DB 15-11 - Risk Management Policy and Mayday Procedures

Question 1

The Incident Commander’s standard operation at an emergency incident shall include the CONCEPT of RISK MANAGEMENT in accordance with NFPA 1500 and includes the following concepts:

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

An individual assigned to an incident shall use the hailing term “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” to announce a “Firefighter MISSING, DOWN or TRAPPED”.
“Mayday” will be delivered on the INCIDENT TAC CHANNEL.

This shall be initiated by a member when his/her life is in danger and the situation CANNOT be corrected in ____ seconds

Answer 2

30 seconds

(A “Mayday” shall also be initiated by any member if they have knowledge that another firefighter’s life is in danger and they need immediate assistance.)

Question 3

If after _____ “Mayday” attempts the member does not receive acknowledgement on the INCIDENT TACTICAL CHANNEL he/she shall ___________.

Answer 3

Two (2)

Activate the Emergency Alert Button (EAB) and declare the “Mayday” again verbally

Question 4

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

Answer 4

1. Separated from Crew / “Lost” (Firefighter Missing)
2. MALFUNCTION of self-contained breathing apparatus OR activation of a LOW AIR ALARM in an IDLH and UNABLE to reach an exit safely.
3. Injured and/or Disabled FF (Firefighter Down - Injury resulting in reduced ability to exit safely)

4.Trapped, Pinned, and/or Entangled in Debris (Firefighter Trapped)

5.Any life threatening condition that cannot be resolved in 30 SECONDS

Question 5

Once a member recognizes they are in a “Mayday” situation or if any other member becomes aware of a member in a “Mayday” situation, it is imperative to give simple, but pertinent information, using the ______ method.

Answer 5

three “W’s” method (Who, Where, What).

Question 6

A Member declaring a “mayday” SHOULD WAIT for acknowledgement of the “mayday” before giving their situation. (Three W’s: Who,What,Where)

This will ensure….

Answer 6

radio traffic is clear and the IC hears the message.

Question 7

Once a “Mayday” has been declared and pertinent information has been communicated, the member in distress SHALL perform actions that will IMPROVE SURVIVABILITY by following the IAFF Self Survival procedures using the mnemonic _________.

Answer 7

GRABLIVES

Question 8

After declaring a “Mayday” on the tac channel and member is not acknowledged by incident command (after two attempts), the member in distress shall:

Answer 8

-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.

(Continue transmitting “MAYDAY” calls until answered.)

Question 9

Once a “Mayday” is declared and acknowledged, the IC, Operations Section Chief (OSC), or _________ will communicate DIRECTLY with the member in distress and confirm all of his/her transmissions are correctly understood.

Answer 9

Rapid Intervention Group (RIG) Supervisor

Question 10

Member Announcing Mayday and in distress:

The member’s “PASS” device MUST be manually activated immediately AFTER announcing the “Mayday”.
The audible “PASS” device should remain on until ______.

Answer 10

rescued

(The device should only be turned off if it impedes the member’s ability to COMMUNICATE)

Question 11

The air in one’s SCBA can be further extended by employing the survival breathing technique.
The survival breathing technique is performed by extending exhalation ____ times that of inhalation.

Answer 11

two times

Question 12

GRABLIVES
I = Illuminate

Whenever possible, the member in distress shall point the light at a _____ degree angle and shine it outward where a rescuer may see it.

Answer 12

45 degree

Question 13

Personal lights shall be activated and remain “On” when members are working in an _______ environment.

Answer 13

IDLH

Question 14

The GRABLIVES Self Survival procedure should be constantly performed throughout the rescue operations.

The member in distress shall keep the rescuers advised of the following information:

Answer 14

-location
-air cylinder quantity
-physical status/limitations
-rescue tool needs.

Question 15

GRABLIVES mnemonic:

Answer 15

Question 16

When operating on the fire ground and a “MAYDAY” event occurs, who may have the best opportunity to affect a quick rescue?

Answer 16

COMPANY COMMANDERS working nearby

Question 17

Proximity companies near a member declaring “Mayday” and in distress must consider the following in relation to rescue efforts:

Answer 17

-their location
-the company’s time “on air”
-the location of the member requiring rescue
-accountability for the company’s actions to the IC.

(It is important to understand the principle of potential rescuers becoming victims.)

Question 18

Firefighting efforts must ______ in the area that a member is believed to be down, missing, or trapped.

Answer 18

intensify

Question 19

For a “Mayday” incident:

The IC initiates the Emergency Traffic tones for ____ seconds.

Answer 19

3 seconds

Question 20

When a “Mayday” is declared:

The IC shall have ALL companies MAINTAIN their current operational position UNLESS redirected for INITIAL RESCUE.

Companies shall maintain suppression efforts in which operational mode?

Answer 20

Offensive mode

Question 21

Who onscene shall ACKNOWLEDGE and make contact with the member declaring a “Mayday” situation?

Answer 21

IC or Operations Section Chief

Question 22

After a “MAYDAY” situation, a ______ and _____ shall be conducted to assure all members and companies are accounted for at the incident or in a specific Branch, Division, or Group.

Answer 22

-Personnel accountability report (PAR)
-Company accountability report (CAR)

Question 23

When shall the term “Emergency Traffic” be used onscene of an incident?

Answer 23

-In the event of an extraordinary hazard

-Sudden change in conditions that creates an imminent danger to personnel

Question 24

In the event of an “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC” transmission, the IC / Operations (OSC) ______(shall/shall not/may?) activate the emergency radio tones to ensure radio silence prior to communicating the nature of the hazard.

Answer 24

May

Question 25

Mayday cheatsheet:

Answer 25

IC directs the “PAR” to be conducted AFTER announcing the “mayday” to onscene companies.

The “CAR” is conducted BEFORE resuming normal radio traffic

Question 26

“MAYDAY” is the term used to clear a designated radio channel(s) for traffic stating a firefighter emergency or life threatening situation.

“________”, which is common language, shall be used to notify personnel working on-scene of a “MAYDAY” situation that a firefighter accident or emergency has occurred i.e.: “Firefighter Down, Firefighter Missing, or Firefighter Trapped”.

Answer 26

Clear-Text

Question 27

An individual assigned to an incident shall use the hailing term “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” to announce a “Firefighter Missing, Down or Trapped”.

The “Mayday” call will be delivered on the _______ Channel.

Answer 27

Incident Tactical Channel

Question 28

________ is the most critical element of the Self Survival procedure.

Answer 28

Identifying a viable exit

Question 29

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

Answer 29

-Rapid Intervention Group Tactical Channel (If Assigned)
-Emergency Channel 6
-Dispatch Channel
-Incident Command Channel
-Incident Tactical Channel(s)

Question 30

Once a “MAYDAY” is declared, all radio traffic shall cease and the IC will respond by?

Answer 30

Activating EMERGENCY TONES and stating “All Companies clear this channel for a Mayday. Member calling Mayday, go!”

Question 31

After FF Rescue

The IC shall obtain a _____ from each company assigned to the incident prior to resuming normal radio communications.

Answer 31

CAR

Question 32

When a “MAYDAY” is announced, other personnel shall refrain from using the radio channel(s) unless __________.

Answer 32

-The radio message is necessary for the SAFETY of personnel

-The radio message INVOLVES the emergency situation.

Question 33

The sequence in which the GRABLIVES actions are performed are _________.

Answer 33

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.)

Question 34

Company officers are responsible for the accountability of the members under their command. ACCOUNTABILITY is managed by _________.

Answer 34

maintaining COMPANY UNITY throughout the incident

Question 35

__________ is an important factor in the overall MANAGEMENT of the incident and the PREVENTION of the “Mayday” situation.

Answer 35

Company DISCIPLINE

Question 36

Declaring a firefighter emergency EARLY allows ___________.

Answer 36

The member to initiate self-rescue actions

Provide rescue personnel with advance notice to locate the member and render assistance.