15-11 - RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY AND FIREFIGHTER EMERGENCY/ MAYDAY PROCEDURES

Question 1

what is the term used to announce and declare when a firefighter is in a life threatening situation

Answer 1

Mayday

Question 2

The Incident Commander’s standard operation at an emergency incident shall include the concept of risk management in accordance with Section 8.3.2 of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ____

Answer 2

1500

Question 3

LAFD Risk Management Policy:

1. Activities that present a significant risk to the safety of members shall be limited to situations where there is a potential to save endangered lives.
2. Activities that are routinely employed to protect property shall be recognized as inherent risks to the safety of members and actions shall be taken to reduce or avoid these risks.
3. No risk to the safety of members shall be acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property.

Answer 3

reference

Question 4

Declaring a firefighter emergency early allows a member to initiate self-rescue actions and provide the rescue personnel with the necessary advance notice to locate the member and render assistance. Delaying a mayday radio transmission can increase the risk to the member in distress and the rescue team. All personnel shall perform the G-R-A-B L-I-V-E-S Self-Survival Procedure when experiencing a “Mayday” situation. All command personnel shall be knowledgeable of the procedure to ensure that incident command and firefighter rescue operations are more efficient and coordinated.

Answer 4

reference

Question 5

who is responsible for the accountability of the members under their command

Answer 5

Company officers

Question 6

Accountability is managed by maintaining company ___ throughout the incident.

Answer 6

unity

Question 7

Company ______ is an important factor in the overall management of the incident and the prevention of the “Mayday” situation.

Answer 7

discipline

Question 8

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday used to announce when

Answer 8

Firefighter Missing, down, or trapped.

or when his/her life is in danger and situation cannot be corrected in 30 seconds

Question 9

Mayday call will be delivered on the

Answer 9

Incident Tactical Channel

Question 10

If after two (2) “Mayday” attempts the member does not receive acknowledgement on the incident tactical channel member shall

Answer 10

activate the Emergency Alert Button and declare mayday

Question 11

The following situations require the immediate initiation of a “Mayday” call:

1. Separated from Crew / “Lost” (Firefighter Missing)

Loss of visibility
No physical contact with hose line, lifeline and/or partner
2. Malfunction of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) or activation of a Low Air Alarm in an IDLH and unable to reach an exit safely.

3. Injured and/or Disabled (Firefighter Down)

Injury resulting in reduced ability to exit safely
4.Trapped, Pinned, and/or Entangled in Debris (Firefighter Trapped)

Mobility compromised due to heat, structural collapse, debris, and/or inoperable/blocked doors/exits.
5.Any life threatening condition that cannot be resolved in 30 seconds

The 30-second rule serves as a reminder to focus on self-rescue and to gather as much information about the situation as possible.

Answer 11

reference

Question 12

The member waits for acknowledgement of the “MAYDAY” before giving their three W’s. This will ensure radio traffic is clear and the IC hears the message.

Answer 12

reference

Question 13

Once the Mayday has been declared and the pertinent information has been communicated, the member in distress shall perform actions that will improve survivability. These actions shall include performance of the IAFF Self Survival procedure using the mnemonic G-R-A-B L-I-V-E-S. The sequence in which these actions are performed is dependent on the situation encountered. Performance of these actions will improve the chances of survival while alerting rescuers to the location of the member in distress.

1. Check Air in SCBA Air Cylinder
   GRAB LIVES – Gauge
   (1) Firefighter checks air remaining in SCBA air cylinder. Knowing the quantity of air in the air cylinder will give an indication of the time available to find a more tenable atmosphere. If possible, this shall be reported to incident command.
2. Initiate a Mayday on the Tactical Channel:
   GRAB LIVES – Radio…
   (1) The member in distress shall notify incident command of the Mayday using their portable radio. This can be accomplished by using the microphone or the EAB.
   (2) Verbalize the Firefighter Emergency using the term
   “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.”
   (3) Once the “MAYDAY” is declared:
   a. All radio traffic shall cease after hearing the hailing term.
   b. Incident command will respond by activating emergency tones and stating:
   “All Companies clear this channel for a Mayday. Member calling Mayday, go!”
   c. The member in distress will identify the nature of the Mayday by transmitting the following information:
   (1) WHO is calling the Mayday? “This is FF Smith from Engine 1…”
   (2) WHAT is the emergency? “I’m lost…”
   (3) WHERE is the member located? “On the 1st floor.”
   d. If unable to contact incident command on the incident tactical channel (after two attempts), the member in distress shall:
   (1) Push the EAB or turn the channel dial all the way to the right to access “Emergency 6”. Once on “Emergency 6” announce your “Mayday” situation.
   (2) Continue transmitting “MAYDAY” calls until answered.
   e. The IC, Operations Section Chief (OSC), or Rapid Intervention Group (RIG) Supervisor will communicate directly with the member in distress and confirm all of his/her transmissions are correctly understood. They shall also communicate the following to the member in distress:
   (1) Ascertain the quantity of air remaining in the member’s SCBA. Knowledge of the amount of air in the SCBA can determine the time available to make a rescue.
   (2) Provide a reminder of the “G-R-A-B L-I-V-E-S” procedure for the member in distress to assist the crew in the rescue process.
   (3) Rescue Evaluation: Identify specific tools required to assist with the rescue operation, routes of access, methods of rescue, and known hazards.
3. Activate Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) and Allow PASS Light to Be Seen By Rescuers
   GRAB LIVES – Activate
   (1) The “PASS” device must be manually activated immediately after using the radio to announce the Mayday. The audible “PASS” device should remain on until rescued. The device should only be turned off to communicate if it impedes the member’s ability to communicate via
   (2)the radio. Members can maximize the strength of the device’s audible alarm and light by positioning the device so it is best heard and seen by rescuers.
4. Conserve Air, Control Breathing
   GRAB LIVES – Control Breathing
   (1) Members must control their breathing and conserve air anytime they don the SCBA. Because air is limited and work effort and duration can be unpredictable, it is critical that members learn to reduce their anxiety by breathing rhythmically. This technique also increases cognitive ability. This task is performed by consciously controlling how much air is breathed and how much physical effort is exerted. The air in one’s cylinder can be further extended by employing the survival breathing technique. The survival breathing technique is performed by extending exhalation two times that of inhalation.
5. Stay Low
   GRAB LIVES – Stay Low
   (1) Members must position themselves near the floor to avoid the super-heated toxic gases collecting at the ceiling and banking down to the floor. Staying low also aids in visualizing the hose-line and finding an exit.
6. Shine Flashlight at 45 Degree Angle
   GRAB LIVES – Illuminate
   (1) Personal lights shall be activated and remain “On” when members are working in an IDLH environment. If the flashlight was inadvertently turned “Off,” the member must turn the flashlight “On”. Whenever ppossible, the member in distress shall point the light at a 45° angle and shine it outward where a rescuer may see it.
7. Make Noise
   GRAB LIVES – Volume, Make noise
   (1) Noise originating from the member in distress can get the attention of rescuers. In addition to the audible alarm on the PASS device, the member may also use a hand tool to make noise as it is struck against a hard surface. Because Rapid Intervention Company personnel will be located on the perimeter of the building during an incident, it is best if the sound is generated using an exterior wall. An axe, pike pole, rubbish hook, or any type of forcible entry tool can be used to make the noise. To conserve your air supply, use a technique that exerts the least amount energy but creates the greatest amount of noise. Be loud, be heard, be rescued.
8. Find an Exit
   GRAB LIVES – Exit
   (1) Identifying a viable exit is the most critical element of the Self Survival procedure. An exit must be located quickly when fire conditions change rapidly resulting in the sudden increase of heat and rapid loss of visibility. A member in distress can best find an exit by moving toward one that was identified during entry. Viable exits are doorways and windows. Exits can also be created by breaching walls and passing through the spaces created between the wall studs. Hose lines can also aid in locating an exit. Once a hose line is found, couplings should be used to determine the direction of travel outside the building.
   (2) Members should be prepared to perform technical Self Survival skills:
   upper floor egress, with or without a ladder in place
   disentanglement
   breaching and passing through walls
9. Shield Airway
   GRAB LIVES – Shield airway
   (1)Before the air in the SCBA is nearly exhausted, firefighters should prepare to deploy their escape filter canister. When the member deems it ready, the member shall inhale fully from the regulator, disconnect their second stage regulator and connect the escape filter canister. The member should then exhale fully to keep from inhaling contaminants during the transition to the escape filter canister.
   The G-R-A-B L-I-V-E-S Self Survival procedure should be constantly performed throughout the rescue operations. The member in distress shall keep the rescuers advised of the following information: location, air cylinder quantity, physical status/limitations, and special rescue tool needs.

Answer 13

reference

Question 14

When a field Chief Officer becomes the Incident Commander, the following radio channels shall be monitored for possible communications with the effected member(s):

Answer 14

1. Rapid Intervention Group Tactical Channel (If Assigned)
2. Emergency Channel 6
3. Dispatch Channel
4. Incident Command Channel
5. Incident Tactical Channel(s

Question 15

Initiate Emergency Traffic tones for __ seconds

Answer 15

three

Question 16

In the event of an extraordinary hazard, or a sudden change in conditions that creates an imminent danger to personnel, members can communicate this information by using

Answer 16

Emergency Traffic