Chapter 3 Fire Service Communication Flashcards
The central processing point for all information relating to an emergency incident is the
A. incident commander.
B. communications center.
C. fire department.
D. computer-aided dispatch.
B. communications center.
A CAD system helps meet the most important objective in processing an emergency call, which is
A. recording communications messages.
B. documenting the incident.
C. sending the appropriate units to the correct location as quickly as possible.
D. identifying the potential casualties.
C. sending the appropriate units to the correct location as quickly as possible.
The telecommunicator’s first responsibility is to obtain
A. the caller’s identification.
B. time marks.
C. the location and nature of the emergency.
D. communication with the responding units.
C. the location and nature of the emergency.
The process of assigning a response category is based on the nature of the reported problem or
A. classification and prioritization.
B. location validation.
C. unit selection.
D. dispatch directive.
A. classification and prioritization.
Unit selection is the process of determining exactly which
A. radio frequency to assign.
B. equipment will be needed in the response.
C. attack strategy will be assigned.
D. unit(s) to dispatch.
D. unit(s) to dispatch.
Telecommunicators must follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and use
A. the incident management system.
B. active listening.
C. FCC guidelines.
D. talk-around channels.
B. active listening.
The telecommunicator can initiate a response after determining the
A. location and nature of the problem.
B. time of the communication and nature of the problem.
C. urgency of the response.
D. fire department location.
A. location and nature of the problem.
To assist with pinpointing calls from wireless phones, phones are being updated to include
A. GPS technology.
B. CAD systems.
C. FCC regulated technology.
D. TDD systems.
A. GPS technology.
A call box connects a person directly to a(n)
A. fire department.
B. police station.
C. incident commander.
D. telecommunicator.
D. telecommunicator.
Call classification determines the
A. incident management system.
B. equipment to transport to the incident.
C. record documentation format.
D. number and types of units that are dispatched.
D. number and types of units that are dispatched.
Someone in the communications center must remain in contact with the responding units
A. until an incident commander is on the scene.
B. throughout the incident.
C. throughout the on-site scene assessment.
D. until the incident is under control.
B. throughout the incident.
Two-way radios that are permanently mounted in vehicles are called
A. portable radios.
B. base stations.
C. simplex channel radios.
D. mobile radios.
D. mobile radios.
A group of shared frequencies controlled by a computer is called a
A. trunking system.
B. mobile radio system.
C. radio repeater system.
D. base station system.
A. trunking system.
When you speak into the microphone, always speak across the microphone
A. at a 90-degree angle.
B. at a 45-degree angle, holding the microphone 1 to 2 inches from the mouth.
C. as loudly as possible.
D. without background interference.
B. at a 45-degree angle, holding the microphone 1 to 2 inches from the mouth.
The first-arriving unit at an incident should always give a brief initial report and
A. control traffic.
B. determine the duration of the ongoing incident.
C. establish a command post.
D. prepare an offensive attack unit.
C. establish a command post.
Urgent messages that take priority over all other communications are known as
A. time marks.
B. dispatch information.
C. emergency traffic.
D. ten-code communications.
C. emergency traffic.
One of the first things you should learn when assigned to a fire station is how to use the
A. personal protective equipment (PPE).
B. response vehicles.
C. incident management system.
D. telephone and intercom system.
D. telephone and intercom system.
Radio codes, such as “ten codes,”
A. are widely used and popular.
B. are understood by all radio operators.
C. can be problematic.
D. work well when responding with other jurisdictions.
C. can be problematic.
The first-arriving unit at an incident should
A. give a brief initial radio report.
B. establish a command post.
C. tell other responding units what is happening.
D. all of the above.
D. all of the above.
The __________ is a trained individual responsible for answering requests for emergency assistance from citizens.
TELECOMMUNICATOR
A(n) __________ signal warns all personnel to pull back to a safe location.
EVACUATION
__________ is an emergency code indicating that a fire fighter is missing or requires immediate assistance.
MAYDAY
___________ provide status updates to the communications center at predetermined intervals.
TIME MARKS
A(n) ___________ is a summons to fire department units to respond to an emergency.
DISPATCH
The facility that receives the emergency reports and is responsible for dispatching fire department units is the ________.
COMMUNICATION CENTER
Radio systems that use one frequency to transmit and receive all messages are called _________ channels.
SIMPLEX
A(n) __________ radio is a two-way radio that is permanently mounted in a fire apparatus.
MOBILE
A(n) __________ channel radio utilizes two frequencies per channel.
DUPLEX
A(n) __________ system uses a shared bank of frequencies to make the most efficient use of radio resources.
TRUNKING
True/False
All calls to 9-1-1 are directed to a designated public safety answering point for that jurisdiction.
TRUE
True/False
Size-up should be transmitted by the first-arriving unit at an incident.
TRUE
True/False
A telecommunicator can initiate a response with just two pieces of information—the location and nature of the problem.
TRUE
True/False
Automatic number identification displays the telephone number where the call originated.
TRUE
True/False
Individuals with speech or hearing impairments can access the 9-1-1 system through telephones.
TRUE
True/False
Municipal fire alarm boxes are the most reliable source of contact with the communications center to indicate an emergency.
FALSE
True/False
The police, fire, and EMS departments must always have separate communication centers.
FALSE
True/False
The telecommunicator who takes a call must conduct a “telephone interrogation.”
TRUE
True/False
Most fire departments use clear speech (plain English) for radio communications.
TRUE
True/False
Before transmitting over a radio, push and hold the PTT button for at least 2 seconds.
TRUE
List five of the pieces of equipment often found in a communications center.
(1) : Dedicated 9-1-1 telephones
(2) : Public telephones
(3) : Direct-line phones to other agencies
(4) : Equipment to receive alarms from public or private fire alarm systems
(5) : Computers and/or hard-copy files and maps to locate addresses and select units to dispatch
(6) : Equipment for alerting and dispatching units to emergency calls
(7) : Two-way radio systems
(8) : Recording devices to record phone calls and radio traffic
(9) : Backup electrical generators
Identify the five major steps in processing an emergency incident.
(1) : Call receipt
(2) : Location validation
(3) : Classification and prioritization
(4) : Unit selection
(5) : Dispatch
What are five of the basic functions performed in a communications center?
(1) : Receiving calls for emergency incidents and dispatching fire department units
(2) : Supporting the operations of fire department units delivering emergency services
(3) : Coordinating fire department operations with other agencies
(4) : Keeping track of the status of each fire department unit at all times
(5) : Monitoring the level of coverage and managing the deployment of available units
(6) : Notifying designated individuals and agencies of particular events and situations
(7) : Maintaining records of all emergency-related activities
(8) : Maintaining information required for dispatch purposes
Why is accuracy important in report documentation?
From a legal standpoint, records and reports are vital parts of the emergency process. Information must be complete, clear, and concise because these records can become admissible evidence in a court case. Improper or inadequate documentation can have long-term negative consequences. Fire reports are considered as public records under the Freedom of Information Act, so they may be viewed by an attorney, an insurance company, the news media, or the public. If a fatality occurs, incomplete or inaccurate reports may be used to prove that the fire department was negligent. The department, Fire Chief, and others may be held accountable.
Your engine company is dispatched to a commercial structure fire in a large grocery store. This is the second fire to which you have responded on your shift. You and your crew are assigned to a search and rescue team in the storage area of the store. You become disoriented and cannot find your way out. You have your radio and need to contact the IC to let him know you are lost. How will you proceed?
The most important emergency traffic is a fire fighter’s call for help. Most departments use “mayday” to indicate that a fire fighter is lost, missing, or requires immediate assistance. If a mayday call is heard on the radio, all other radio traffic should stop immediately. The fire fighter making the mayday call should describe the situation, location, and help needed. Fire fighters should study and practice the procedure for responding to a mayday call.
You are sitting in the report room finishing up paperwork from an earlier call when the phone rings. You answer the phone using your department’s SOPs. The caller states that her neighbor’s burn pile has grown out of control and that it is rapidly getting larger. The caller states that her neighbor is chasing the fire with a garden hose. How should you proceed?
Your department’s SOPs should outline exactly what steps you should take in this situation, such as whether you should take the information yourself or connect the caller directly to the communications center. If you take the information from the caller, be sure to get as much information as possible, including type of incident/situation, location of the incident, cross streets or identifying landmarks, indication of scene safety, caller’s name, caller’s location (if different from the incident location), and caller’s call-back number. If your station or your unit will be responding to the call, always advise the communications center immediately before responding.
A device that keeps a detailed record of every incident and activity that occurs.
Activity logging system
A series of data elements that informs the recipient of the location of the alarm.
Automatic location identification (ALI)
A series of alphanumeric characters that informs the recipient of the source of the alarm.
Automatic number identification (ANI)
A stationary radio transceiver with an integral AC power supply.
Base station
A system of telephones connected by phone lines, radio equipment, or cellular technology to a communications center or fire department.
Call box
An assigned frequency or frequencies used to carry voice and/or data communications.
Channel
A combination of hardware and software that provides data entry, makes resource recommendations, and notifies and tracks those resources before, during, and after fire service alarms, preserving records of those alarms and status changes for later analysis.
Computer-aided dispatch (CAD)
The transmission of information via radio waves using native digital (computer) data or analog (voice) signals that have been converted to a digital signal and compressed.
Digital radio
A telephone that connects two predetermined points.
Direct line
To send out emergency response resources promptly to an address or incident location for a specific purpose.
Dispatch
A radio system that is able to simultaneously use two frequencies per channel; one frequency transmits and the other receives messages. Such a system uses a repeater site to transmit messages over a greater distance than is possible with a simplex system.
Duplex channel
An urgent message, such as a call for help or evacuation, transmitted over a radio that takes precedence over all normal radio traffic.
Emergency traffic
A distinctive signal intended to be recognized by the occupants as requiring evacuation of the building.
Evacuation signal
The federal regulatory authority that oversees radio communications in the United States.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The number of cycles (oscillations) per second of a radio signal.
Frequency
A system of computer software, hardware, data, and personnel to describe information tied to a spatial location.
Geographic information systems (GIS)
A satellite-based radio navigation system comprised of three segments: space, control, and user.
Global positioning systems (GPS)
A verbal declaration indicating that a fire fighter is lost, missing, or trapped, and requires immediate assistance.
Mayday
Technology that allows fire fighters to receive data while in the fire apparatus or at the station.
Mobile data terminals (MDTs)
A two-way radio that is permanently mounted in a fire apparatus.
Mobile radio
Simultaneous transmission of multiple data streams, most often voice signals, in either or both directions over the same frequency.
Multiplex channel
A battery-operated, hand-held transceiver.
Portable radio
A facility equipped and staffed to receive emergency and non-emergency calls requesting public safety services via telephone and other communication devices.
Public safety answering point (PSAP)
A building or portion of a building that is specifically configured for the primary purpose of providing emergency communications services or public safety answering point (PSAP).
Public safety communications center
A special base station radio that receives messages and signals on one frequency and then automatically retransmits them on a second frequency.
Repeater
Cards used to determine a predetermined response to an emergency.
Run cards
A radio system that uses one frequency to transmit and receive all messages; transmissions can occur in either direction but not simultaneously in both; when one party transmits, the other can only receive, and the party that is transmitting is unable to receive.
Simplex channel
A simplex channel used for onsite communications.
Talk-around channel
An individual whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, or disseminate information of a public safety nature via telecommunication devices.
Telecommunicator
The phase of 911 call during which the telecommunicator asks questions to obtain vital information such as the location of the emergency.
Telephone interrogation
A system of predetermined coded messages, such as “What is you 10-20?” used by responders over the radio.
Ten-codes
Status updates provided to the communications center every 10 to 20 minutes. Such an update should include the type of operation, the progress of the incident, the anticipated actions, and the need for additional resources.
Time marks
A radio system that uses a computerized shared bank of frequencies to make the most efficient use of radio resources.
Trunked radios
User devices that allow speech- and/or hearing-impaired citizens to communicate over a telephone system. ___ stands for teletype, and ___ stands for telecommunications device for the deaf; the displayed text is the equivalent of a verbal conversation between two hearing persons.
TTY/TDD systems
Radio frequencies between 300 and 3000 MHz.
Ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) band
Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz; the ___ spectrum is further divided into high and low bands.
Very high-frequency (VHF) band
Technology that converts a person’s voice into a digital signal that can be sent via the Internet to another device.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Recording devices or computer equipment connected to telephone lines and radio equipment in a communications center to record telephone calls and radio traffic.
Voice recording system
Captain Williams is having a discussion with her firefighter. He was a few minutes late to the station this morning. He has a newborn baby at home and overslept. Captain Williams approached the firefighter about the matter. Hearing him out, she offers some constructive advice for assuring that it doesn’t happen again, coaches him through a verbal counseling, re-establishes policies, and directs the young man back to work. Corrective action was needed, but only after addressing the firefighter and implementing ________ communication by the captain.
Passive
Passive communication includes: listening, reading, and interpreting facial and other nonverbal cues.
Communication equipment is inherently expensive capital equipment, in most instances. The cardinal rule of prolonging the life of communications hardware is to never subject the devices to which choice?
A) Temperature extremes B) Moisture C) Shock D) Vibration E) All of the above F) A, B, and C only.
E) All of the above
Provides the PSAP and/or dispatch center with the phone number, the mobile phone network, and the subscriber’s name. It also provides either the closest cell tower or geo-location, or both.
A) Enhanced 9-1-1
B) Wireless Phase I
C) Wireless Phase II
C) Wireless Phase II
Provides the PSAP and/or dispatch center with the mobile number, but cannot provide an exact geo-location of the caller. It instead associates with the cell tower closest to the calling party.
A) Enhanced 9-1-1
B) Wireless Phase I
C) Wireless Phase II
B) Wireless Phase I
The dispatcher can see the calling party’s number and landline geographical location.
A) Enhanced 9-1-1
B) Wireless Phase I
C) Wireless Phase II
A) Enhanced 9-1-1
Which choice should a PSAP have a redundancy and resilience plan in place for?
A) Unexpected short and long term power failures
B) Cyber attack
C) Transfer of services to a remote location
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
Which choice measures the time it takes firefighters to get to their engine, get into PPE, and begin their response to a fire?
A) Dispatch Time
B) En Route Time
C) Wheel Time
D) Response Time
C) Wheel Time
By announcing __________, the IC is declaring that the incident can be managed with the resources assigned.
A) “all clear”
B) “under control”
C) “ready for service”
D) “resources complete”
B) “under control”
The USFA recommends that tapes be retained at least ________ for routine operations.
A) 2 weeks
B) 30 days
C) 6 months
D) indefinitely
B) 30 days
Which of the following posts onto a social media platform could pose employment or discipline issues for a firefighter?
A) A picture from a car accident that involved a fatality B) A racist or Semitic rant C) Threats against another employee D) All of the above E) B and C only
D) All of the above
