of the Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY distressed firefighter, unit assignment, and the nature of the emergency and then they shall report it to the IC. 4.9. If the MAYDAY has not been acknowledged by the IC, but is heard by ECC personnel, or they receive a tone from the “Firefighter Down” button, they shall IMMEDIATELY establish “emergency traffic” by sounding the MAYDAY TONE for FIVE (5) FULL SECONDS over both the Dispatch & Fireground/operational channels. ECC SHALL contact the IC on the DISPATCH channel and inform them that a MAYDAY has been received on the fireground/ operational channel and provide the IC of LIP- the locations of the distressed firefighter, firefighter name / assignment and nature of the emergency. 4.9.1. Example: • Distressed firefighter: “MAYDAY”, “MAYDAY”, “MAYDAY”, Engine 1, (FF Name), trapped on #2 floor, running out of air. If unable to communicate activate “Firefighter Down” button and PASS Device o If the IC does not acknowledge the MAYDAY, any member hearing it shall acknowledge it and shall report it to the IC. • Bridgeport on Dispatch, Fireground/Operational Channel: Shall broadcast a MAYDAY tone for 5 seconds. • Bridgeport on Dispatch: “Bridgeport to Command, we have received a MAYDAY on the Fireground/Operational Channel from Engine 7, (FF Name), repeats location and problem and immediately dispatches an additional alarm to the incident. 4.10. The IC should consider appointing a rescue group Officer to coordinate the search and rescue effort. The rescue group officer should be a Chief Officer, but in the absence of an additional Chief Officer on the scene, an experienced Company Officer may be used. 4.11. Upon the confirmation of a MAYDAY and activation of the RIT, ECC shall automatically dispatch an additional alarm (2 Engine Companies, 1 Ladder Company), to assist with RIT duties on the fire ground, and additional EMS units. 4.12. Whenever a MAYDAY is transmitted, PASS Device or “Firefighter Down” button is activated and the sender cannot be identified, the IC shall conduct a Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY PAR (Personnel Accountability Report) of Companies operating at the scene. A “PAR”, is an announcement from the Officer in charge of a crew, given only when all the members assigned to that Officer have been located and accounted for. 4.12.1. Example: • A PAR is transmitted. • Company is contacted: “Rescue 5, Are you PAR.” • Company’s response: “Rescue 5 is PAR.” 4.13. ECC shall advise all stations and apparatus that until an all-clear message has been received from the IC regarding the MAYDAY, all calls shall be dispatched over the voice alarm and a channel other than the MAYDAY channel. For example, ECC may utilize a TAC Channel to dispatch additional runs and remain on that channel until such time as an all clear is received. The TAC channels could be used as it is part of the same Trunked Radio System the Dispatch channel is on. 4.14. At the point in the incident that the rescue operation is complete, or the IC feels that the situation has been stabilized, the IC shall transmit an “All Clear” to ECC to bring the MAYDAY operation to a close. All fire ground communications between the IC and fire units shall be on the fire ground/operational channel. All communications between the IC and the ECC shall be done on the dispatch channel. 4.14.1. Example: • RIT: “Command, RIT” • IC: “RIT, Command, Go ahead” • RIT: “Command, we have recovered the member who issued the MAYDAY. Member is being removed now. The MAYDAY is ALL CLEAR” • IC: “RIT, Command received, member is recovered, MAYDAY is All Clear” • IC: “Bridgeport, Command” • Bridgeport: “Command, Bridgeport is on” • IC: “Bridgeport, the member has been recovered, and announces that the MAYDAY is ALL CLEAR” Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY • Bridgeport: “All Companies operating at the Main Street Assignment, the MAYDAY is ALL CLEAR" 4.15. The IC shall conduct a PAR of Companies, operating at the scene. 4.16. Refer to SOP #501 Rapid Intervention Team. 4.17. MAYDAY Procedure Testing: 4.17.1. Every 1st day and 1st night on, a MAYDAY radio test shall be conducted at 0830 and 2000 hours. 4.17.2. The procedure shall be tested in the following manner. • Immediately following the completion of the radio test and evacuation tone test, ECC shall contact, via the red phone, the company and Battalion Chief scheduled to do the MAYDAY test that day. In order for the Battalion Chief to be involved in the test, they must be in close proximity to the Company being tested and have two portable radios (1 on the dispatch channel and one on the designated fire ground channel). Firefighters conducting the MAYDAY test must be wearing SCBA and be on breathing air to conduct the test. All communications between the IC and the member performing the MAYDAY test must be done on the assigned fire ground channel with a VRX activated. All communications between the Chief’s Aide and the ECC must be done on the dispatch channel. The IC shall be responsible for all communications on the fire ground channel. • The test shall follow this example: o Battalion-1-Aide on dispatch channel: “Bridgeport, Engine 7 and Battalion 1 are ready for the MAYDAY test, this is only a test”. o Bridgeport on Dispatch: “Engine 7; go ahead with the MAYDAY test.” o E-7 on Fire Ground Channel: “MAYDAY”, “MAYDAY”, “MAYDAY”, Engine 7, (FF Name), gives location and problem. o Command on Fire Ground / Operational Channel: “Command copies MAYDAY,” Engine 7, (FF Name) confirms location and problem. Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY o Battalion-1-Aide on Dispatch Channel: Bridgeport, we have a MAYDAY, Engine 7, (FF Name) repeats location and problem, RIT has been activated. o Bridgeport on Dispatch Channel: Copies, “MAYDAY activation, Engine 7, (FF Name), repeats location and problem and immediately dispatches an additional alarm to the incident. o Command on Fire Ground / Operational Channel: Notifies all Companies that there is a MAYDAY on the fireground and to maintain radio discipline until MAYDAY is complete. o Bridgeport on Dispatch/Fireground or Operational Channel: (WHEN REQUESTED BY THE IC) Activates MAYDAY tone for 5 seconds. o E-7: E-7 activates PASS device and “Firefighter Down” button. o Battalion-1-Aide on Dispatch Channel: Acknowledges receipt of “Firefighter Down” tones. o Bridgeport on Dispatch Channel: Acknowledges activation of “Firefighter Down” button and confirms the radio identifier. o Battalion-1-Aide on Dispatch: Terminates Test 4.17.3. Company Officers shall assign a different member to do the MAYDAY test each time, thereby assuring that each member, including the Company Officer knows and follows the correct procedure. Company Officers shall record the name of the member that did the MAYDAY test in the daily log. 4.18. Testing Schedule 4.18.1. ECC shall follow this rotating schedule of companies for the MAYDAY TEST. • Engine 1 and B-1 • Engine 3 and B-1 • Engine 4 and B-1 • Ladder 5 and B-1 • Rescue 5 and B-1 Bridgeport Fire Department Policy #503 Effective Date : 09/01/1998 Revision Date: 02/28/2023 Fire Chief Signature MAYDAY • Engine 6 and B-2 • Ladder 6 and B-2 • Engine 7 and B-1 • Ladder 11 and B-1 • Engine 10 and B-2 • Ladder 10 and B-2 • Engine 12 and B-2 • Engine 15 and B-2 • Engine 16 and B-2 4.18.2. Every 15th week, the rotation shall start over again from Engine 1. 4.18.3. ECC shall keep track of the company due for the MAYDAY test. 4.18.4. If any member accidentally activates the EAB, they shall report it to ECC. • The member who activated the EAB shall cancel the transmission by either: o Turning the radio off and back on. o Holding down the orange EAB for 3 seconds 4.18.5. Upon activation of the “Firefighter Down” button ECC shall call the radio designation that is identified on the display board in dispatch. If unable to contact the radio unit that initiated the distress call, the Company Officer shall be contacted and advised of the situation. BY ORDER OF THE FIRE CHIEF