2018 - Mayday

Question 1

Who shall maintain this document.

Answer 1

The Deputy Chief of Emergency Operations or his/her designee

Question 2

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Managing communications with the lost/trapped firefighter(s)
2. Initiating rescue efforts, using a Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) and/or Rescue Group as necessary and appropriate
3. Assigning individuals to fill specific roles in accordance with the specific needs of the incident
4. Maintaining an appropriate command presence for both the original incident and the subsequent MAYDAY incident

Answer 2

The Incident Commander

Question 3

Who shall be a TFD Chief Officer if available, who is responsible for managing all resources, including RICs that are allocated to the rescue of lost or trapped firefighters.

Answer 3

The Rescue Group Supervisor, if assigned by the Incident Commander,

Question 4

Who shall be responsible for immediately reporting any missing personnel to the appropriate supervisor or Incident Commander.

Answer 4

TFD Company Officers and Team Leaders

Question 5

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Assessing the incident for hazardous and unsafe situations
2. Developing measures for ensuring personnel safety
3. Stopping or preventing unsafe acts by TFD personnel
4. Monitoring the appropriate channels for MAYDAY transmission.

Answer 5

The Incident Safety Officer

Question 6

Who shall be responsible for standing by at an incident in a state of readiness to initiate action to find or rescue lost/trapped firefighter(s).

Answer 6

Rapid Intervention Crew(s) (RIC)

Question 7

Who shall be responsible for locating and removing endangered individuals from an emergency incident as directed by the Rescue Group Supervisor.

Answer 7

The Rescue Group, consisting of all rescue resources, including RIC, assigned by the Incident Commander,

Question 8

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Monitoring the appropriate communications channels
2. Notifying on-scene personnel of a MAYDAY situation
3. Dispatching personnel and resources to an incident scene as requested by the Incident Commander

Answer 8

FCC personnel

Question 9

Who shall be responsible for:

1. Realizing their limitations
2. Declaring a MAYDAY as soon as they become endangered
3. Knowing what to do when lost or trapped
4. Taking proper steps to enhance the potential for their prompt discovery and rescue

Answer 9

TFD firefighters

Question 10

Roll call of all personnel assigned to crews and sectors identified and organized by the Incident Commander for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the accountability system and/or determining the identity of a lost/trapped firefighter.

Answer 10

Personnel Accountability Report (PAR).

Question 11

Group assigned by the Incident Commander, once the need for rescue is confirmed, to work with the RIC to provide additional assistance for search and rescue of lost and/or trapped personnel.

Answer 11

Rescue Group.

Question 12

This policy is intended to ensure ___________ that an endangered firefighter’s call for help is _______________

Answer 12

the highest probability

received and responded to as quickly as possible.

Question 13

In a hazardous area, any crew member who is not in visual, audible or physical communication with a team member automatically shall be:

Answer 13

assumed to be lost or trapped.

Question 14

Upon receipt of a lost/trapped firefighter report, the Incident Commander shall:
a. - g. (7)

Answer 14

a. Direct FCC personnel to transmit alert tones and announce the MAYDAY on the tactical channel and Channel 16 to notify personnel that rescue efforts will be initiated
b. Call for additional resources
c. Call for an immediate PAR
d. Launch RIC
e. Assign a Rescue Group Supervisor to manage the MAYDAY
f. Maintain the fire attack to protect lost/trapped firefighters
g. Adjust strategies and tactics and assign personnel to tasks that support the rescue mission

Question 15

The Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) leader and the ISO shall obtain an additional portable radio from the Battalion vehicle and monitor :

Answer 15

the designated tactical channel and Direct Channel 15 for MAYDAY transmissions.

Question 16

FCC personnel shall continuously monitor:

Answer 16

the incident’s tactical channel and Channel 16.

Question 17

Any TFD firefighter who encounters a life-threatening emergency for him/herself and/or his/her partner shall declare a “MAYDAY” to request assistance in the following sequence of priority:
a - d.

Answer 17

a. Tactical channel
b. Activate emergency button (Emergency Channel 16)
c. Turn Radio OFF then ON
d. Direct Channel 15

Question 18

Channel Limitations

a. Direct Channels are:
b. Use of the emergency button will select:

Answer 18

a. not monitored by FCC, cannot be scanned, nor will they allow use of the emergency button.
b. channel 16, no other channel can be accessed without turning radio OFF then ON.

Question 19

Situations that call for a MAYDAY transmission include, but are not limited to:

Answer 19

a. If you or your partner are injured
b. If you or your partner are trapped
c. If you become disoriented or lost
d. If you or your partner’s SCBA malfunctions
e. If your air supply becomes dangerously low
f. If your PPE is compromised

Question 20

Company Officers and Team Leaders shall account for assigned personnel if a MAYDAY is declared and anticipate __________from the Incident Commander.

Answer 20

a personnel accountability report (PAR)

Question 21

The PAR shall include:

Answer 21

a. Who: Radio designator and company member names
b. What: Current assignment or task
c. Where: Location

Question 22

If the MAYDAY transmission from a TFD firefighter is received on the tactical channel, the Incident Commander shall organize incident communications in one of the three following ways:

Answer 22

a. Run both incidents on the same tactical channel originally assigned by dispatch
b. Leave the MAYDAY incident on the tactical channel and have all other personnel switch to another channel designated by FCC.
i. In this case, FCC personnel shall transmit alert tones and make a radio announcement declaring the same.
c. If the firefighter declaring the MAYDAY is able, have him/her switch to Emergency Channel 16 and leave the original incident on the initially assigned channel

Question 23

The Incident Commander may order a roll call for the following reasons:
a. - e.

Answer 23

a. Any report of a lost or trapped firefighter
b. Change in strategy
c. Following an order to abandon or withdraw from a building
d. Unforeseen catastrophic event (e.g.; building collapse, explosion, backdraft, etc.)
e. Any time the Incident Commander feels it is necessary

Question 24

PROCEDURE FOR DECLARING A MAYDAY

Answer 24

Declare a MAYDAY on the tactical channel by providing as much information as possible about who, what and where.
EXAMPLE: “Command from Search, MAYDAY - MAYDAY – MAYDAY!”
“Search from Command, go ahead with your MAYDAY transmission.”
Who: “Command from Search, Lieutenant Bill Smith and Firefighter Fred Jones have fallen through the floor.
What: “We are trapped under debris. We both have 1200 pounds of air. We need extrication from heavy timber and sheetrock. Firefighter Jones has a head injury. I am activating my PASS device.”
Where: “We are located on floor 2 near the C/D corner. There is an electrical panel in the room. Send help!”

Question 25

2. Consider the following when activating PASS device(s):

Answer 25

a. Radio communication needs
b. Battery life
c. Noise masking the rescue effort

Question 26

FCC Personnel

1. Notify on-scene personnel that rescue efforts will be initiated by:

Answer 26

a. Transmitting alert tones

b. Announcing MAYDAY on the tactical channel

Question 27

PROCEDURE FOR DECLARING A MAYDAY IF NO RESPONSE FROM COMMAND ON THE TACTICAL CHANNEL

Answer 27

Firefighters
1. If you do not receive a response from Command on the tactical channel, activate the Orange Emergency Button, which automatically selects the emergency channel 16. Transmit MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY and wait for a reply.
2. If FCC does not respond to your MAYDAY transmission:
a. Provide the “who, what, where” information
b. Reposition yourself to another location and repeat MAYDAY- MAYDAY-MAYDAY along with the “who, what, where” information
3. If no response, move your channel selector to Direct Channel 15, turn radio OFF then ON and repeat MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY.
4. When your MAYDAY transmission is acknowledged provide as much information as possible about who, what and where.
EXAMPLE: “MAYDAY - MAYDAY – MAYDAY!”
Who: “Command from Search, Lieutenant Bill Smith and Firefighter Fred Jones have fallen through the floor.
What: “We are trapped under debris. We both have 1200 pounds of air. We need extrication from heavy timber and sheetrock. Firefighter Jones has a head injury. I am activating my PASS device.”
Where: “We are located on floor 2 near the C/D corner. There is an electrical panel in the room. Send help!”
5. As a last resort, plan to exit the building on your own and report to the command post to communicate your team’s status and member needs

Question 28

PROCEDURE FOR DECLARING A MAYDAY IF NO RESPONSE FROM COMMAND ON THE TACTICAL CHANNEL

FCC Personnel

Answer 28

1. Transmit the alert tones.
2. Announce the MAYDAY on the tactical channel and Emergency Channel 16.
3. Repeat the transmitted MAYDAY information to the Incident Commander and the lost/trapped firefighters.
4. Receive an acknowledgment from Command.

Question 29

PROCEDURE FOR FIREFIGHTER(S) LOST OR TRAPPED IN A STRUCTURE

Firefighters

Answer 29

1. Use your radio to request a MAYDAY to alert others to the situation while you continue to find a way out to safety.
2. The channel priority to declare a MAYDAY is: The Tactical Channel, the Emergency Button (Ch. 16) and the Direct Channel 15. Once the Emergency Button has been pressed, it is necessary to turn the Radio OFF then ON to access Direct Channel 15. Manually activate your PASS device if directed or immediately if you feel you are lost or about to become incapacitated.
3. Give Command or Division/Group Supervisors information on your whereabouts such as:
   a. Description of the building structure
   b. Any sounds or visual contact of nearby operations (such as ventilation, saw noise) that you may have seen or heard
   c. Any other information that you feel may be pertinent to assist rescuers to reach your location
4. If operating in a crew, maintain the “buddy system.”
5. Use a hoseline and the hose couplings to find the correct direction out of the building.
6. If a hoseline is not available, always try to locate unlocked or open doors that allow for quicker exit than windows.
7. Get to a window and signal rescuers if possible.
8. If doors or windows are not available (e.g.; large warehouses, industrial buildings, etc.), try to reach an exterior wall, doorway or hallway to maximize chances of being found quickly by the rescue teams.
9. If access to an exterior wall is not available, next consider hallways because they almost always lead to some type of exit.
10. If no way out can be located, try to find a location that offers safety and protection from the fire.
11. Advise the Incident Commander of this location by radio, if possible.
12. If power is still available in this area, turn lights off and on as a signal to rescue teams.
13. Try to control your emotions and slow down your breathing rate.
14. Avoid physical activity if possible and limit unnecessary talking to conserve your SCBA air supply.
15. If air supply becomes exhausted, begin filter breathing.
16. If you are still unable to get out, assume a horizontal position on the floor to maximize the sound of your PASS device.
17. Once you have assumed this horizontal position, use your flashlight to direct a beam of light towards the ceiling as an enhanced signal for rescue personnel.