FGS - Chapter 5 Flashcards
After Mayday: Redefine Incident Priorities
- Life safety.
- Limiting growth of the fire.
- Saving property.
- Preserving the environment.
During Mayday: Maintain Suppression Efforts
- Provide survivable space.
- Put out the fire.
- Protect egresses.
- Ventilate.
- Lighting.
Pre-Mayday: Assign RIC Resources
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.
After Mayday: Communication
Return incident communications to normal operations
During Mayday: Notify all Resources
Inform units of Mayday and instruct them to continue their assigned tasks until further notice.
Pre-Mayday: ID Geographical References of Structure
Assign divisions:
-Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta
Multiple floors:
-1, 2, 3, etc.
Pre-Mayday: Position Command Post
- “Cold zone”.
- Visualize 2 sides.
- Uphill, upwind.
- Out of the way, nearby.
- Easy to locate.
After Mayday: Direct Post-Incident Review
• 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.
Pre-Mayday: Assure Appropriate Levels of Resources Staged
Assume a Mayday will be called…and be ready with resources.
Pre-Mayday: Medical Resources On Scene
Stage EMS Units:
• Easy access.
• Dedicate unit for fire fighters.
During Mayday: Expand ICS to accommodate Mayday
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.
During Mayday: Advise all Resources
Maintain current tactical assignments
Switch tactical frequencies if possible
Self-Survival Training
- Fire fighters self rescue.
- Training.
- Know emergency evacuation.
Pre-Mayday: Establish Communication Plan
- Dispatchers are Mayday trained.
* Uninterrupted contact with fire fighter.
Competence
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.
During Mayday: Reevaluate the Incident Action Plan
- Building structurally compromised?
- Fire complicating RIC operations?
- Can operation affect a rescue?
- Do fire fighters need rehab?
During Mayday: Expand the Command Support Team
Consider Adding: • Additional Safety officers. • Personnel to monitor radio. • Accountability officer. • Sit-Stat/ Re-stat. • Additional Chief Officers.
Need for Culture Change
• 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.
During Mayday: Obtain PAR from each unit in “Hot Zone”
- PAR should not disrupt rescue.
- Performed by company officers and division/group supervisors.
- Face to face if possible.
- Transmitted using roll call.
Pre-Planning
- Lightweight construction.
- Joist hangars, gang nail plates.
- KNOW DANGERS!
After Mayday: Determine need for Investigation Team
- Establish a perimeter.
- Limit unnecessary personnel.
- Possibility of the incident becoming a crime scene.
During Mayday: Obtain Follow-up Reports from RIC
• RIC Situation Report – Conditions – Actions – Needs • Short and concise
During Mayday: Terminate the Mayday
- Conduct PAR after rescue confirmed.
- IC terminates Mayday when all accounted for.
- IC confirms all injured fire fighters treated and/or transported.
During Mayday: Communications
Control communications on radio channel used by fire fighter calling Mayday.
During Mayday: ID Fire Fighter Calling the Mayday
IC Listen Carefully:
• Who/What/Where?
• Document.
• Commit to memory.
During Mayday: Advise Dispatch
Request additional resources
Consider requesting additional tactical radio frequency
Expectations of the IC
- Listening: so the IC can hear the call for help.
- Acting: sending RIC quickly to locate and remove
the distressed fire fighter. - Responding: providing appropriate medical care to the distressed fire fighter.
To be in CHARGE and in COMMAND.
Mayday Command Training
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.”
During Mayday: Repeat Mayday
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.
Focus
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.
During Mayday: Deploy RIC
• RIC Leader positioned at CP. • Intel from IC to RIC Leader: – Name and assignment. – Last known location. – Radio channel. – Special rescue information.
Pre-Mayday: Accountability System
Track Personnel Using: • Command board. • Tactical worksheet. • Accountability roster. • T-card.
After Mayday: Assess Need for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
- A Mayday is highly emotional event.
- Individuals may feel responsible/guilt.
- Consider behavioral health professionals to offer follow-up care.
After Mayday: Utilize PIO
• 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.
Expanding ICS for Mayday
• Initial stage (first alarm resources):
– Single resources are assigned tactical
objectives.
• All first alarm resources have tactical assignments:
– Additional resources needed to support RIC.
During Mayday: No Contact
ID fire fighter’s last known location
• Last report received by company may indicate location.
• IC contacts company officer or others nearby.
Pre-Mayday: Request Additional RIC
- Pre-designate the resources used to support RIC.
* Staged RIC resources ready to be deployed when requested by IC.
During Mayday: Receive Mayday from Fire Fighter
IC Prepared to Receive Mayday:
• Command Post well organized.
• Radio volume up
• Command sheets maintained.
On Scene Size-Up
- Accurate-Long Look.
- Exterior and interior.
- All personnel.
- KNOW DANGERS!
After Mayday: Assure Fresh Crews Available
- 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.
Pre-Mayday: Assign Command Officer to RICGS
If Possible Prepare for Mayday Early:
• Assign Command Officer to RIC Group Supervisor position at CP.
