HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 503.02 REVISED& RENUMBERED 3-2013_Dispatcher MAYDAY503.02 — Dispatcher's Response to a MAYDAY
Effective. 9/5/2009
Revised: 3/5/2013
Replaces: SOG 202.02 VIII.C.
I. Guiding Philosophy
We recognize that a MAYDAY situation involving a trapped or lost member is a critical
time at an emergency incident. Our ability to effect a safe and timely rescue operation in these
situations depends heavily on our personnel following an established process for both reporting
the MAYDAY and responding to it. The use of this standard procedure is vital to achieving the
best possible outcome during an extraordinarily stressful and difficult situation.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to communicate the standard actions Fire -EMS
Communications Center personnel should take when responding to a MAYDAY that has been
called by a firefighter in distress.
III. Goals
The goal of this policy is to outline the responsibilities of Fire -EMS Communications
personnel when a MAYDAY situation is declared.
IV. Definitions
A. Distressed Firefighter — Lost, trapped, injured, or missing firefighter who needs
assistance.
B. Emergency Alert Tones — Series of ur���i� �
f j tones broadcast by a Fire Dispatcher
to announce emergency radio traffic.
C. MAYDAY — Term broadcast by a firefighter in distress or in the event of a
missing firefighter.
D. PAR — Acronym for Personnel Accountability Report.
E. RIG — Acronym for the Rapid Intervention Group.
V. Dispatcher's Response to a MAYDAY
A. The term "MAYDAY" shall be reserved exclusively to report a firefighter in distress
at an emergency incident.
B. Generally, MAYDAY situations are critically time sensitive and an immediate
response must be implemented to take advantage of the limited time element facing
firefighters in distress.
C. Dispatchers are responsible for assisting in the early activation of a MAYDAY
declaration and supporting on -scene operations.
D. The Dispatcher's Response to a MAYDAY
1. Upon declaration of a MAYDAY, the Incident Commander shall
acknowledge the MAYDAY unit, "(7ear Portable #. t.,omman to
Headquarters, tees, there is a MA YDA Y in, progress, " on the assigned tactical
channel so that all personnel will cease normal radio traffic.
a. The Dispatcher will transmit, "(" ear t.,omman MA YDA Y in,
Progress. "'
b. The Dispatcher will transmit 1 louiii�il^„
.
c. The Dispatcher will transmit, "MA YDA Y in, progress, priority
d. Only radio traffic pertinent to the MAYDAY shall be permitted on
the current tactical channel.
e. If requested by the IC, the Dispatcher will designate another
operating channel for continuing non -MAYDAY related
operations.
f. The Rapid Intervention Group, Incident Safety Officer, the
distressed firefighter(s), and a designated dispatcher will remain
on the original frequency for the MAYDAY response.
g. Radio discipline MUST be maintained throughout the
MAYDAY response!
2. Always be alert to the fact that a MAYDAY may not be heard or recognized
by the Incident Commander.
a. If the Incident Commander does not respond promptly to the
MAYDAY call, then immediately notify Command and responders
that a MAYDAY call has been declared by utilizing Emergency
Alert Tones.
b. If the distressed firefighter broadcasts the MAYDAY on an
unassigned channel, then the IC, Safety Officer and RIG shall be
advised that this channel is now the MAYDAY frequency. 'Illlii�,
w 11i^ r��iv ui! III ur 111^�� wm a i uii 4)111,1 1 ! iu i„ dII w arui,l ui i^! Iv iu���! ui 1 ! ui 11i^�������m
c. All n
on -MAYDAY related traffic on this channel shall be rerouted
immediately to another operating channel.
If the RIG is activated and Command has not requested an additional alarm,
Fire -EMS Communications should prompt Command and deploy an
additional alarm.
a. Ensure that the units responding for the second alarm are notified
of the correct non -MAYDAY tactical channel.
SOG 503.02 - Dispatcher's Response to a MAYDAY Page 2 of 3
b. Place the Sabine -Neches Chiefs Association on standby (SOG
501.05 Sabine -Neches Chiefs Activation)
c. Monitor status of apparatus City-wide. Initiate notifications and
SOG 205.01 Emergency Backup & Deployment Plan, if required.
4. Once a MAYDAY is declared, every effort should be made to have a
dispatcher monitoring the MAYDAY frequency.
SOG 503.02 — Dispatcher's Response to a MAYDAY Page 3 of 3