Field Communications (2020) Flashcards
What type of radio system do all NOVA Fire and Rescue Departments use?
700/800 MHz trucking radio system
Who approved the radio frequencies determined for the NOVA region?
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the local Region 20 committee
What are the radio zones assigned to the NOVA region based in the COG?
0 – Washington, DC
1 – Arlington County, VA (including Fort Myer)
2 – City of Alexandria, VA
3 – Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority
4 – Fairfax County, VA (including City of Fairfax and Fort Belvoir)
5 – Prince William County (including City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park)
6 – Loudoun County, VA
7 – Montgomery County, MD
8 – Prince George’s County, MD
10 – Charles County, MD
11 – Fauquier County, VA
12 – Culpeper County, VA
14 – Rappahannock County, VA
15 – Stafford County, VA
How many primary talkgroups do NOVA radios have?
16 primary talkgroups
What two channels shall be used as the dispatch channel?
Alpha and Papa
What is the primary small-scale incident response channel in each radio zone?
Bravo
In each radio zone, what channels may be used for any incident requiring its own incident channel?
Charlie through Mike
What is the universal safety channel in all primary radio zones?
Oscar
What channel is used when transmitting routine talk-around traffic, or can be used as a secondary safety channel?
November
When filled, what position becomes the coordination point of all radio channel assignments for an incident?
Communications Unit Leader (COML)
What is a Major Incident Communications Plan (MICP)?
A plan that distributes radio channels to the various sections, branches, divisions and groups of the ICS.
What are the local resources available?
Radio Cache, Communication Support Units, Mobile Command Posts, Incident Commanders Radio Interface (ICRI)
What are things to consider prior to making a radio transmission?
Prior to making a radio transmission:
What message do you want to convey?
Is the message necessary?
Keep it brief.
When you key the mic, be prepared to speak.
When making radio transmission, what are the things you are not allowed to do?
When making a radio transmission DO NOT:
Transmit personal or non-business messages
Transmit while standing too close to another radio
Use profanity, exchange pleasantries, or offer personal greetings.
Use names on the radio (except in a MAYDAY situation or if missing a member during a PAR check)
Use inappropriate numbering for unit (E10). Rather use COG jurisdiction unit number (E410)
What are the four categories of noise that interfere with clear and effective communication?
Physical or external, Semantic, Psychological and Physiological
What is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Phonetic Alphabet?
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu
What is a Signal 1?
Signal declared when a responder believes that physical threats could cause the injury or death
What are the minimum FD resources dispatched when a signal 1 is declared or suspected
Closest suppression piece, EMS transport unit, Battalion Chief, Safety Officer
What is emergency traffic?
When a unit officer needs to relay critical event related information, or when a unit is in trouble (and does not meet a signal 1 or mayday requirement)
Unit requires immediate assistance
A change from interior to exterior attack strategy
Fire is spreading to an exposure or may rapidly extend int the near future
There is a loss of water supply or pump pressure
A civilian is located requiring assistance
Requesting or announcing an emergency evacuation of personnel
When should a mayday be declared?
A mayday is declared when a firefighter is at risk or exposure to a potential imminent life threat in an IDLH atmosphere.
What is the EA button?
Typically, a red or orange button located on the radio or RSM. The basic use of this button is to alert the dispatcher to a situation in which operational/field personnel feel that they are in a life-threatening situation.
What are the 4 C’s of Communication?
The 4 C’s of Communication are Connect, Convey, Clarify and Confirm.
Who does the water supply report go to?
Direct from attack Engine to Supply Engine
Who does the on-scene report go to and what must it contain?
Goes direct to the first-due Command Level Officer
Unit identification and side of structure apparatus is positioned.
Building heigh (Number of stories above ground)
Occupancy type
Detailed report of conditions evident (to include side of the structure conditions are evident, quadrant located and description of conditions.)
Who does the situation report and command statement after completing a lap go to and what must it contain?
Goes direct to first-due Command Officer:
Number of floors above grade in front.
Number of floors above grade in rear.
Specific location of fire, if visible.
Presence of basement, conditions present (if any), and location of access to the basement.
Label the floors.
Any hazards observed.
Presence of exposures, if any.
Occupant status, if able to obtain.
Request additional resources, as needed.
Communicate your tactical plan and location of entry. Provide tasks to other on scene units or task you need completed by the next arriving units. Provide a clear and concise Command Statement based upon your decided tactical actions.
What is a C.A.N. report and what is its purpose?
To assist command with gathering information for the incident. C – Conditions, A – Actions, N – Needs.
When should an initial progress report be given and what should it contain?
The initial progress report should be given at approximately 10 minutes:
Confirm the address or location of the incident
Define commitment of resources
Define the hazard
Define the building or involved area
Define strategic mode
Status of search
Define extend of involved or hazard
Describe the level of containment of the fire or hazard
Describe the fireground layout or operational area
Estimate time prediction for holding units
All progress reports will be given on the command channel once the channel has been established
What should be included in a safety message?
The safety message should include:
Type of safety issues.
Location of a safety issue.
Request tones to be sounded.
What is the term used to denote a unit dispatched to an event?
Dispatched
What is the term used to denote that a unit acknowledges dispatch and is in enroute to event?
Enroute/Responding
What is the term used to denote a unit that is at the scene?
On-scene
What is the term used to denote a unit that is available to respond to events?
Ready
What is the term used to denote a unit that is available in quarts?
In quarters
What is the term used to denote a unit that is out-of-service?
Out-of-service
What is the term used to denote a unit that is transporting a patient to a hospital or support unit enroute to hospital to collect personnel?
Enroute to Hospital
What is the term used to denote a unit that has arrived at their destination hospital?
At Hospital
What is the term used to denote that a primary or secondary search is completed with no victims found?
Search is negative
What is the term used to denote visible fire upon arrival?
Fire showing
What is the term used to denote 100 percent fire involvement indicating defensive attack/no entry to IDLH?
Fully involved
What is the term used to denote fie spreading to another occupancy, floor, portion of the building, etc.?
Extending
What is the term used to denote no interior and exterior fire transmission to another area or object?
No extension
What is the term used to denote that majority of fire conditions have been extinguished and fire is contained?
Fire is knocked down (Knock on the fire)
What is the term used to denote smoke visible upon arrival?
Smoke showing
What is the term used to denote a light volume of smoke visible in the structure?
Haze in the building
What is the term used to denote interior conditions indicating smoke to the floor
Zero visibility
What is the term used to denote a process where initial units are determining the scope of the incident and what tactical actions will need to occur?
Investigative mode
What is the term used to denote a direct attack on fire, whether starting from the interior or exterior?
Offensive mode
What is the term used to denote exterior attack – exposure protection with no interior attack?
Defensive mode
What is the term used to denote a status of the event where the fire may not be out completely?
Under control
What is the term used to denote a coordinated relocation of units and their equipment, operating from an area deemed untenable, to a specific area deemed safe to continue operations?
Withdrawal
What is the term used to denote a coordinated relocation of units and their equipment, operating from an area deemed untenable, to a specific area deemed safe to continue operations?
Evacuate
What is the term used to denote that a unit heard and understood traffic that was not directed at them?
Direct
What is the term used to denote that a unit heard and understood traffic directed at them?
Ok, copy, acknowledge
What is the term used to denote a “never mind” message?
Disregard
What is the term used to denote yes?
Affirmative
What is the term used to denote no?
Negative
What is the term used to request a repeat of traffic?
Repeat
What is the term used to denote that a unit needs time to formulate a response to a question or is currently involved in a task?
Stand-by
What is the term used to denote that all personnel are accounted for properly?
P.A.R
What is the term used to denote a firefighter lost, trapped or missing?
Mayday
What is the term used to denote a request for clear airtime to transmit an emergency condition?
Emergency traffic
What is the term used to denote a situation of immediate danger due to a life-threatening situation other than a mayday?
Signal-1
When adding to a multi-unit response with a chief officer, what is the process for adding to a call?
The OIC of the adding unit will contact the dispatched Command officer via the assigned response channel and announce their intent to respond, current location, and expected arrival order.
What is the mobile radio alias?
Same as the unit’s or person’s CAD designation.
What is the portable radio alias?
Unit or person’s CAD designation followed by an indication of the portable riding position.
During voice communications, how must radios be identified?
Riding position will be spoken.
In cases where the riding position is not pertinent, what shall the radio aliases contain to indicate a portable radio?
Suffix P to indicate portable
What is condition 1?
Normal operations. Mutual and automatic aid is honored, calls are processed as normal, and responses and not adjusted or reduced
What is condition 2?
Used during periods of extended high incident activity or when one or more major events are taking place. (heavy thunderstorms, one or more multiple alarm fires, or any activity causes a depletion of resources)
What is condition 3?
Used when greater than 50% of department units are either committed to incidents or out of service. Typically, condition 3 is associated with multiple working incident or a major weather event. While in Condition 3, responses will be reduced dramatically to conserve resources.
What is failsoft?
