Communications (Passage 4) Flashcards

1
Q

According to Dispatch policy, what are the highest priorities of the Fire Department?

A

The TIMELY RESPONSE and EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT of EMS, rescue, and fire control situations.

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2
Q

According to Dispatch policy, to what calls will fire fighters respond?

A

Any emergency situation which threatens LIFE, SAFETY or PROPERTY.

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3
Q

According to Dispatch policy, how is the responding unit determined?

A

The Fire Department Dispatch Center will dispatch the closest available unit(s) with the capability to control the emergency situation.

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4
Q

According to Dispatch policy, what does Dispatch do in cases where the Fire Department is not the appropriate agency to deliver the needed assistance or if the situation is not a true emergency?

A

An attempt will be made to place the caller in contact with the appropriate agency.

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5
Q

According to Dispatch policy, what does Dispatch do when a positive determination of the need for an emergency response cannot be made?

A

The Fire Department policy is to dispatch Fire Department resources.

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6
Q

What is the Fire Department’s jurisdiction? (2)

A
  1. Within the City limits.

2. Borderline locations when an accurate determination of jurisdiction cannot be made by the dispatcher.

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7
Q

What constitutes as mutual aid incidents?

A

Calls for assistance from public or quasi-public agencies outside the City limits.

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8
Q

What is the primary responsibility of dispatchers in order to initiate the dispatch process? (3)

A

To determine, without delay,

  1. the nature and
  2. location of the emergency, and
  3. the source of the call (call back number)
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9
Q

Once it is determined that an emergency response is required, the call will be entered into what?

A

Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.

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10
Q

What does CAD do?

A

It automatically selects units for dispatch according to their

  1. distance from the location of the call and
  2. the service delivery capabilities of each company.
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11
Q

How is distance measurements from a call determined?

A

Based on TRAVEL DISTANCE from a company’s station or its current location if it has been temporarily reassigned to another area and
it’s GPS CAPABILITIES even if the vehicle is in transit.

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12
Q

What does GPS stand for?

A

Global Positioning System

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13
Q

What does CAD stand for?

A

Computer Aided Dispatch

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14
Q

Who adds units to the assignment until the capability requirements are satisfied?

A

CAD system

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15
Q

Who will upgrade a response, as required, until the situation is stabilized?

A

Fire Dispatcher

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16
Q

What are the standard types of assignments? (9)

A
  1. EMS assignments
  2. Still assignments
  3. Brush assignments
  4. Two-One assignment
  5. First Alarm assignment
  6. Greater Alarm assignment
  7. Alert 1, 2 & 3
  8. Special Duty assignments
  9. Hazardous Materials assignments
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17
Q

What is the assignment designated by:

EM

A

BLS incident

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18
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
EM-A
Responding units?

A
ALS incident, 
heavy rescue (RES)
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19
Q

What does RES stand for?

A

Heavy rescue

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20
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
EM-V
Responding units?

A

Vehicle accident, BLS

requires engine company

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21
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
EM-VA
Responding units?

A

VEHICLE accident, ALS

(requires ALS unit) RES

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22
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
EM-VP
Responding units?

A

VEHICLE / PEDESTRIAN accident

(requires ALS unit) RES

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23
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
EM-VX
Responding units?

A

VEHICLE accident, ALS and EXTRICATION

(requires engine AND truck company) RES

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24
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
EM-X
Responding units?

A

EXTRICATION for incidents other than vehicular

requires ALS, extrication and RES

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25
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
2-1-M
Responding units?

A

TWO-ONE MEDICAL incident

(2 ALS units required) RES

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26
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
1A-M
Responding units?

A

1st ALARM MEDICAL incident

(3 ALS units required) 2 RES

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27
Q

What is an ST?

Responding units?

A

STILL assignment for non-structure fires, including vehicle fires.
1 engine company

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28
Q

What are the abbreviated types of EMS incidents? (9)

A
  1. EM
  2. EM-A
  3. EM-V
  4. EM-VA
  5. EM-VP
  6. EM-VX
  7. EM-X
  8. 2-1-M
  9. 1A-M
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29
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
ST-BR
Responding units?

A

STILL BRUSH assignment will be dispatched for vegetation fires that are small in nature, and the wildland hazard is low.
1 engine company and 1 brush apparatus

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30
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
BR
Responding units?

A

BRUSH assignment dispatched for vegetation fires that are serious in nature, and the wildland hazard is medium.
2 engine companies, 2 brush apparatus, 1 water tanker, 1 command officer

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31
Q

What is the assignment designated by:
1A-BR
Responding units?

A

FIRST ALARM BRUSH assignment dispatched for vegetation fires that have the potential of a major situation and this level of resources will be utilized.
5 engine companies, 2 brush apparatus, 1 tanker, Ranger 31 (when available), 1 command officer

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32
Q

What are the types of brush assignments? (3)

A
  1. Still Brush ST-BR
  2. Brush BR
  3. First alarm brush 1A-BR
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33
Q

What is it called when additional equipment for brush fires is requested by Command?

A

Special Call will be dispatched.

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34
Q

What is a 2-1?

Responding units?

A

TWO-ONE assignment for structure fires which do not indicate the need for a First Alarm assignment.
A 2-1 assignment may also be dispatched for other situations where the need for this level of resource is indicated.
2 engine companies, 1 ladder company, 1 command officer.

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35
Q

What else could be dispatched by Communications to a 2-1 when reports indicated that companies are engaged in active fire suppression efforts?

A

Utility truck

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36
Q

What does 1A stand for?

A

FIRST ALARM assignments

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37
Q

Who is dispatched to a residential structure First Alarm assignment?
What is added on First Alarms that indicate a working fire?

A

3 engine companies, 1 ladder company, 1 command officer

Add at least 1 ALS unit and 1 rescue unit

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38
Q

Who is dispatched to a commercial structure First Alarm assignment?
What is added on all First Alarms?

A

4 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 1 utility truck, 2 command officers
Add at least 1 ALS unit and 1 rescue unit

39
Q

What does GA stand for?

A

GREATER ALARM assignments

40
Q

When the need is indicated, who requests Greater Alarms?

A

Command

41
Q

What number of resources do additional alarms receive?

A

Resources are doubled for each alarm called.

42
Q

To what emergencies do these alerts refer?

A-1, 2, 3

A

Alert 1, 2 & 3

Alerts refer to aircraft emergencies at airports.

43
Q

What number and type of units dispatched do Alert 1, 2, & 3 receive?

A

The number and type of units dispatched will depend upon the type / size of aircraft and level of rescue required.

44
Q

What does SD stand for?

A

SPECIAL DUTY assignments

45
Q

In what incidents are SD assignments dispatched?

Responding units?

A

Communications will dispatched for automatic system incidents with no other report of fire.
A SD assignment will also be dispatched for non-emergency situations.
One engine company on a Code 3 (emergency driving).

46
Q

What is a Code 2?

A

Normal driving

47
Q

What is a Code 3?

A

Emergency driving

48
Q

What are the responding units for a Hazardous Materials assignment?

A

The Haz-Mat Team in addition to the closest unit(s) response.

49
Q

What does SC stand for? What is it?

Responding units?

A

SPECIAL CALL.
Command at any incident may call for the dispatch of specific units or types of units at any time. These would respond in addition to those units normally dispatched.

50
Q

Who requests an SC?

A

Command

51
Q

What is meant by Upgrading Assignments? What terminology is associated with this?
Who requests this?

A

Assignments may be upgraded by Command at any time by requesting the “Balance of…” and specifying the desired level of assignment.

52
Q

How is Specialized Equipment dealt?

Who requests this?

A

Communications will dispatch additional specialized equipment on any incident where the need is indicated.

53
Q

What should happen with Initiating Incidents?

A

Units initiating new incidents should request the desired assignment and give the nature and location to the Primary Channel Dispatcher.
Additional information and reports should be given on the assigned Command Channel after dispatch.

54
Q

When should the use of MDT occur?

A

Units changing status or performing routine transactions should use MDT to communicate with CAD directly.

55
Q

What should occur if the MDT is inoperative?

A

Company officers will transmit information via the radio on the Administrative Channel.

56
Q

What is Condition One?

A

The normal mode of operation for the Communications system.

57
Q

What channel should be used during Condition One for official non-emergency communications?

A

Channel 7B

58
Q

What is Condition Two?

A

The blocking of all nonessential communications during periods of extremely heavy traffic.

59
Q

What is the terminology to announce a Condition Two?

A

“COMMUNICATIONS IS ON CONDITION TWO”

60
Q

Who determines when to declare a Condition Two and when it should end?

A

Communications Supervisor

61
Q

According to the Move Up Policy, who is responsible for relocating units to maintain the best available coverage for the entire City?

A

Communications Captain

62
Q

What does the Communications Captain have the authority to do to maintain coverage?

A

To request companies from neighboring cities and to control or cancel scheduled and nonscheduled non-emergency activities.

63
Q

What is the minimum level of coverage before off-duty personnel are recalled to staff reserve companies?

A

12 engine companies and 3 ladder companies

64
Q

Who has the responsibility to authorize a personnel recall?

A

The on-call Emergency Duty Chief

65
Q

Who notifies whom when coverage levels fall below the minimum level?

A

Communications notifies the on-call Emergency Duty Chief.

66
Q

What are the 3 status options for a company’s availability to accept a dispatch?

A
  1. Available
  2. Unavailable
  3. Delayed
67
Q

What does AOR stand for with regard to change of status?

A

AVAILABLE ON RADIO

68
Q

What should units do which are AOR?

A

Units which are Available On Radio shall monitor Channel !

69
Q

How do units changing their status to delayed or unavailable contact Fire Communications?
What information should they provide?

A

By radio or telephone.

Indicate the REASON and LENGTH OF TIME they will be unavailable.

70
Q

What does TRO stand for?

A

TACTICAL RADIO OPERATOR

71
Q

What does the TRO do?

A

The Tactical Radio Operator handles all communications between units assigned to an incident and the Fire Communications Center on the assigned Tactical Channel.

72
Q

How shall responding units acknowledge dispatch? (2)

A

By station switch or by MDT.

73
Q

How long does a unit have until the TRO will request acknowledgement by radio?

A

1 minute

74
Q

After 2 attempts to obtain an acknowledgement, what will Fire Communications do? (3)

A
  1. Fire Communications will dispatch a COVER COMPANY
  2. while continuing to contact the original company on other radio channels.
  3. If unable to contact, the company will be placed unavailable and the appropriate Battalion Chief will be notified of the circumstances.
75
Q

What level of response will all fire and EMS responses be unless otherwise indicated by Communications or Command?

A

Code 3 (emergency driving)

76
Q

What are the response options for Special Duty responses as specified by the Fire Communications Center?

A

Code 2 (normal driving) or Code 3 (emergency driving)

77
Q

What level of response will occur when units must travel on freeways to calls?

A

Code 2 (normal driving)

78
Q

Who relays any additional information gained from subsequent calls and how?

A

The TRO (Tactical Radio Operator) will transmit updates to the MDT.

79
Q

What are the Order Model guidelines of radio procedures? (5)

A
  1. Sender will give unit ID and call the receiver by their unit ID
  2. Receiver will give their ID to indicate they are ready to receive.
  3. Sender will then extend message, order, etc.
  4. Receiver will give ID and acknowledge receipt of message. A brief statement is the best acknowledgement.
  5. The TRO will acknowledge all communications directed to it by a brief statement of the message, with particular attention given to repeating on the scene, size-up and progress reports, recall reports, requests for additional resources and “All Clear,” “Under Control,” and “CO below 50 PPM.”
80
Q

What are the ABCs of radio communications?

A

ACCURACY
BREVITY
CLARITY
Be accurate in what you say, briefly, and clearly state what you need.

81
Q

What should an ORDER do?

A

Orders should tell what to do, not how to do it.

82
Q

What are the characteristics of giving an assignment or task? (2)

A
  1. Task- and company-oriented

2. Indicate an OBJECTIVE to the action

83
Q

When given an assignment or task, what should the company know exactly? (4)

A

The company should know exactly:

 1. WHERE to go
 2. to whom to REPORT
 3. WHAT the task is
 4. OBJECTIVE of the task
84
Q

When should “Emergency Traffic” be utilized?

A

By any unit encountering an IMMEDIATELY PERILOUS situation and will receive the highest communications priority from Fire Communications, Command and all operating units.

85
Q

How can units initiate emergency communications? (2)

A
  1. By depressing the purple “E” (emergency) button on their MDT
  2. By verbally contacting Fire Dispatch
86
Q

Who should be contacted first and second with emergency traffic?

A
  1. Dispatch

2. Command

87
Q

What is the unit designator for Fire Communications Center?

A

Dispatch

88
Q

What is the unit designator for Officer of any unit?

A

Unit ID

89
Q

What is the unit designator for Engineer of any pumper?

A

Pump

90
Q

What is the unit designator for Engineer of any ladder?

A

Truck

91
Q

What is the unit designator for additional portable radio assigned to company?

A

Unit ID followed by “A”

92
Q

What is the unit designator for Battalion Chief?

A

Battalion

93
Q

What is the unit designator for District Commander?

A

Deputy