Mayday

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

One of the most challenging situations firefighters experience during an emergency is when a fellow firefighter’s life is in danger, prompting a call for immediate assistance. In such cases, the emergency must be declared without delay, allowing the Incident Commander to quickly assign resources for rescue operations. This policy provides prescriptive actions for clearly communicating and efficiently responding to a firefighter emergency.

Question 2

MAYDAY

Answer 2

Any life-threatening situation that cannot be resolved within 30 seconds, including a malfunctioning SCBA, firefighter lost, missing, down, trapped, pinned, or entangled

Question 3

CAN Report

Answer 3

The acronym CAN stands for Conditions, Actions, Needs. This serves as a standardized approach for a situational update. As it pertains to a Mayday, those involved in the rescue should consider the following.
* Conditions: What is the condition of the down FF when found? What is their location if different than reported? What are the fire conditions, if pertinent to the rescue?
* Actions: What actions are you currently taking to rescue the FF? What is your rescue plan? Where will the FF be exiting the structure?
* Needs: What do you need to support your rescue plan?

Question 4

Policy

Answer 4

Any member assigned to an incident must declare a Mayday when they know that their life, or another firefighter’s life, is in danger and immediate assistance is required. The following situations mandate an immediate Mayday declaration
Lost and/or separated from crew: Limited visibility preventing visual or physical contact with hose line, tag line or partner.
* Injured and/or disabled: An injury resulting in the diminished ability to egress safely.
* SCBA malfunction or low air: SCBA issues or a low-air alarm without a safe way to exit.
* Trapped, pinned, and/or entangled: Mobility is compromised due to heat, structural collapse, entrapment, or blocked exits.
* Any life-threatening situation that cannot be resolved within 30 seconds: The 30 seconds serve as a reminder to attempt self-rescue and gather as much information about the situation as possible.

Question 5

All department personnel are responsible for

Answer 5

Communicating a firefighter emergency by transmitting “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday Rank, Last Name and assigned apparatus” on the assigned tactical channel (TAC) when their own life, or the life of a fellow firefighter, is in danger and immediate assistance is required.
* Activating your emergency button after the first Mayday call if your life is in danger.
o All members assigned to the incident are responsible for identifying a Mayday call if it is not acknowledged by the IC.
o Being prepared to assist with rapid intervention operations as assigned.
o Maintaining strict radio discipline during a Mayday

Question 6

All Operations Section Chiefs, Division/Group Supervisors, and Company Officers are responsible for

Answer 6

Effectively monitoring and communicating on all assigned frequencies, using at least two radios.
* Immediately notifying the Incident Commander (IC) of any reported firefighter emergency.
* Providing the IC with regular CAN reports that may affect the incident objectives, incident priorities, and strategic objectives.
Make the necessary adjustments to the tactical objectives to support an effective and safe rescue of a firefighter experiencing a Mayday emergency. This includes assisting with overall incident management while the IC is coordinating the rescue.
* Provide an accurate Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) of their company or assigned resources when ordered, or immediately, if a member is unaccounted for.
* Being prepared to assist with rapid intervention operations as assigned. Company officers shall assess their crew’s ability to affect an immediate rescue without abandoning critical assignments, and any actions shall be reported to their supervisor or IC.

Question 7

ICs shall be responsible for: (Refer to: “Mayday” Rescue Worksheet OP 2008 Appendix 1)

Answer 7

1. Clearing radio traffic on the tactical/command frequencies after receiving the Mayday by initiating an alert (warble tone) and communicating “All units, cease all radio traffic. We have a Mayday. Member calling the Mayday, GO”.

Question 8

A warble tone

Answer 8

A warble tone is generated on a mobile radio only by first keying the mic to open the channel, and then pressing the orange button on the top right of the radio face while still keying the mic no longer than 3 seconds

Question 9

Steps 2-4

Answer 9

2. Determining the Who, What, Where, and Air of the down firefighter.
3. Immediately implementing a rapid intervention operation whenever a Mayday declaration is received.
4. Updating all incident personnel of identity and status of the down firefighter, provide an updated communication plan, and initiate a PAR.

Question 10

Steps 5-7

Answer 10

5. Notify FCC of the Mayday and request additional alarm/s as necessary.
6. Backfilling RIC, and a RIG supervisor should be assigned to coordinate the rescue operation.
7. Communicating with the member experiencing the Mayday to provide GRABLIVES instructions and relay updates to RIC/RIG

Question 11

GRABLIVES

Answer 11

G – Gauge - Check air gauge
R – Radio - Radio for assistance
A – Activate - Activate PASS device
B – Breathing - Control breathing
L – Low - Stay as low as possible
I – Illuminate - Turn on all lights
V – Volume - Make loud noise
E – Exit - Find an exit, Utilize the SCBA TIC
S – Shield - Protect your airway

Question 12

Steps 8-10

Answer 12

8. Directing the incident’s designated ambulance to an assignment and staging location (location where the down firefighter will be exiting the structure).
9. Adapting the new incident priorities based off the Mayday in progress to accommodate the change in incident objectives, and organization.
10. Completing a PAR with a roll call prior to resuming normal operations

Question 13

Firefighter calling a Mayday

Answer 13

Once a firefighter is confronted with an emergency that they are unable to self-mitigate within 30 seconds, they shall perform the following:
1. Declare the firefighter emergency by radio transmission using the Mayday script:
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Rank, Last Name and Unit.”
Example: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Firefighter Smith on E-41.”

Question 14

radio traffic shall cease

Answer 14

Note: All incident radio traffic shall cease after hearing the Mayday call.

Question 15

EM button

Answer 15

Press the Orange EM button on the Motorola APX handheld radio.

Question 16

First attempt to contact the IC is unsuccessful

Answer 16

Note: If the first attempt to contact the IC is unsuccessful, the distressed firefighter or another firefighter shall repeat the initial distress call. Once the EM Button is depressed, FCC is also notified of the Mayday. FCC will immediately attempt to hail the IC to acknowledge the Mayday. The EM Button functions by moving the radio to Channel 1 for transmission of the EM activation to FCC. If the distressed firefighter presses the PTT immediately after pressing the EM Button, the radio will transmit without delay on the channel the firefighter was previously on. The purpose of early engagement of the EM Button is to reduce the time to identify a firefighter experiencing a Mayday if the initial hail was missed.

Question 17

The activation of the EM button

Answer 17

The activation of the EM button should happen after the first radio transmission or immediately if radio traffic is not possible. Pressing the EM button during transmission will interrupt the Mayday transmission. If calling a Mayday for another member, activate the emergency button only if no acknowledgement from the IC after several attempts.

Question 18

IC shall respond immediately by

Answer 18

Broadcasting a warble tone on the channel the Mayday was declared on.
* Notifying all incident assigned resources on both the Command and Tactical Channels that a Mayday incident is in progress and to maintain radio discipline.
Example: “All units, cease all radio traffic, we have a Mayday. Member with the Mayday, GO.”.

Question 19

Mayday Report

Answer 19

The distressed firefighter shall identify the nature of the Mayday declaration by transmitting the following information: Who-What-Where-Air. If calling for someone else: Who-What-Where.
* Who is declaring Mayday? “This is FF Smith on Engine 41.”
* What is the emergency? “I’m lost…”
* Where is the firefighter located? “I think I am on the second floor.”
* Any information that would allow rescuers to be the most effective.
Example: “I took the 300’ transverse line off Engine 41; The last thing I remember was going up the staircase; It feels like I am in a storage room

Question 20

Mayday Procedures for the Incident Commander

Answer 20

2007.8.5.1 Once the Mayday call has been received, FCC notified the IC of the EM button activation, it is the responsibility of the IC to command the firefighter emergency, or ensure no emergency exists if activation was accidental. The IC should utilize the Mayday Worksheet as a reference.
2007.8.5.2 Upon receiving the Mayday call, EM button activation, the IC shall document the firefighter’s identity. If the EM button has been activated, the radio ID is transmitted to FCC. The dispatcher will then identify the firefighter activating the EM button and then notify the IC.
2007.8.5.3.1 The IC transmits “Who, What, Where, Air” information back to the distressed firefighter on the Tactical Channel (TAC) to verify that the information was received correctly. The IC will instruct the firefighter to “activate their PASS device, control their breathing and turn on their flashlight, while assuring them that “Help is on the way.” If a Mayday is declared on the Command Channel and incident traffic persists on the TAC Channel, the IC may utilize an Admin Channel to communicate with FCC. The channel on which the Mayday was declared will be isolated from other radio traffic, regardless of whether it was declared on Command or TAC.
2007.8.5.3.2 The IC deploys RIC via radio communication and confirms frequency. (If a Company officer is IC: utilize the Command channel and if a Chief officer is IC: RIC16)
2007.8.5.3.3 The IC uses Command and TAC radios to transmit, “All companies, we have a Mayday (Who, What, Where). Maintain your operational position unless redirected for rescue. Conduct a PAR and standby for roll call.” If company officers can assist in an immediate rescue and abandoning their previous assignment won’t be detrimental, they shall take initiative, engage, and report their action to the IC.
2007.8.5.5.1 Companies not performing critical tasks to achieve incident objectives shall be made immediately available to assist RIC. However, all resources shall maintain unity of command and communicate with their supervisor prior to taking action or receiving another assignment.
2007.8.5.3.4 The IC notifies FCC of the Mayday and requests an additional alarm.
The IC shall direct all Group/Division Supervisors to utilize the assigned non-Mayday channel for all radio traffic until the Mayday has been cleared and units can safely transition to a secondary TAC channel. Extreme caution should be given to requesting units committed in an IDLH environment to switch communication channels. The risk of accidentally switching to the wrong channel and losing their communications link to the IC is greatly increased

Question 21

RIC/RIGs shall coordinate

Answer 21

The RIC/RIGs shall coordinate the rescue effort while providing status reports to the IC.
Upon rescue of the distressed firefighter, the IC shall advise FCC and all personnel assigned to the incident by transmitting an “all clear” on the Command and TAC channel so normal radio traffic may resume

Question 22

Reporting/Considerations

Answer 22

2007.8.6.1 The declaration of a single Mayday could result in the declaration of several additional Maydays. Consideration should be given to how the Mayday occurred and whether subsequent Mayday declarations may occur based on incident conditions.
2007.8.6.2 FCC will establish an incident timer after the first company arrives on scene. The timer will be utilized as a benchmark for an IC to evaluate conditions, assess incident progress, and begin the 16 structure fire phrases. (Reference OP 2004.5.5.8 and OP Area Mayday Worksheet)