Mayday



Kent County Chiefs Association

Standard Operating Guidelines &

Standard Operating Procedures



Subject: Mayday/Emergency Activation

SOG # 1-12




Approved

December 2006


Approved by: President Bruce Neal

Revised




Purpose: To prepare all emergency personnel for any sudden life-threatening occurrence that may injure, trap, disorient or distress any Emergency Response Personnel during an emergency incident. It also standardizes the language to be used by Emergency Service Personnel to reflect that one or more is in trouble and in need of assistance.


Applicability: This policy applies to all Emergency Service Personnel


Definitions:


“Kent” – Kent County’s emergency dispatch center radio designation.


Mayday – A situation indicating that one or more fire or rescue personnel are in need of immediate emergency assistance


PAR (Personal Accountability Report) – The reporting of the location, status, and welfare of all personnel assigned to a given crew. Conducted by the Incident Commander when deemed necessary.


IC – Incident Commander


RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) - A crew deployed in a ready state, to immediately react and respond to rescue injured or trapped fire fighters. A Rapid Intervention Team shall consist of at least four members and shall be available for rescue of a member or a crew if the need arises. Rapid Intervention Teams shall be fully equipped with the appropriate protective clothing, protective equipment, SCBA and any specialized rescue equipment that might be needed given the specifics of the operation underway.


  1. Declaring a MAYDAY:

  1. When an emergency responder identifies that he/she, or a member of his/her team is lost, trapped, disoriented or injured and in need of assistance, he/she shall (if possible) transmit a verbal message on the fireground channel to the IC and state:

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”


  1. The individual reporting shall provide the following information:

  • L: Location

  • U: Unit

  • N: Name

  • A: Assignment

  • R: Resources needed

  1. If the distressed firefighter(s) cannot communicate verbally, the portable radio EMERGENCY button shall be activated followed by the manual activation of the alarm on the PASS device.

  2. The PASS device shall be activated in all situations declaring a MAYDAY either automatically or manually by the personnel in distress.


  1. Incident Commander’s Response to MAYDAY:


  1. Upon receiving a MADAY, the Incident Commander shall advice all personnel to cease radio traffic on the fireground channel. Only radio traffic pertinent to the MAYDAY shall be permitted on the fireground channel.

  2. The Incident Commander shall commit the RIT to the most appropriate location to initiate the rescue.

  3. Immediately conduct a Personal Accountability Report (PAR).

  4. Ensure that the appropriate resources are available to assist with the MAYDAY. Once the initial RIT is deployed a backup RIT must be established. Additional resources shall be requested if needed.

  5. All units not involved in the MAYDAY shall communicate on a different fireground channel designated by” Kent”.

  6. Upon conclusion of the MAYDAY event the Incident Commander shall notify “Kent”.


  1. “Kent’s” Response to MAYDAY:


  1. “Kent” shall utilize an alert tone to advise all units to maintain radio silence. (Only transmissions pertinent to the MAYDAY will be allowed)

  2. Designate an alternate channel for fireground operations to continue.

  3. Dispatch any additional resources requested by the Incident Commander.


  1. Emergency Identification Button Activation/Emergency Incidents


  1. If a radio emergency button is activated, “Kent” will immediately notify the Incident Commander upon validation of actual emergency identification.

  2. The activation will be treated as a MAYDAY event until proven otherwise.

  3. “Kent” shall provide the Incident Commander with all pertinent information known about the unit I.D. displaying the Emergency Identifier.

  4. Upon receiving an Emergency Activation from any unit “Kent” shall reply with “Unit #, Check your Emergency Identifier”. If no reply or confirmation of accidental activation is received, a MAYDAY shall be declared for that unit.


Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief James L. Price, Sr.


Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief Jeffery H. Thompson


Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Jesse Downey, Sr.


Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief Christopher A. Powell


Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.


Chief Mark Dixon


Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.


Chief Allan Schauber


Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief Kenneth Smith


Kent County Emergency Service Board


Chair Charlene Perry

Downloads

1-12 - Mayday Policy Guideline