Policy: 07-03-14
MayDay Procedures

Issued By:Suppression

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Purpose
To ensure firefighter safety by establishing a procedure to be used at emergency incidents when a firefighter is trapped, missing, or has sustained a life threatening injury, and to outline the roles and responsibilities of all staff involved in helping mitigate this MayDay situation.


Background
This replaces POG #07-03-14, "MayDay Procedures", dated 2009/08/11.


Policy Statement
Activate Emergency Alert Button on Top of Radio

1. As soon as a firefighter identifies the need to call a MAYDAY they should, where possible, depress the emergency alert button on their portable radio. This activates an alarm in the 911 Communications Center, which alerts the 911 dispatcher of an emergency activation on Portable # --. No tones or alarms will be audible to other radio users at the emergency scene, therefore the initiator will not assume other personnel on scene are aware of this initiation at the outset.

2. Communicate on the radio "Mayday-Mayday-Mayday" along with your Location, Identity of yourself and your crew and the Problem you are experiencing.



The acronym LIP will assist firefighters with transmitting crucial information:

L - Location (where you are)
I - Identification (who you are, what sector, what crew, number in crew)
P - Problem (what the problem is, ie. trapped, low on air, lost, etc)

Example Transmission:

"MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY, second floor, Sector 1, PAR times 2, we are both low on air."


Manually Activate Your Pass Alarm

3. After making radio contact with someone, and/or after a second unsuccessful attempt at making radio contact, the firefighter should:
  • Manually activate their PASS alarm and keep it in full alarm mode.

This will assist the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) in locating the firefighter(s). The PASS alarm should be left activated in the alarm mode until the firefighter(s) are reached by the RIC, or until self-rescue is accomplished (if necessary), or if the firefighter needs to use radio again, after which the firefighter should turn the PASS alarm back on again.

Note 1: The PASS alarm should be turned off when you are trying to communicate by radio, and should then be turned back on again to assist the RIC team.

4. If the activation of the emergency alert button was accidental, the user will state, "This is Portable # -- with an accidental emergency button activation". Communications will acknowledge and the reset procedure will be initiated.

Search For An Exit

5. A lost firefighter should make reasonable attempts to exit a building by every possible means.
  • Attempt not to remain in the middle of an open space.
  • Find a wall. Use the wall to find an exit (window or door).
  • Breech a wall for escape or to access breathable air.

A REVIEW OF STEPS TO TAKE FOR MAYDAY
  • Press: Emergency Alert Button on the Portable Radio
  • State: MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY
  • State: LIP - Location, Identify Your Crew, Problems you are having.
  • Activate: Pass Alarm Manually
  • Search: For an exit (window or door).


911 Communication Center Responsibilities When a Mayday is Called

6. Whenever a MAYDAY request is received, all radio communications on the radio frequency in use are to cease and only radio communications between the firefighter initiating the emergency, the IC, RIC, and 911 dispatchers are allowed.

7. It is the responsibility of the 911 Communications Center, upon receiving the emergency alert tone and the Mayday call over the radio system to notify the Mayday caller that their call for help and information has been received.

The 911 dispatcher should state clearly:

"Portable # --, this is 8-4, we have received your emergency Mayday".

Note 2: When a Mayday is received, the caller of the Mayday can hear the radio transmissions from 911 dispatchers but 911 dispatchers cannot communicate with them as the caller is on the working channel.

IMPORTANT: The 911 dispatchers should wait twenty (20) seconds before notifying the IC that Portable # -- has activated the emergency locator button and Mayday information has been received. This twenty (20) second delay is to ensure the radio transmission is not cut off that may/should follow from the firefighter in trouble. It is also important that a 911 dispatcher notify the IC anytime the 911 dispatcher thinks he/she has received an alert activation or a Mayday call on the radio.

8. 911 Communications should dedicate a 911 dispatcher to monitor the radio communications until the end of the MAYDAY event.

9. Normal radio use will resume upon completion of the emergency unless the IC orders otherwise.


Incident Command Responsibilities When a Mayday is Called

10. It is the responsibility of the IC, upon hearing a MAYDAY call or upon being notified by the 911 Dispatcher of a MAYDAY call, to conduct the following:
  • Ensure that all MAYDAY messages are acknowledged.
  • Confirm the location, identification and problems or needs of the personnel making the MAYDAY call.
  • Request the Accountability to conduct a full or partial PAR, starting with personnel in the immediate area of the problem. This should assist Command in establishing who is trapped, missing or has sustained life-threatening injury and their approximate location.
  • Ensure crews working on the fire ground continue their assigned tasks if directly involved in fire attack or primary search.
  • Assign a RIC to deal with the Mayday emergency.
  • Inform, brief and deploy the RIC and request additional personnel to establish a new RIC.
  • Turn the fire scene incident over to the Shift Superintendent and deal with the Mayday only, or turn the Mayday over to the Shift Superintendent and deal with the fire scene only.
  • Have 911 Communications contact Emergency Medical Services and have them position their personnel at the appropriate Entry Control Point, or at a safe location outside of the controlled area.
  • Notify 911 Communications to announce the conclusion of the MAYDAY event.


Note 3: It is important to remember that these are guidelines for the action taken by the IC upon receiving a MAYDAY. They do not have to be accomplished in the order listed, however it is important that they be achieved rapidly.


Firefighting Staff Responsibilities

11. It is the responsibility of all radio users to understand when to activate the emergency button, the information to be relayed in the event of an emergency/accidental transmission and how to reset the emergency button.

12. It is the responsibility of all personnel to be aware of and adhere to the procedures in this POG.


Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)

A Rapid Interventuon Crew (RIC):

13. Should be designated to stand by in the state of readiness should the need arise to initiate a rescue effort for downed or missing firefighters.

14. Is comprised of a minimum of two (2) firefighters who are attired and equipped to perform the actions necessary to effect the rescue of other emergency workers.

15. Should have awareness of where resources are committed on the incident.

16. Upon arrival at the emergency scene, should report to Command, carry out a 360 of the emergency scene looking for means of ingress/egress.

17. Should be used to place ladders to second and third floor windows to provide means of escape, may carry out duties such as cutting locks and/or window barriers.

18. Shall be constantly monitoring the radio channel.

19. Should not be used for regular firefighting duties as they should be in a state of readiness once they have completed their size up of the emergency scene.


Approvals
The Director/Chief of SJRFD


Responsibility
St. John's Regional Fire Department POG # 07-03-14 Approved By: ___________________________ _______________ Michael J. Dwyer, P. Eng Date Director of Regional Fire Services (Fire Chief)


Appendix/Appendices
None


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