1. PURPOSE.

To provide a means for communicating and responding to a firefighter down, trapped, disoriented or otherwise incapacitated on the fireground. This guideline will provide for an expedient and coordinated rescue effort from all involved.

2. SCOPE.

This procedure shall apply to all fire departments and firefighters represented by the Oktibbeha County Fire Commission or the Oktibbeha County Fire Association.

3. DEFINITIONS

"EMERGENCY TRAFFIC"

A verbal radio announcement reserved exclusively for use by the Incident Commander (IC). "Emergency Traffic" is designed to provide either (1) immediate notification for all incident scene personnel of a notable hazard that is either about to occur or has occurred, or (2) notification to all personnel that an emergency exists and they should prepare to listen to directions or actions that follow.

"MAYDAY"

A verbal radio announcement to be used by any member when that person encounters a situation requiring immediate action or assistance from the IC. Examples of this could be lost or trapped personnel that would require the activation of an RIT. Although this transmission may be transmitted by any member when it is felt that a notable danger to fire personnel is apparent and imminent, considerable discretion should be applied to it's use. "MAYDAY" announcements become ineffective if overused.

4. GUIDELINES

In the event a firefighter is down, trapped, disoriented or otherwise incapacitated, the firefighter will immediately, without hesitation, issue a "MAYDAY, MAYDAY" over the fireground work channel. This will serve to notify the IC, the Rapid Intervention Team, and all other companies operating at the incident that a firefighter is in need of immediate emergency assistance.

A declared MAYDAY should result in the following:

• All radio transmissions on the fireground should cease with the exception of the personnel declaring the MAYDAY and the IC.
• The IC should declare "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" and order all other radio traffic to use an alternate channel. If the RIT is deployed, it will continue to use the same channel the MAYDAY personnel is on. The MAYDAY personnel should never be asked to change channels.
• The IC should ensure that the RIT is prepared to deploy, ensure that an OCH medic unit is either on scene or in route, and call for all crew leaders to make a personnel accountability report.
• All crew leaders should take an immediate head count of their crew.
• The IC should gather all available information from the MAYDAY personnel and deploy the RIT and any other resources he/she feels necessary.

The MAYDAY person should do the following:

• Verbally transmit "MAYDAY" over his/her portable radio repeatedly until acknowledged.
• Transmit his/her location as specifically as possible.
• Transmit if he/she is trapped and if so, by what objects.
• Transmit air supply quantity.
• Transmit any known injuries.
• Ensure his/her PASS alarm is activated and remains on until he/she is located.
• Ensure his/her hand light remains on at all times.
• Try to attract attention by banging a tool repeatedly and/or waving his/her flashlight beam in multiple directions.
• If disoriented and not on a hoseline or threatened by extending fire, find an area of refuge and stay put.
• Remain calm and conserve air (do NOT yell/scream).

It is important that firefighters operating at the incident remain in their assigned positions and continue to do their jobs during a MAYDAY incident. All operating firefighters should monitor their radios for possible reassignment from the IC. No personnel shall attempt a rescue without orders from the IC. Let the RIT do its job.

When the firefighter is rescued and the MAYDAY terminated, the IC should notify the dispatcher and broadcast the termination of the MAYDAY over the working channels.

4. EFFECTIVE DATE

9/30/2003