SFD.024 - Mayday Operations PDF

# Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Mayday Operations ## SFD.024 - Revision No.: 3 - Issue Date: 15 May. 2024 - Review Date: 1 May. 2025 - Effective Date: 15 May. 2024 - Reviewed by: Operations - Approved by: Scott C. Seifert ## Mayday Operations ### 1. Executive S...

# Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Mayday Operations ## SFD.024 - Revision No.: 3 - Issue Date: 15 May. 2024 - Review Date: 1 May. 2025 - Effective Date: 15 May. 2024 - Reviewed by: Operations - Approved by: Scott C. Seifert ## Mayday Operations ### 1. Executive Summary - A MAYDAY is any situation where a firefighter cannot safely exit from a hazard zone. - MAYDAYs should be transmitted as a verbal message on the operation channel to command and include a CAN report, as well as other pertinent information. - Lost or trapped firefighters should remain together and self-rescue if possible, seeking an area of refuge if self-rescue is not possible. - Incident commanders should acknowledge the MAYDAY CAN report and deploy units to assess and address the MAYDAY. - Fire control efforts should continue during a MAYDAY situation. - Non-suppression crews in proximity to the MAYDAY should assist with the rescue. - Operations and MAYDAY communications should remain on the same frequency, and all non-essential radio traffic should cease. - Crews on deck should not self-deploy but should be deployed by the incident commander with a plan and clear, realistic objectives. - Firefighter extrication from IDLH environments should be expedited, when possible, with limited packaging time. - North Comm will issue an additional alarm upon hearing a MAYDAY. ### 2. Purpose - To provide a standard approach for the search and rescue of firefighters that may have become lost, trapped, or disoriented within an IDLH environment. ### 3. Policy Statement - All Spring Fire Department personnel are responsible for knowing and complying with this procedure. ### 4. Scope - This guideline pertains to all department personnel that respond to or assist in emergency incidents. ### 5. Definitions - See Glossary. ### 6. Procedures and Responsibilities - **MAYDAY** - Anytime a firefighter(s) cannot safely exit an IDLH hazard zone. - MAYDAYs must be declared/transmitted as soon as the crew member(s) or crew(s) affected anticipate or know that they cannot safely exit an IDLH hazard zone. - **Declaring the MAYDAY** - Transmit a verbal message on the operation channel to Command and state: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.” - Do not unclick the microphone, and provide a CAN report- - Who, What, Where and Needs - Who - your identity – Unit, Unit riding position, or name - What - caused the condition(s) of the MAYDAY - Where - identify your current location/surroundings or your last known location. - **NEEDS** - the needs that will help resolve the MAYDAY (critical) - Conserve air and activate the PASS device. - Lost or trapped firefighters should remain together. If possible, lost, or trapped firefighters should attempt to resolve the problem and exit the structure. If it is not possible to resolve the problem, seek an area of refuge. - **Incident Commander (IC)** - Acknowledge the MAYDAY, identify the company or firefighter(s) involved in the MAYDAY, and get a MAYDAY CAN Report. - Contact North Comm for Emergency Traffic, formally announce the MAYDAY on the tactical channel, and request the next greater alarm. - Develop an IAP and start deploying resources to resolve the MAYDAY using the Help Order. The Help Order is the order in which an IC, or Division Supervisor, will try to assist a firefighter who is experiencing a MAYDAY. The order is: - Communicate with the MAYDAY firefighter to facilitate self-rescue. - Use the MAYDAY firefighter's company to assist with the rescue. - Use other crews in the hazard zone near the MAYDAY firefighter to assist with the rescue. - Utilize On-Deck crews to assist with the rescue. - Assign a chief officer to the division having the MAYDAY as the Division Supervisor and have them manage the event at the tactical level. - If the MAYDAY is taking place in a division with an assigned Division Supervisor, confirm that the supervisor received the MAYDAY transmission, and formally assign the management of the MAYDAY to the Division Supervisor. - Incident Command and the Division Supervisor(s) should continue to coordinate fire control activities while managing the MAYDAY. - **Fire Operations** - Crews conducting fire control within the MAYDAY area should continue with fire suppression efforts. - Operations and MAYDAY communications should remain on the tactical radio channel. - All non-essential radio traffic should cease. ONLY transmit: - MAYDAY Traffic, Priority Traffic, Status Changes, and Staging Announcements. - On-deck crews will be deployed by the IC or Division Supervisors. - On-deck crews will not self-deploy into the Hot Zone - On-deck crews will be deployed with a clearly defined task - On-deck crews will be deployed to a known location - On-deck crews will be deployed with realistic objectives - If a firefighter can be quickly extricated from an IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) situation, avoid spending additional time on air transfer or excessive packaging. Time is crucial, and they should be removed as quickly as possible. - Non-suppression crews in proximity to the MAYDAY should be prepared to assist with rescue efforts as part of the Help Order. - Some situations may require extra time and resources to remove firefighters from the hazard zone. Be prepared to - Locate the firefighter(s) - Air trans filling - Packaging - Extrication of the firefighter(s) from the hazard zone ### 7. References & Related Policies - This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. | NFPA | Applicable State or Federal Statutes | OSHA | Spring FD | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TCFP | CPSE PI | ISO | TFCA | ### 8. Contact Office - The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: ### 9. List of Changes | Revision No. | Description of Changes | Approve by | Effective Date | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 03 | Comprehensive update | Davenp ort | 5/15/202 4 | ### 10. Errors - See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. - This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member's legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline.