Communications Protocols

Radio Communication

Procedure

Plain English/clear text (no screaming, stay calm)

Radio codes and signal codes will not be utilized. “Plain English” or “Clear Text” terminology will be utilized.

MILITARY/MEDICAL TIME

The military or medical 24 hour time system will be utilized in Red Oak Fire Rescue Communications.

EXAMPLES of time communication:

0700 = 7:00 A.M.
1500 = 3:00 P.M.
0000 = Midnight
1200 = Noon

Tactical RADIO TERMINOLOGY

The use of standard words and phrases contribute significantly to the conservation of airtime. They are short, easily understood, and convey concise meaningful information. Use the words and phrases as stated. Do not abbreviate or ad-lib, and when communicating with outside agencies use the standard phraseology, when applicable.

Terms and Definitions

TERM

MEANING

COMMAND

Assign to person in charge at any incident.

REPEAT YOUR MESSAGE

Used when radio message is broken or garbled

LOUD & CLEAR

Used to acknowledge clear radio transmission during daily radio check

STANDBY

Used when necessary for radio caller to stop and wait

RECEIVED

Used to acknowledge or Clear (I understand).

NEGATIVE

Used to signal “NO”.

OUT OF SERVICE

Used to report status. Unable to respond to an emergency call

AVAILABLE

Used to report status. Able to respond to an emergency call

STAGED AT____________

Unit is standing by at a designated location

EN ROUTE TO: “NAME”

Used to inform and confirm Address/Building response to the correct building name and /or address

“WORKING FIRE”

Indicates a situation which will require the commitment of all responding companies

“BENCH MARKS”

Broadcast by Command only

“Evacuate Building”

The announcement of a change to a defensive mode will be made as “Emergency Traffic” and the benchmark will be transmitted and noted within the dispatch record.

Terminating Incident/Terminating Command

Used by the last unit to leave an incident. It signifies to ARP and other companies, there are no units remaining on scene and shall be noted within the dispatch record

AFFERMATIVE

“Yes”

Agent Being Applied

Water, foam, or chemical being applied for supression

ALL CLEAR

Benchmark declaring completion of the Primary Search

AVAILABLE

Term used to clear apparatus from an incident

COLD ZONE

Area where the Command Post (CP) and support functions that are necessary to control the incident are located. This is also referred to as the Clean Zone

COMMAND POST (CP)

That location at which primary command functions are executed. The Command Post is usually located with the Incident Base

COMMANDER (BY FUNCTION)

Supervises and coordinates the resources assigned to staging area, resource area, rehab area, etc

COMPLETE – PRIMARY – SEARCH

First search during a working fire. This is during the initial attack

COMPLETE – SECONDARY – SEARCH

2ndSearch that is done after the fire is under control

DISPATCH

A facility from which resources are directly assigned to an incident

DISREGARD

Order given to incoming equipment at means that they may return to a non-emergency status

D.O.S.

Deceased on scene

EMERGENCY TRAFFIC

This statement is made when everyone needs to clear the channel for a communication that is of the utmost importance. When this is heard you must hold all radio traffic until the emergency is resolved

ENGINE

A ground vehicle providing specified levels of pumping, water, hose capacity, and personnel.

ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL ( ETA)

Estimated time of arrival per unit or agency

HAZARDOUS LOCATION

A person on the scene has some form of communicable disease and/or domestic violence and/or weapons on scene, etc

HAZARD ZONE

The area of maximum hazard. For a structure fire, the hazard zone is the structure itself, the collapse perimeter, and any area exposed to the fire or products of combustion. Access to the hazard zone shall be restricted to essential personnel who are wearing equipment suitable for the hazards, which may be encountered. Company integrity is required within the hazard zone

HAZ-MAT

Hazardous material

HOT ZONE

Area immediately surrounding a dangerous goods incident, which extends far enough to prevent adverse effect from released dangerous goods to personnel outside the zone. This zone is also referred to as exclusion zone or restricted zone

INCIDENT COMMANDER (IC)

The individual responsible for the management of all incident operations

LAY A LINE

Pull hose off of the apparatus, usually refers to establishing a water supply line from a fire hydrant to the attacking company

MUTUAL AID

Established plan of assistance with surrounding departments

MVA

Motor vehicle accident

OFFENCE TO DEFENCE

All personnel must be informed of the change in strategic Operating Mode and evacuated from the interior before the application of exterior fire streams

ON SCENE

Used to check out on the location of an incident

(OUT-OF-SERVICE) RESOURCES

Resources assigned to an incident but unable to respond for mechanical, rest, or personnel reasons.

PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT (PAR)

Benchmark requiring a Roll Call of personnel operating in the Hazard Zone

QUICK ATTACK

To make an initial attack on a fire with existing resources

QUINT or Ladder

A ground vehicle providing an aerial ladder 55 foot or greater, a main fire pump, supply hose, ground ladders, and water. Quint companies may function as either a Ladder Company or an Engine Company

RESCUE

A ground vehicle providing specified rescue equipment, capability and personnel.

REHABILITATION (REHAB)

That function and location that includes medical evaluation and treatment, food and fluid replenishment, and relief from extreme climatic conditions for emergency personnel. Rehab operators are established according to the circumstances of the incident

RIT TEAM

Two in, two out. Two man team sole responsibility for rescue of firefighter personnel accountable to Incident Commander (Rapid Intervention Team)

ROGER

Means you have understood the transmission

SAFETY OFFICER

Member of the Command Staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards, unsafe situations, and developing measures for ensuring personnel safety

SIZEUP

Brief description of an incident, given when a fire apparatus first arrives on a scene

SPECIALTY TEAM

A grouping of resources with either an exterior geographic or functional assignment.

STAGING

Used for large, complex, or lengthy operations. Additional resources are staged together in a specific location under a Staging Officer

STAGING AREA

That location where individual personnel and equipment are assigned on an immediately available basis

STAND DOWN

Anyone not already on scene is to terminate their response and return to the hall. No additional resources and/or manpower are required on scene.

UNAVAILABLE

Apparatus that is already on assignment or out of service

UNDER CONTROL

Signals the forward progress of the fire has been stopped and incident has been stabilized

VENTILATE

To open a structure in such a way that heat and smoke can be removed

WARM ZONE

Area where personnel and equipment decontamination and hot zone support take place. It includes control points for the access corridor and thus assists in reducing the spread of contamination. Also referred to as the decontamination, contamination reduction, or limited access zone


EXAMPLES OF TERMINOLOGY USE

1.       ENROUTE — This term denotes that a piece of apparatus is going to a certain location on a Fire or Med response.
e.g., Renfrew Engine 181 - ENROUTE to 1615 Lisgar Ave.
e.g., Renfrew Quint 1 - ENROUTE to 200 S. Parks

2.       ON SCENE — Term used to check out on the location of an incident or hospital. This is a part of our standard checkout sequence. (Address, hydrant, location) Always identify yourself by vehicle/district and/or portable you arrive with. On Scene sequence goes like this:

·         Apparatus I.D. (district, apparatus, then number, Ex. Eng 181)

·         On Scene

·         Address

·         Description

·         Conditions

·         Action taking if applicable
e.g., Renfrew, Engine 181 - On Scene - 105 Spinner road - One-story brick - Nothing showing (fire call)
e.g., Squad 181 - On Scene - 103 Hwy 342 - We have two cars involved with moderate damage (traffic accident).
If you are assuming command, identify the vehicle, then your portable and advise dispatch you are assuming command.
e.g., “Renfrew Unit 77 - on scene, portable 3 - on scene and assuming command.

3.       AVAILABLE — Term used to clear apparatus from an incident.
AVAILABLE sequence goes like this:  

·         Apparatus I.D.

·         AVAILABLE

·         From what location
e.g., Eng 181- AVAILABLE - from 200 Pugh Rd.

4.       EMERGENCY TRAFFIC — whoever broadcasts this message, owns the air. Emergency Traffic sequence goes like this:

·         I.D. (Apparatus, Command, Person)

·         Emergency traffic

·         State message ALL UNITS HOLD MESSAGES FOR EMERGENCY BROADCAST

5.       ALL CLEAR — Term used at end of primary search. All clear is broadcast to all units. Primary search determines that there are no victims and a safe attack can be made.
e.g., Interior to Command - All clear on primary search
Command to all units: All clear on primary search

6.       OUT OF SERVICE — This term denotes when a piece of apparatus goes out of service for a reason.
Out of Service sequence goes like this:

·         Apparatus I.D.

·         Out of service

·         Reason - mechanical, manpower, water
e.g., Eng 1 – OUT OF SERVICE – for manpower

7.       Leaving the hall — this term is used to inform dispatch that a resource is leaving the hall. Always identify yourself by the vehicle and district you are leaving the hall with.
e.g., “Renfrew Unit 77 is responding”

8.       Clearing the Scene — this term is used to inform dispatch that you/resource is leaving the scene. Follow this up with what you are going to do. This is usually an indication that you are returning to the hall, but it could be that you are leaving to respond to another emergency call. Always identify yourself by the vehicle and district or portable leaving the scene.
e.g., “Renfrew Unit 77 is clearing the scene and returning to hall”

9.       Returning to Hall — this term is used to inform dispatch that you/resource is now back in the hall.  Always advise dispatch when the vehicle has returned to the hall.
e.g., “Renfrew Unit 77 is back in the hall”

Communication Guidelines

Procedures:

  1. Emergency workers shall be issued either a pager or portable radio and charging device. Each individual is then responsible for ensuring that his or her equipment is regularly recharged and in good operating condition. Any problems with the pager or radio should be promptly reported to an officer who will arrange for replacement equipment if necessary.
  2. During an emergency response, all responding units will report to dispatch with their unit number, the response address and the number of emergency workers on board.
  3. During an emergency response, the first arriving officer should report his presence on scene to dispatch along with any relevant information. Following that, any communication with dispatch should be by the Incident Commander only.
  4. Radio communications should be initiated by identifying the party being called first, followed by the calling party (i.e., Renfrew Dispatch from Cobden Portable — …).
  5. Any firefighter or team of firefighters actively involved in interior suppression or search operations should be equipped with a portable radio.
  6. The IC is responsible for reporting to dispatch the following:

·         Initiation and location of Command

·         Application of agent or decision to defer application

·         Primary search complete

·         Fire under control

·         Patient being transported

·         Release of individual or all units from scene

·         Return of all units to station