Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue 6.5 MAYDAY PDF

**Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue** STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES **Field Operations** EFFECTIVE DATE 2/2016 REVIEWED DATE 04/2021 REVISED DATE: 12/2020 **6.5 MAYDAY** ***Robert Rose, Deputy Chief Operations Greg Perez, Fire Chief*** Purpose: This guideline is intended to provide general...

**Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue** STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES **Field Operations** EFFECTIVE DATE 2/2016 REVIEWED DATE 04/2021 REVISED DATE: 12/2020 **6.5 MAYDAY** ***Robert Rose, Deputy Chief Operations Greg Perez, Fire Chief*** Purpose: This guideline is intended to provide general actions to be taken at the task, tactical, and strategic level during MAYDAY operations Definitions **[Mayday] -** The radio message "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" is a term to be used in the event that a firefighter cannot safely exit an Immediate Danger to Life and Health (IDLH) hazard zone. [C.A.N.] -- A report of [C]onditions, [A]ctions, and [N]eeds [The Incident Commander] -- The person who assumes command of the incident [Division Supervisor] -- A person assigned by the Incident Commander to manage resources in a specific geographical location. **[BCECC] - Bernalillo County Emergency Communications Center** General MAYDAY Guidelines - **MAYDAYS must be declared/transmitted as soon as the person or crew(s) affected knows that they cannot safely exit an IDLH hazard zone or for any unit operating inside of an IDLH and does not answer their portable radio after three (3) attempts.** **Resources** - Resources are a major critical factor in managing any Mayday. The Mayday resource determination should adequately address the Mayday as well as all of the other critical factors that are occurring at the incident site. When a Mayday is declared Command should consider calling for a BCFD second alarm and/or an AFR 1^st^ alarm to assist with the critical fireground factors. - Based on the Mayday CAN report, Command will need to ensure the proper resources are rapidly deployed to the scene to treat and transport any injured firefighters. This will help facilitate the treatment/transport of the firefighter(s) as soon as they exit and ensure there are enough units on scene to still address any critical fire ground factors for incident stabilization. All units assigned Rescue/EMS responsibilities on a Mayday incident must avoid becoming part of the rescue operation. **Incident Stabilization** - Controlling and stabilizing the incident gives the entire team the time needed to resolve the Mayday. On fire scenes, Command and Division Supervisors must address and coordinate controlling the fire if any active fire exists during a Mayday. Operating interior crews that are actively addressing fire control when a Mayday occurs should continue with their fire control efforts. **Put the fire out!** **Unit Communications** - All operating units will maintain radio discipline once a Mayday has been transmitted. All operating units will ONLY transmit Mayday announcements (you're having a Mayday), or Priority traffic. - Mayday CAN reporting becomes very critical when declaring a Mayday. The sender must be very specific on the NEEDS required to help resolve the Mayday. Always base Mayday actions on the NEEDS given in the Mayday CAN report. This will prevent everybody on the incident scene from over-reacting when there is a report of a Mayday. - All Hazard Zone operations and Mayday operations will remain on the same tactical channel when a Mayday has been declared. This connects all Hazard Zone companies to the Mayday operation and it also helps Command and/or Division Supervisors facilitate the "Help Order" (covered later in this SOG). **Deployment of On-Deck Units as RIT Crews** - Command and/or Division Supervisors MUST NOT flood the interior with On-Deck companies acting as RIT crews after a Mayday has been declared. On-Deck crews where no tactical level Supervisor is assigned **MUST NOT** self-deploy into the Hazard Zone unless ordered to by the Command. Command must revise the existing IAP to include the Mayday. All future assignments must consider the NEEDS given in the Mayday CAN report. - On-Deck crews must properly equip themselves, have a rescue plan, and be ordered into the Hazard Zone by Command and/or Division Supervisor before making entry. **Air Supply** - Managing air supplies is a major IAP consideration during Mayday operations. This includes the air supply of the Mayday firefighter(s) as well as the air supplies of any other unit(s) assigned into the Hazard Zone. - Command and Division Supervisors must be prepared to deploy RIT crews in the stages that are needed, based on the air limitations of the rescue workers. RIT companies should be given clear, realistic goals that don't compromise their air supplies or create additional Maydays. **The Help Order** - The Help Order is the order in which Command or a Division Supervisor will try to assist a firefighter who is experiencing a Mayday. This order is: 1. Communicating to a lost firefighter self-rescue technique to assist with the rescue 2. Using a Mayday firefighter(s) own company to assist with the rescue 3. Using a company already located inside of the Hazard Zone to assist with the rescue 4. Using an On-Deck company located outside of the Hazard Zone as a RIT crew - A lost firefighter who is able to talk on a portable radio should be able to provide a Mayday CAN report. Command should acknowledge the Mayday CAN report and respond back with the following to the Mayday firefighter(s): - Verbally state to the Mayday firefighter(s); "calm down and control your breathing" - Maintain radio contact long enough to get a sufficient amount of information in order to implement an adequate rescue IAP - Have them activate their PASS unit (shut the PASS unit off when talking on the radio) - Mayday firefighter(s) may be difficult to clear/communicate with once they have activated their PASS unit - When communicating with a Mayday firefighter's own crew or with another crew who can assist with the rescue, Command or Division Supervisors must consider 3 things when using the Help Order: - The air limitations of the interior working crews - The possibility of interior crews lacking the tools required to make the rescue - The fire control efforts required to maintain interior tenability - other operating interior crews that are actively addressing fire control when a Mayday occurs should continue with their fire control efforts. Put the fire out! - When deploying On-Deck crews as RIT crews, they must properly equip themselves, have a rescue plan, and be ordered into the Hazard Zone by Command or Division\ Supervisors before making entry. Outside On-Deck crews that are deployed to perform rescue activities should always bring the RIT-PAK equipment along with any other equipment needed to solve the Mayday. **Mayday Operational Guidelines (Task, Tactical, & Strategic Levels)** ***Task/Company/Firefighter level Mayday responsibilities*** - **The following pneumonic is used to describe the parameters from previous incidents to assist with recognition primed decision making. These are If →Then scenarios describing when to call a \"MAYDAY\":** Firefighter or interior Unit having the Mayday must: - Call for a Mayday as soon as you realize you cannot safely exit the Hazard Zone - Declare a "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" to ensure priority radio traffic, DO NOT un-key the microphone until your CAN report is transmitted. - Give a CAN report that includes: - Who - your name and unit - What -- caused the condition(s) of the Mayday - Where - identify your current/last known location/surroundings and assignment - NEEDS -- the needs that will help resolve the Mayday (***[critical]***) ***Example**: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday -- Engine 32 on Division Alpha, this Lt. Jones with firefighter Able. FF Able has fallen into a hole in the floor, his legs are trapped. We are currently attempting to extricate him from the hole, We need manpower assistance and air to rescue firefighter Able".* - Calm down and begin self-help/self-rescue techniques - Conserve your air - Activate your PASS unit if appropriate - Maintain radio contact with Command or the Division Supervisor as required Other Companies operating in the Hazard Zone during a Mayday must: - Maintain strict radio discipline - Additional MAYDAY's and Priority traffic ONLY - Be prepared to assist with the rescue if you are able to do so - Interior crews that are actively addressing fire control when a Mayday occurs should continue with their fire control efforts. **Put the fire out!** ***Tactical level Mayday responsibilities*** - A Division Supervisor will need to be assigned as soon as possible to the area in which the MAYDAY has occurred. This will help with span of control and allow Command to continue to focus on incident stabilization, which will also assist with mitigating the MAYDAY. - Take strong control of entry point - Resource assessment in the division - Request enough resources to get the job done - Provide a CAN report to Command - Support the fire fight when necessary -- **Put the fire out!** - Consider the critical factors in the division - Develop the division's rescue IAP - Utilize the Help Order when possible - DO NOT flood the interior with resource - Organize, properly equip, and brief On Deck Units before deployment - Clear, realistic objectives to the rescue teams - Implement, assess, and reinforce the rescue efforts as required in the division - The Division Supervisor should be the only person communicating with command on that division. This will help ensure radio communications are at a minimum so the affected MAYDAY fire crews can communicate any and all necessary radio traffic for their condition. ***Strategic level Mayday responsibilities*** - When a Mayday is declared on the fireground, the IC must: - Confirm the critical factors -- the risk management plan -- and the overall strategy - Take STRONG control of the communications process - Follow the Mayday communication algorithm - Change the IAP to high priority rescue effort - A No Par policy will take effect - Assign BCs (i.e. Warm Zone Supervisors) into divisions if not already assigned - Coordinate and support the rescue efforts with the divisions as required - Expand the command organization - Support the fire fight when necessary -- Put the fire out! - Provide the required support work - Establish Treatment - Consider the medical and technical requirements for the rescue - If there are Division Supervisor in place when a Mayday is declared on the incident, once Command has completed the Mayday communication algorithm, their next action should be to assign management of the rescue operation to the Division Supervisor where the Mayday is occurring. The Division Supervisor is in the best position to manage the rescue activities that need to take place in the division to resolve the Mayday. Command is then in the best position to coordinate and support the rescue, firefighting, and treatment efforts with the other divisions and Units as required by the incident's critical factors. - If there are no tactical level Division Supervisor in place when a Mayday is declared on the incident scene, Command must continue to manage the entire tactical rescue effort required to resolve the Mayday after completing the Mayday communication algorithm until the Division Supervisor is assigned and in place. - On-Deck companies must use great discipline when there is no Division Supervisor in place during a Mayday. On-Deck crews must properly equip themselves, have a rescue plan, and be ordered into the Hazard Zone by Command before making entry. - Command should assign division responsibilities as soon as possible into the event (when none are in place when the Mayday is declared). This should be a subsequent arriving Battalion Commander that will operate primarily in the warm zone of the division. Once assigned, quickly brief the Division Supervisor on the details of the Mayday and have them continue to manage the Mayday directly in their assigned division. - If a Battalion Commander is not available, the Division Supervisor role can be assigned to a Company Officer. The Company Officer will then remove themselves from the Task level and operate in the Tactical level in the warm zone. Accountability of the remaining crew members will need to be transferred to another company officer/unit. **Clearing Mayday operations** - After all Mayday firefighters have been extricated from the structure, Command will have to use the Strategic Decision-Making Model to formulate a new strategy and IAP. Command should be very pessimistic when continuing to conduct offensive operations in a building that just hosted a Mayday. - Once the Mayday(s) have been controlled and there is adequate treatment under way, Command should contact Fire Control and clear the Mayday radio traffic. This announcement should include: - A brief Mayday conclusion report - Cancel MAYDAY Emergency Traffic - The strategy and IAP for the next operational period in the incident - Resource determination **The BCECC Dispatcher(s)** - **The BCECC dispatcher holds a vital role in the communications process during a MAYDAY. It is important to remember that once a MAYDAY has been declared, a dispatcher must be fully dedicated to the incident, without interruption or distraction. Furthermore, the dispatcher must notify the dispatch supervisor of the emergency event.** - **The best way to understand these roles is to view the dispatcher and supervisor as working directly for the incident commander. This is critical in order to support the needs of the incident commander and all personnel involved. Essentially, the dispatcher and supervisor are in the command post with the incident commander in a virtual sense. Establishing this as a 'virtual command post' will serve to provide seamless communication at the incident.** - **The dispatcher and supervisor will perform the following steps:** - **Assure other calls for service within the county are being dispatched.** - **Assure the virtual command post is established, eliminate any distractions or interruptions.** - **Monitor the operating tactical channel for this incident.** - **Monitor all fire department channels \[supervisor\]. It is possible that the firefighters in distress and/or the responding rescuers could accidently end up on another channel by virtue of the equipment utilized. Essentially, a bump of the radio could cause a channel to change during the incident.** - **When the "MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY" is sounded by the MAYDAY initiator; or, the emergency button on a radio is activated by the MAYDAY initiator, be prepared to act. This MAYDAY takes us out of the "CODE 900" realm. By initiating a MAYDAY, this is now a true life safety emergency. This is the trigger point to develop the 'virtual command post'.** - **All traffic at this point should be entered into the CAD notes. This provides a real time reference to things that have been stated on the radio. These are critical notes both during the incident; and, when reviewing the incident. In the 'virtual command post', CAD notes can be reviewed either by the dispatcher, the supervisor or the on-scene command staff.** - **DO NOT ACTIVATE ANY EMERGENCY TONES UNTIL [REQUESTED] BY THE INCIDENT COMMANDER! We do not want the carrier signal from a dispatch transmission to overtake critical information coming from the MAYDAY initiator and incident commander.** - **When the incident commander has received the MAYDAY, the LUNAR report and activated the RIT Team, you will be asked to provide a 5 second warble tone and announce,** "MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY ALL UNITS AT THE \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \[incident name\] STANDBY FOR ORDERS". This will assure that all units on the channel are aware of the incident. - ***The next expected contact from the incident commander will a request for an additional alarm. The expectation is for (1) Rescue, (1) Engine (1) ambulance and (1) chief officer. It is also possible that the IC will request specific resources beyond this alarm. Anticipate these needs, and be prepared to seek out mutual aid resources when needed.*** - ***Do not under any circumstances field outside phone calls from the media or provide information to the media. Please direct them to the on-scene PIO.*** - ***Stay with the incident from the beginning to end. The incident commander will announce when the MAYDAY event is over.*** - ***Remember, there is still a fire to put out after the rescue is completed. This incident will probably continue for a prolonged period. However, the expectation is to reach a normal state at the event and continue business as usual.*** - ***When the MAYDAY is canceled or the event is terminated,*** the cancelation must be confirmed by the incident commander, BCECC will be directed to activate the EMERGENCY **Alert Tone,** which is a warble tone, for five seconds. Immediately after the tone, the Dispatcher will state "MAYDAY CANCELED" and "ALL UNITS AT THE \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \[incident name\], THE MAYDAY IS CANCELED ALL SAFE". **[Mayday Communication Algorithm]** Once a member or Unit determines they cannot safely exit the Hazard Zone\ (falls, collapse, lost, stuck), declare a Mayday over the incident's assigned tactical channel by announcing:  MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY While still keying the microphone, the Mayday FF or Unit will provide a MAYDAY CAN report that includes the identity of who is having the MAYDAY, conditions that caused the MAYDAY, your current or last known location/assignment and any items/resources needed to resolve the MAYDAY.  Command will contact Fire Control and ask for Emergency Traffic. After the Emergency Traffic Tones have been transmitted -- Command will transmit: \- Brief Mayday update that includes the who, what, and where of the Mayday \- Tell all units operating at the scene to maintain radio silence \- Request any additional resources that are required to completely resolve the Mayday  Fire Control will repeat the Emergency Traffic report using the Order Model Command will then manage the Mayday based on the NEEDS given in the Mayday CAN report, and they will assign the management of the Mayday to a Division Supervisor.  The MAYDAY event is terminated by command or canceled, Command will contact the BCECC and advise the MAYDAY has been terminated and the BCECC will sounds the Emergency warble tones for 5 seconds and give the MAYDAY cancel message.