Chapter 2: Communications

Question 1

Receiving non-emergency calls etiquette

Answer 1

o Answer calls promptly
o Be pleasant and identify the department, station, facilty and yourself
o Be prepared to record message accurately
o Never leave phone line open or caller on wait for extended periods of time
o Deliver message promptly
o If you cannot answer callers question redirect to someone who can

Question 2

• There are two broad systems of Receiving Emergency calls

Answer 2

o Emergency specific telecommunications center

o Public safety answering point (PSAP

Question 3

Emergency specific telecommunications center

Answer 3

separate communications or dispatch centers that the fire department, emergency medical service or law enforcement agency operates

Question 4

o Public safety answering point (PSAP)-

Answer 4

central location that takes all emergency calls and routes the call to fire, EMS or police dispatcher

Question 5

Public alerting systems
- Enhance 911

Answer 5

• Enhance 911 systems combine telephone and computer equipment to provide disaptcher with callers info and location

Question 6

• Two way radio system

Answer 6

for communicating with mobile and portible radios at the emergency scene as well as base station radios in fire stations

Question 7

(TTY)

Answer 7

teletype (TTY)

Question 8

(TDD)

Answer 8

telecommunications device for deaf

Question 9

types of telephones

Answer 9

• Telephones for receiving both emergency and non emergency calls
• Direct line telephones for communications with fire department facilities, hospitals, utilities etc

Question 10

Recording systems or devices

Answer 10

to record telephone calls and radio transmissions

Question 11

Alarm receiving equipment

Answer 11

for municipal alarm box systems and private fire alarm reporting systems

Question 12

Processing emergency calls
Collecting informations

Answer 12

• Type of emergency
• Location of emergency
  o Cross street(s)
  o Building name
  o Neighborhood
  o Area of city/country
  o Nearby landmarks
• The number and location of people involved
• The name and location of the caller
• The callers callback number
• Provide life safety directions if caller is at immediate risk

Question 13

Alarm notifications may be one or a combinations of the following

Answer 13

o Visual such as station lights
o Audible
 Vocal alarm
 Station bell or gong
 Sirens
 Whistles or airhorns
o Electronic
 Computer terminal screen with alarm or line printer
 Direct telephone connection with coms center
 Radio with tone alert
 Scrolling message boards
 Tv override
 Rado
 Pagers
 Cell phone

Question 14

• Basic info to be broadcasted to responding units

Answer 14

o Units assigned
o Type of emergency
o Address or location
o Dispatch time
o Current conditions such as wind direction/speed and road closures
o Units substituted into the normal assignment

Question 15

regulates radio communications in Canada

Answer 15

• Business and industry Canada

Question 16

regulates all communications in US

Answer 16

• Federal communications commission

Question 17

• Fire department radio systems are used to communicate the following:

Answer 17

o Alert units of an emergency
o Coordinate tactics at the emergency
o Request additional resources
o Monitor the activities of units and individuals

Question 18

Radio systems
- Can be classified according to

Answer 18

location and size
- have various signal transmission options

Question 19

• Base station radios

Answer 19

used in fixed locations such as stations, comm centers, training centers or admin offices
o Have stable, powerful transmitters and interference resistant receivers that provide better performance than mobile and portable
o Connected to emergency generator
o Powered by buildings electrical system

Question 20

Mobile radios:

Answer 20

mounted in fire apparatus, ambulance etc and are powered by vehicle electrical system
o Have better performance than portable radios but are not as powerful as fixed location radios
o Headset connections
o External antenna

Question 21

Portable radios

Answer 21

o Handheld devices
o powered by rechargeable battery packs
o may fail under typical fire ground conditions
o must be intrinsically safe

Question 22

• Direct communication

Answer 22

refers to the straight line travel radio signals between the transmitting radio and the receiving radio
o Allows same radio channel to be used by other groups that are located at a greater distance from first group

Question 23

• Repeated:Signal transmission

Answer 23

goes to tower then to receiver

Question 24

Fireground channels

Answer 24

• Modern fire and emergency services organizations routinely operate on a variety of radio channels

Question 25

- Most departments have a channel for

Answer 25

- Most departments have a channel for dispatch only

Question 26

- When arriving at an incident a command channel is assigned to

Answer 26

the IC

Question 27

- Tactical channels

Answer 27

fireground operations only

Question 28

Non emergency channels

Answer 28

- Training center - Code enforcement - Administrative personnel - Use regulated by AHJ

Question 29

- Main limitations include:

Answer 29

o Distance o Physical barriers o Dead zones o Interference o Ambient noise

Question 30

Distance

Answer 30

- Depends on power of the transmitter and receiver of the radio and the height of the broadcast and receiving antennas

Question 31

Static and broken messages are indication that the receiver is

Answer 31

near limit of the transmission range

Question 32

- To overcome physical barriers you may need to

Answer 32

turn your. Body 90 degrees, lift the radio higher or raise antenna up straight

Question 33

- Any physical barrier between transmitter and receiver can

Answer 33

block signal

Question 34

Dead zones

Answer 34

- Remote areas or locations inside structures that cause the loss of cellular telephone service radio signals - Moving to an outside wall, roof, window or doorway in a structure can improve reception