Field Communications Flashcards
Another name for a building walk around
360 lap
Is specifically assigned to an incident for fire-ground and command communications
Alternate channel
Two-way assistance by fire departments dispatched automatically under prearranged plans or contracts on the basis that each will aid the other
Automatic aid
Normal operating status of the dispatch center
Condition 1
Status used during periods of extended high incident activity or when one or more major events are taking place
Condition 2
Status used when greater than 50% of department units are either committed to incidents or out of service
Condition 3
Hospital and/or emergency room bed space is full, forcing EMS units to alter their normal transport destination
Hospital re-route
Also known as fill in or transfer
Relocation
Radio designation used when the request is approved or ordered by the Incident Commander for a company of 4 or more to split into two teams to work in two distinct or separate areas or functions
X-ray
Par checks are done at
The 20-minute timer and every 20 minutes thereafter
Respond with caution while using all emergency warning devices and headlights
Priority 1
Respond in a non-emergency mode without warning devices
Priority 2
The entity responsible for coordinating the availability of beds in the five hospitals and 2 trauma centers closest to the incident
Regional Hospital Coordination Center (RHCC)
The RHCC talls under the
Transportation group
The 800 MHz radio system that the FRD uses what for “talk around” or “safety channels”
November & Oscar
Channels used to assist units with communications in areas with unreliable radio system coverage
Safety Channel
All Northern Virginia (NOVA) Fire and Rescue Departments use what type of radio system
700/800 MHz trunking radio system
Frequencies are determined and approved for use by
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
Radio zone for Washington, DC
0
Radio zone for Arlington County (including Fort Myer)
1
Radio zone for City of Alexandria
2
Radio zone for Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA)
3
Radio zone for Fairfax County (including City of Fairfax & Fort Belvoir)
4
Radio zone for Prince William County (Including City of Manassas & City of Manassas Park)
5
Radio zone for Loudoun County
6
Radio zone for Montgomery County
7
Radio zone for Prince George’s County
8
Radio zone for Frederick County
9
Radio zone for Charles County
10
Radio zone for Fauquier County
11
Radio zone for Culpeper County
12
Radio zone for Rappahannock County
14
Radio zone for Stafford County
15
A common feature of radio talkgroups is the use of a radio zone that uses
16 primary talkgroups
Dispatch channels shall be
Alpha & Papa
The primary small-scale incident response channel may be
Bravo
These channels may be used for any incident requiring its own incident channel or designated by the agency
Charlie through Mike
The universal safety channel in all primary radio zones is
Oscar
Because Channel Oscar and November are non-repeated channels, dispatchers cannot
Monitor radio traffic or receive an EA
Can be used as a second safety channel
November
Typical range of channels November & Oscar is about
1 mile of line of sight of other radio users
The communications unit is under the direction of the
Communications Unit Leader (COML)
A plan that distributes radio channels to the various sections, branches, divisions, and groups of the Incident Command System (ICS)
Major Incident Communications Plan (MICP)
Noise during the communications process is grouped into
4 categories
High heat, sounds of work, radio feedback from a crewmember standing too close, PASS alarm activates
Physical or external
Confusing word choices
Semantic
Preconception bias and assumptions that we all make regarding one another
Psychological
Biological influences such as sweaty palms, pounding heart, anxiety, exhaustion, out of breath, feeling or being sick, hunger
Psysiological
The common language Protocol addresses two primary communication areas
- Phonetic alphabet
- Signals
A
Alpha
B
Bravo
C
Charlie
D
Delta
E
Echo
F
Foxtrot
G
Golf
H
Hotel
I
India
J
Juliet
K
Kilo
L
Lima
M
Mike
N
November
O
Oscar
P
Papa
Q
Quebec
R
Romeo
S
Sierra
T
Tango
U
Uniform
V
Victor
W
Whiskey
X
X-ray
Y
Yankee
Z
Zulu
Is declared when a responder believes that physical threats could cause injury or death
Signal 1
Declaring a Signal 1 is different from declaring a Mayday because
Personnel are typically not in an IDLH environment but are in a dangerous or hostile situation and in need of an immediate law enforcement presence
Any time a Signal 1 is declared or suspected the following minimum FD resources shall be dispatched
- Closest suppression piece
- EMS transport unit
- Battalion Chief
- Safety Officer
Is a critical tool for firefighters and EMS providers on a daily basis
Portable radio
Other than when actively changing zones it is recommended that the keypad
Always remain locked
The remote speaker mic (RSM) should exit the coat
In the space between the top flap of the PPE coat and below the neck strap with minimal RSM cord exposure
RSM
Remote speaker mic
Wearing the portable radio in the same manner on all calls for service increases muscle memory and repeated repetition
Increases the chance of a successful radio transmission in a stressful situation
An example of this would be a unit officer needs to relay critical event related information when a unit is in trouble (and does not meet a signal 1 or Mayday requirement)
Emergency traffic
Is declared when a firefighter is at risk or exposed to a potential imminent life threat in an IDLH atmosphere
Mayday
This button is typically a red or orange button located near the channel and/or zone selector knobs or buttons and may be found on top of the remote speaker mic
Emergency Activation (EA) button
The Emergency Activation (EA) button can be activated in cases of a Mayday when
Command does not acknowledge the Mayday
To clear the EA signal users should push and hold the EA button which requires
1 - 3 seconds
Once an EA has occurred how many attempts shall be made to contact a unit
3 attempts
Once an EA is received by the ECC, the transmission will fall into one of three categories
- EA on an incident without command established
- EA on an incident with command established
- EA not directly related to an incident
When a unit is on an incident without command established and an EA is received by the ECC, the ECC dispatcher shall make
Two attempts to contact the unit
If command is not established and an EA is activated and the unit fails to respond and is dispatched on a single unit call the ECC will
Immediately dispatch additional resources per the Signal 1 response guidelines
If any unit activates an EA and is involved in an incident with command established, the IC will
be immediately notified of the alias of the unit or numerical radio identifier broadcasting the signal
When a location of the unit making the EA cannot be determined the EA shall be considered a
Signal 1 until contact is made with that unit
The 4 C’s Communication Model is
- Connect
- Convey
- Clarify
- Confirm
CAN
C-Conditions
A-Actions
N-Needs
The initial progress report should be given at approximately
10 minutes
Unit dispatched to an event
Dispatch(ed)
Unit acknowledges dispatch and is enroute to event
Enroute/Responding
Unit is at the scene
On-scene
Used when unit changes response to another event
Divert
Unit is available to respond to events
Ready
Unit is available in Quarters
In Quarters
Unit is OOS, mechanical
Out-Of-Service (OOS)
Unit is transporting patient to a hospital or support unit enroute to hospital to collect personnel
Enroute to hospital
Arrived at destination hospital
At hospital
While responding to incidents units shall
Communicate directly to one another and not routinely go through the dispatcher
All units on the initial dispatched full alarm assignment shall
Announce they are onscene and announce their unit assignment
There are how many Routine Response Conditions (RRC) used by the NOVA Departments
3
Normal operations are considered Condition
Condition 1
Is used during periods of extended high incident activity or when one or more major events are taking place
Condition 2
Is used when greater than 50% of department units are either committed to incidents or out of service
Condition 3
Is the redundancy when the radio system can no longer perform trunking operations
Failsoft
In Failsoft what channels are combined
- Alpha & Bravo are 1 channel
- Charlie - Foxtrot become 1 channel
During failsoft encryption will
Not work
What channels are not impacted by Failsoft
November & Oscar
Will not function in Failsoft in the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) or via individual portable radio for trunked radio talkgroups
EA’s
