FGS - Chapter 5

Question 1

After Mayday: Redefine Incident Priorities

Answer 1

1. Life safety.
2. Limiting growth of the fire.
3. Saving property.
4. Preserving the environment.

Question 2

During Mayday: Maintain Suppression Efforts

Answer 2

• Provide survivable space.
• Put out the fire.
• Protect egresses.
• Ventilate.
• Lighting.

Question 3

Pre-Mayday: Assign RIC Resources

Answer 3

RIC Leader to CP.

RIC Assigned Early to Soften Building:
• Keep access and egress routes clear.
• Tool and equipment cache.
• Ladders.
• Light egresses.
• Remove bars.
• Hose line protection.

Question 4

After Mayday: Communication

Answer 4

Return incident communications to normal operations

Question 5

During Mayday: Notify all Resources

Answer 5

Inform units of Mayday and instruct them to continue their assigned tasks until further notice.

Question 6

Pre-Mayday: ID Geographical References of Structure

Answer 6

Assign divisions:
-Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta

Multiple floors:
-1, 2, 3, etc.

Question 7

Pre-Mayday: Position Command Post

Answer 7

• “Cold zone”.
• Visualize 2 sides.
• Uphill, upwind.
• Out of the way, nearby.
• Easy to locate.

Question 8

After Mayday: Direct Post-Incident Review

Answer 8

• Before leaving scene IC assigns investigation team:
– Re-create incident for post-incident analysis.
– Personnel assigned to incident share what they
learned.
• Lessons learned from a Mayday incident can result in
improved department SOGs.

Question 9

Pre-Mayday: Assure Appropriate Levels of Resources Staged

Answer 9

Assume a Mayday will be called…and be ready with resources.

Question 10

Pre-Mayday: Medical Resources On Scene

Answer 10

Stage EMS Units:
• Easy access.
• Dedicate unit for fire fighters.

Question 11

During Mayday: Expand ICS to accommodate Mayday

Answer 11

Assign RIC Group Supervisor:
• Manage rescue.
• Communicate with RIC and fire fighter.
• Allows IC to focus on incident operations.
• If not possible, then IC to focus on Mayday.

Question 12

During Mayday: Advise all Resources

Answer 12

Maintain current tactical assignments

Switch tactical frequencies if possible

Question 13

Self-Survival Training

Answer 13

• Fire fighters self rescue.
• Training.
• Know emergency evacuation.

Question 14

Pre-Mayday: Establish Communication Plan

Answer 14

• Dispatchers are Mayday trained.

* Uninterrupted contact with fire fighter.

Question 15

Competence

Answer 15

Leaders should calm down, not spin up, during a Mayday. Focus energy, don’t create it. Quiet, steady competence is what people need from leaders during crisis.

Question 16

During Mayday: Reevaluate the Incident Action Plan

Answer 16

• Building structurally compromised?
• Fire complicating RIC operations?
• Can operation affect a rescue?
• Do fire fighters need rehab?

Question 17

During Mayday: Expand the Command Support Team

Answer 17

Consider Adding:
• Additional Safety officers.
• Personnel to monitor radio.
• Accountability officer.
• Sit-Stat/ Re-stat.
• Additional Chief Officers.

Question 18

Need for Culture Change

Answer 18

• Calling a Mayday often seen as a failure or weakness.
• IC must set expectations
for calling the Mayday.
• Fire fighters must KNOW they have support.

Question 19

During Mayday: Obtain PAR from each unit in “Hot Zone”

Answer 19

• PAR should not disrupt rescue.
• Performed by company officers and division/group supervisors.
• Face to face if possible.
• Transmitted using roll call.

Question 20

Pre-Planning

Answer 20

• Lightweight construction.
• Joist hangars, gang nail plates.
• KNOW DANGERS!

Question 21

After Mayday: Determine need for Investigation Team

Answer 21

• Establish a perimeter.
• Limit unnecessary personnel.
• Possibility of the incident becoming a crime scene.

Question 22

During Mayday: Obtain Follow-up Reports from RIC

Answer 22

• RIC Situation Report
– Conditions
– Actions
– Needs
• Short and concise

Question 23

During Mayday: Terminate the Mayday

Answer 23

• Conduct PAR after rescue confirmed.
• IC terminates Mayday when all accounted for.
• IC confirms all injured fire fighters treated and/or transported.

Question 24

During Mayday: Communications

Answer 24

Control communications on radio channel used by fire fighter calling Mayday.

Question 25

During Mayday: ID Fire Fighter Calling the Mayday

Answer 25

IC Listen Carefully:
• Who/What/Where?
• Document.
• Commit to memory.

Question 26

During Mayday: Advise Dispatch

Answer 26

Request additional resources

Consider requesting additional tactical radio frequency

Question 27

Expectations of the IC

Answer 27

1. Listening: so the IC can hear the call for help.
2. Acting: sending RIC quickly to locate and remove
   the distressed fire fighter.
3. Responding: providing appropriate medical care to the distressed fire fighter.

To be in CHARGE and in COMMAND.

Question 28

Mayday Command Training

Answer 28

NFPA 1021 Standard for Fire Officer’s Professional Qualifications 2-6.3 states: “…all officers have the ability to implement the IMS (incident management system), to communicate verbally, and to supervise and account for personnel under emergency conditions.”

NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program states: “…all members who are likely to be involved in emergency operations shall be trained in the incident management and accountability system used by the department.”
AND
“…the fire department shall adopt or develop training and educational curriculums that meet the minimum qualifications standard covering the members assigned function.”

Question 29

During Mayday: Repeat Mayday

Answer 29

Ex: “E1 Fire Fighter Smith from IC, I copy that you’re lost on the 1st floor. RIC is deployed. Stay calm, conserve your air, and turn on your light, we’re on our way.

Question 30

Focus

Answer 30

Leader must focus outward on environment and problem.

Outward focus must accomplish three specific tasks:
• Make sense of what’s causing the Mayday.
• Control emotions.
• Orient on learning from the event.

Question 31

During Mayday: Deploy RIC

Answer 31

• RIC Leader positioned at CP.
• Intel from IC to RIC Leader:
– Name and assignment.
– Last known location.
– Radio channel.
– Special rescue information.

Question 32

Pre-Mayday: Accountability System

Answer 32

Track Personnel Using:
• Command board.
• Tactical worksheet.
• Accountability roster.
• T-card.

Question 33

After Mayday: Assess Need for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Answer 33

• A Mayday is highly emotional event.
• Individuals may feel responsible/guilt.
• Consider behavioral health professionals to offer follow-up care.

Question 34

After Mayday: Utilize PIO

Answer 34

• Media come on scene quickly during a Mayday:
– They want names.
– All information released approved by IC.
– Family Liaison or Medical Liaison to notify family.

Question 35

Expanding ICS for Mayday

Answer 35

• Initial stage (first alarm resources):
– Single resources are assigned tactical
objectives.

• All first alarm resources have tactical assignments:
– Additional resources needed to support RIC.

Question 36

During Mayday: No Contact

Answer 36

ID fire fighter’s last known location
• Last report received by company may indicate location.
• IC contacts company officer or others nearby.

Question 37

Pre-Mayday: Request Additional RIC

Answer 37

• Pre-designate the resources used to support RIC.

* Staged RIC resources ready to be deployed when requested by IC.

Question 38

During Mayday: Receive Mayday from Fire Fighter

Answer 38

IC Prepared to Receive Mayday:
• Command Post well organized.
• Radio volume up
• Command sheets maintained.

Question 39

On Scene Size-Up

Answer 39

• Accurate-Long Look.
• Exterior and interior.
• All personnel.
• KNOW DANGERS!

Question 40

After Mayday: Assure Fresh Crews Available

Answer 40

• Mayday operations stressful & fatiguing.
• Require high degree of mental awareness.
• Consider creating fire fighter Rehab Unit under Logistics.
• Crews rotated between operational and rehab areas.

Question 41

Pre-Mayday: Assign Command Officer to RICGS

Answer 41

If Possible Prepare for Mayday Early:

• Assign Command Officer to RIC Group Supervisor position at CP.