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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Radio communications should be initiated by identifying the party
being called first, followed by the calling party (i.e., Renfrew Dispatch from
Cobden Portable — …).
- Any firefighter or team of firefighters actively involved in
interior suppression or search operations should be equipped with a portable
radio.
- 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