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Firefighter

Awareness

Survival Techniques

and

Section Four:

National Fire Academy

MAYDAY Course Video

Calling A Mayday

•OBJECTIVES OF THIS SECTION

– Upon completion of this section, the

participant should be able to:

– Define a Mayday situation.

– Identify why firefighters fail to or delay calling

a Mayday.

– Identify Mayday decision-making parameters

and calling procedure.

– Identify Mayday responsibilities of firefighters

Why do firefighters resist calling for

help, when they should?

• First, no national fire service standards exist in

relation to calling a Mayday.

• Second, we do not teach or practice calling a

Mayday very often in the fire service.

• Third, we do not have specific parameters, or rules,

for when a firefighter must call a Mayday.

• The Fourth, and final problem is how we have been

conditioned to make decisions on the fire ground.

Mayday calling is not in our RPDM Catalog,

therefore it is more of a challenge for us when we

need to use it.

Too many Firefighters have already

been injured and killed by failing to call

for help in time.

• Past experiences in getting out of tight spots

has put firefighters in danger. Because they

delayed calling the Mayday by trying to first

fix the problem, precious time was lost as fire

conditions have gotten worse, firefighters

became disoriented and lost trying to self

rescue, personal accountability was lost, air

supply’s have run out, RIT Teams were never

activated, and tragic consequences resulted.

% said YES Possible Mayday Conditions that would cause me to call a Mayday

332 or 98% Tangled, Pinned, or Stuck; low air alarm activation, Mayday

318 or 94% Fall through roof, Mayday

311 or 92% Tangled, Pinned, or Stuck and do not extricate self in 60 seconds, Mayday

301 or 89% Caught in flashover, Mayday

298 or 88% Fall through floor, Mayday

277 or 82% Zero visibility, no contact with hose or lifeline, do not know direction to exit, Mayday

233 or 69% Primary exit blocked by fire or collapse, not at secondary exit in 30 seconds, Mayday

233 or 69% Low air alarm activation, not at exit (door or window) in 30 seconds, Mayday

196 or 58% Cannot find exit (door or window) in 60 seconds, Mayday

Firefighter Survey of 339 Experienced Firefighters

Question was.. When would you call a Mayday?

Reasons why firefighters fail to

call a Mayday in time

• The idea of comparing a firefighter calling

mayday to a fighter pilot ejecting is a good

place to start. How so?

– Both are about equal in terms of macho.

– Both are taught to be very aggressive.

– Both want to win every time out the door.

– Both play for high stakes, which includes their

own lives.

Reasons why firefighters fail to call

a Mayday in time

• The military has identified 10 reasons why

pilots fail to, or delay ejecting when they

must. These same conditions can be

applied to firefighters who do not call a

mayday when they must:

10 Reasons why firefighters fail to

call Mayday, and more

• Temporal distortion (time seems to speed up or slow down)

• Reluctance to give up control (we don’t want to admit the situation is unmanageable for us)

• Channeled attention (we are so focused on our current task, we fail to realize any

increase in the level of danger we are really in)

• Loss of situational awareness (failure to recognize changes in conditions, or a bad one in

the first place)

• Fear of the unknown (we fear the loss of control of the situation, fear of outcome)

• Fear of retribution (for failing to complete assigned task, eg; rescue child)

• Lack of knowledge (firefighter not properly trained in Mayday procedures)

• Attempting to fix the problem (false confidence in one’s ability to resolve the problem,

or too much time wasted trying to fix the problem before

calling for assistance)

• Pride (personal ego interferes with ability to honestly judge situation)

• Denial

(this can’t really be happening to me)

• Peer Pressure (fear of looking weak, unable to handle a tough situation)

(fear of hazing by others, damaged reputation on the job)

(fear of being criticized by peers for failing to succeed)

(fear of letting fellow crew members down on the job)

(fear of making a bad decision, or not trying hard enough)

How firefighters make decisions on

the fire ground • Firefighters almost always rely on their former training and

experience to make decisions in reaction to a fire ground situation. This method of making decisions is called

(RPDM) or Recognition Primed Decision-Making.

• The problem is this…

• Those decisions don’t include a system that outlines when or how they should call a Mayday. Thus, firefighters tend to rely upon Recognition Primed Decision-Making (RPDM) to provide them with the parameters for calling a Mayday, only the parameters are not there for them to use. They have NEVER been there. Result is now you are in an unfamiliar situation and don’t know what to do because you have had no previous experience like this before.

THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO YOUR SURVIVAL.

RPDM Experience

• If firefighters do not have “Mayday Calling”

in their RPDM experience, then calling the

Mayday will not come naturally when it is

really needed.

• Only through training and drilling can

firefighters get the “Mayday Calling”

RPDM experience and proper response

that might save their life someday.

What Is a Mayday?

Mayday comes from the French term “m’aider,”

an imperative that means “Help me.” Mayday

was adopted as a distress call by the

International Radio Telegraph Convention in

1927. In international radio language, “Mayday,

Mayday, Mayday,” means “Life is in danger,

Immediate help needed!” This is the meaning

that we want firefighters to convey when

they declare a Mayday situation on the fire

ground.

Why we should train to call a

Mayday

• Firefighters are not usually taught to call Mayday in rookie school or as part of company drills. If they are, it is not reinforced

as much as it should be.

• The firefighters’ Mayday calling system is not tested and drilled often enough to ensure

that the system works as it should, and that everyone involved understands their role.

What could be more important?

• If a task has a low frequency of use but high consequences for failure, the task must be taught to the mastery level of performance and drilled to continually maintain competency.

• What task could have higher consequences than one that will save our own life, or the life of a fellow firefighter?

• 11 Structure Fires between 1978 and

2002 have been identified in which

firefighters failing to call, or delaying a

call of a Mayday have led directly to, or

contributed to 24 confirmed firefighter

Line of Duty Deaths.

Mayday Decision Parameters

“When a Mayday should be called”

• FALL – If you fall through a roof, through or

down a set of stairs or through a floor.

• COLLAPSE – If your primary exit is blocked

by any type of collapse, and you can not

reach a secondary exit within 30 seconds.

• FIRE – If you are caught in a flashover

condition, or recognize that a hostile fire

event is about to occur, or if your primary exit

is blocked by fire.



• ENTANGLED – TRAPPED – PINNED –

STUCK – CAUGHT -- WEDGED

Anytime you lose your mobility for any of

these reasons and can not extricate yourself

within 60 seconds, OR your SCBA low air

alarm activates while you are trying to

extricate yourself.



• LOST -- Anytime you become disoriented,

or confused inside a structure within an IDLH

environment and are no longer sure where

you are or where the exit is located because

you have lost contact with:

Your Crew,

Your Hose line,

or Your Lifeline



• LOW AIR – Anytime your low air alert device

activates and you can not positively reach an

exit door or window within 30 seconds.

• EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION – Anytime

your SCBA malfunctions or you have

difficulty with maintaining proper operation of

your SCBA for any reason while operating

within an IDLH environment.



• INJURED – SICK – Anytime you are

operating within an IDLH Atmosphere and

you become injured or sick and your crew

mates can not safely assist you out of the

building immediately.

Calling Mayday on the Radio

• MAYDAY TRANSMISSION PROCEDURES

• To declare a Mayday, key the mike on your radio and transmit:

• "Mayday, Mayday! Mayday! Unit Number and position ID (3710 Alpha) declaring a Mayday”

• Listen for a response. If none is heard, repeat the message until you are acknowledged.

• DO NOT change your radio channel if you are not answered right away. This might cause you to lose contact for good. Give Command a reasonable chance to respond to you before you switch channels on your radio.

Tactical Radio Communications

• To avoid confusion during normal radio and emergency radio communications.

– B,C, and D will often sound alike on the radio, especially through an SCBA Face piece.

– Firefighters should always use phonetic titles • (“3710 Alpha to 3710 Delta and 3710 Bravo”) for

example to be as clear as possible.

• To improve accountability for all firefighters and Incident Commander.

• To clarify the strategic and tactical goals, objectives, and safety of all fireground operations.

Riding Positions and

Radio Designations

Officer Position – “A” Alpha

Firefighter Position # 1 – “B” Bravo

Driver Position – “D” Delta D also for Driver

Firefighter Position # 2 – “C” Charlie (If Occupied)

A B

C D

Anatomy of a Mayday Call

• A Mayday call should provide vital data to the

Incident Commander, so the proper type of

assistance can be directed to the firefighter

or crew in need of help as soon as possible.

• It is vital that a firefighter calling a Mayday

remain calm so that he / she may assist in

the rescue mission if at all possible.


• Vital Data can easily be transmitted by

using a simple Acronym – L.U.N.A.R.

• L.U.N.A.R. Stands for

• Location of firefighter or crew in need

of assistance

• Unit number of the firefighter or crew

in need of assistance


• Name of firefighter calling the Mayday

• Assignment of the firefighter or crew

calling the Mayday, and Air Supply Status

• Resources required to render assistance

to those calling the Mayday


• Once the decision to call a Mayday is

realized, the firefighter must concentrate on

assisting those coming to his / her

assistance. The first thing to do is:

• Announce over your portable radio

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” in a clear and

calm voice and await acknowledgement.

When radio contact is confirmed, proceed to

give the LUNAR data as follows:

When you call a Mayday

• Your current or Last known Location

– Example “ I was in the Basement, on the Roof,

on Division C Side, I am in a bedroom….

• Your Unit Number

– Apparatus or Company you are assigned to; 3710 Alpha

• Your Name

– Be clear so the IC can properly identify you

• Your fire ground Assignment

– First floor search team, fire attack group,

roof ventilation group….

Another use for the A in LUNAR

• Your Air Supply Status

– Use this step to also force yourself to check

your remaining air supply level.

– Try to gauge your air usage, and begin to

manage it as efficiently as possible.

– Advise Command what your Air Supply status

is, and continue to advise on a regular basis.

– This will help you focus on air preservation

techniques until you are rescued or exit.

When you call a Mayday

• What if any Resources do you need.

– If Trapped – Need extrication, rescue

– If Lost – Need assistance finding exit

– If Injured – Unable to walk, leg injury

– If Low Air – Need Additional Air Supply

Report to Command any specific details

about your situation that are relevant to

your survival and rescue.

Communicating with Command

• The Incident Commander will “prompt” you

for the vital “L.U.N.A.R. Information that is

needed if you can not remember all of it.

• Be prepared to communicate with the R.I.T.

team leader also. The I.C. and the R.I.T. are

the only people you should need to

communicate with. You are their priority until

you are rescued. Give them useful

information to help them rescue you.

MT-1250 Portable Radios

Zone C Frequencies

1. C - Dispatch (NCCFA)

2. C - Truck (NCCFA)

3. C - Mutual Aid

4. C - Command A

5. C – Northwest Plaza

6. C – EMS Command

7. C - J

8. C – I

9. C – H

10. C – G

11. C – F

12. C – E

13. C – D

14. C – C

15. C – B

16. C – A ---- Our MAIN Fireground Channel – OFF SCAN

You should know

how to quickly locate

alternate command

channels on the

portable radios your

department uses

Alternate Fireground Channels

• I.C. may assign multiple fireground tactical channels during one incident. – All personnel should be prepared to locate and

switch to any assigned channel as designated by the I.C.

• Switching channels should be practiced by all.

• Should be known by all on the fireground.

• Used to help manage emergency communications during an incident. – During a “Mayday” all ongoing fireground operations are

to switch to this channel to allow more direct and clear communications between the firefighter declaring the Mayday and the Incident Commander and / or the RIT Team.

Sample MAYDAY Radio call

• Firefighter – “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, 3710 Alpha,

firefighter down, need assistance”

• Command “Command to all units, hold all traffic, we have

a Mayday being declared”

• Command “Command to 3710 Alpha, state your location,

name, assignment and situation” (The LUNAR information)

• Firefighter “3710 Alpha to Command, Parker, doing primary

search in the basement from side Charlie, trapped under

falling debris, I am unable to extricate myself”

• Command - “ Command is clear 3710 Alpha, the R.I.T.

team is being deployed right now. Activate your PASS so

they can locate you. Remain on this channel.”

• Firefighter “Clear command, activating PASS right now”

• “Command to all divisions, groups and units, switch to Command B for fire ground operations and P.A.R. We have a Mayday on Command A.”

• “Command to R.I.T. One, report to Command post immediately.”

• “Command to Accountability, conduct a P.A.R. on Command B.”

• “Command to Fire Alarm, We have a Mayday on this alarm, transmit a second alarm with four additional command officers, dispatch the Command Van, and one additional EMS Unit.”

• “Command to 3710 Alpha, advise where you entered the building. Are you injured, or trapped? Advise your Air Supply status”

• If things work right, the only people 3710 Alpha should be communicating with is the R.I.T. One Team leader, and the Incident Commander. All others should be on Command B, for the continuing fire ground operations, and the Personnel Accountability Report.

• It will be difficult, but firefighters actively engaged in fire suppression will naturally want to swarm to the firefighter in trouble. Unless specifically assigned to support the R.I.T. efforts, they MUST resist the urge to freelance at this point. If a crew is in a position to help, and not endanger the overall operation, then of course use their assistance.

• Any units in Rehab should prepare for immediate deployment in support of the R.I.T. Team until fresh crews can arrive.

Classroom Drills

• Simulated Mayday Transmissions

– Firefighters will be handed a script card by the instructor.

– Command Officers will be handed the Mayday Tactical

Worksheet.

– Instructor will choose one firefighter and one Command

Officer from the class. They will be seated, facing away

from each other at opposite ends of the room.

– When directed, the firefighter will follow the instructions

on the script card he/she was just handed.

– Command Officer will respond and follow the Tactical

Worksheet through the simulation

– Treat this situation as if it really happened to you.

Rapid Intervention Teams

• F.A.S.T. Truck (Firefighter Assistance and Survival Team)

• R.I.C. (Rapid Intervention Crew)

• R.I.T. (Rapid Intervention Team)

No matter what you call it,

they must be ready to

respond with the right

equipment, personnel, and …

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE !

Minimum of 4 Firefighters per each R.I.T. Team.

You will likely require at least 4 R.I.T. Teams to

extricate a downed firefighter.

Emergency vs Mayday Radio

Communications

• An “Emergency” message is transmitted if:

• A firefighter suffers an injury that requires medical attention but is not life-threatening.

• The Incident Commander changes the firefighting strategy from interior to exterior attack.

• A structural condition is discovered by anyone on the fireground that could endanger working firefighters.

– Weak Roof or Flooring

– Possible Collapse Indicators

– Active fire is found to be in a roof truss system

• Fire is found to be extending within the building unchecked, or into an exposure, or a sudden change in fire / smoke conditions is detected.

• A loss of water, or water pressure occurs that will endanger firefighters.

• Safety Officer needs to transmit information about an unsafe act or hazardous condition.

• Command needs to gain control of the radio channel for any reason during an incident.

Emergency vs Mayday Radio

Communications

Emergency and Mayday

Transmissions • RADIO TRANSMISSION PROCEDURES

• To send a Mayday or an Emergency message, key the mike on your radio and transmit:

• "Mayday, Mayday! Mayday!" or “3710 Alpha to Command –

Emergency Traffic!"

• This format must be the same for Mayday and Emergency transmissions. The transmissions differ only in the specific type of Mayday or Emergency message transmitted.

• Listen for a response. If none is heard, repeat the message until you are acknowledged.

• Always verify that your message has been received and that it has been understood.

Emergency Radio Traffic

• EMERGENCY TRAFFIC is a priority message to be immediately broadcast throughout the fire-ground. (Safety of the incident scene) Note: All other radio traffic is to cease until advised by Command or the communications center. A message will be broadcast advising all to return to normal radio traffic.

• INTERIOR Division: “Interior Division to COMMAND – Emergency Traffic.”

• COMMAND: “Go ahead Interior Division.”

• INTERIOR Division: “Floor is weakened. All crews are being withdrawn.”

• An emergency tone, over the radio and loud speakers, will be used as a warning to all at the incident of emergency traffic. (One ten-second tone will be initiated by communication center.) COMMAND will also report the emergency on the Command Channel and units will sound their air horns for thirty seconds to initiate the evacuation of the building.

Dispatch will then announce Emergency Traffic Exists, with the location of the incident, on all channels. At this time, ALL NON-EMERGENCY RADIO TRANSMISSION WILL CEASE UNTIL COMMAND ADVISES THAT THE EMERGENCY NO LONGER EXISTS.

• An immediate PAR will be taken to verify accountability for all personnel.

Emergency Radio Traffic

National Fire Academy Mayday Certification Requirements

Skill Station One of the Mayday Certification Course:

•Firefighter will Verbally Identify at least 4 of the 7

Mayday Parameters.

•For each of the 5 Parameters Identified, the firefighter

will:

•Verbally explain the importance of declaring a

Mayday for this parameter

•Explain what Survival Techniques might be used to

resolve this situation

Skill Station One

The Mayday Parameters • Firefighter is Lost and Disoriented

• Firefighter becomes Caught / Tangled

• Firefighter is Collapsed on / Pinned down by something

• Firefighter has Fallen Through / Into something

• Firefighter has an SCBA Alarm / Equipment Emergency

• Firefighter is Sick or Injured

• Firefighter is Trapped In a confined space or area

• Firefighter’s Egress / Exit is Blocked by fire / high heat / hostile fire or smoke conditions

Skill Station Two of the

Mayday Certification Course:

• Firefighter will demonstrate the proper use of a portable radio to declare a Mayday his or her Left Hand only from the following positions

– Left Side, Right Side, Face Down, Face Up, and

Kneeling


Mayday Certification Requirements

Skill Station Three of the


• Firefighter will demonstrate the proper use of a portable radio to declare a Mayday his or her Right Hand only from the following positions

– Left Side, Right Side, Face Down, Face Up, and

Kneeling


Mayday Certification Requirements

Proper Radio Usage in a Mayday Parameter

1. Locate the transmit button of his / her portable radio

2. Properly depress the transmit button on the portable

radio

3. Speak into the microphone Clearly, Slowly, and Calmly

4. Transmit the correct L.U.N.A.R. information to Command

Location - Unit - Name - Assignment - Resources Needed

5. Acknowledge LUNAR information back from command

6. Manually activate their PASS Device for 10 seconds, and

then silence it.

Skill Stations Two and Three Proper Radio Use Techniques

Skill Station Four of the


• Wearing full PPE and SCBA, the Firefighter will proceed

through a simulated residential dwelling with limited visibility. In the process the firefighter will encounter four of the established Mayday Parameters.

• The firefighter will then identify each of the four specific parameters to the instructor and declare a Mayday using a portable radio, and communicate with a simulated Command Officer until the proper information has been transmitted.

• Firefighter will then resume the course until all four Mayday Parameters have been completed.

National Fire Academy Mayday Certification Requirements

During a practical evolution, these skills will be tested in

a series of simulated Mayday Situations. As you proceed through the obstacle course, you will encounter four of

the Mayday Parameters.

• When you encounter each of the Mayday Parameters, you will identify which situation you are in to the instructor. You should then declare a Mayday on your radio, just as if this was a real situation based upon the skills you just completed. You will communicate with a simulated Command Officer, and after you have properly declared a Mayday, the instructor will then allow you to proceed.

Skill Station Four Four Simulated Mayday Parameters

Final Test

• NEVER be afraid to call “MAYDAY” if you

feel your life or safety are in immediate

danger due to uncontrollable events or

circumstances.

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