MayDay Missing or Trapped Firefighters
The following procedures are
to be employed if fire personnel are found to be lost, missing or trapped:
1.
When fire personnel are suspected or known of being missing or trapped,
an emergency "May Day" shall be given over the radio. The crew(s)
issuing a "May Day" shall immediately provide the Incident Commander
and all other crews on the scene pertinent information and details concerning
the missing crew(s) last known whereabouts and location inside the
structure.
The Incident Commander will
announce over the radio the specific problem and information known about the
condition of the missing personnel to all crews operating on the scene.
2.
When a "May Day" is issued, the Incident Commander shall
maintain essential suppression operations, if possible, to control the
incident. All suppression
operations around the missing crew shall be suspended.
All crews should be prepared to engage in search and rescue if
necessary. A
PAR will be conducted if the identity of the missing crew(s)
is unknown.
3.
When an emergency "May Day" is issued, all companies
operating city wide on the radio channel shall maintain radio silence until an
"all clear" is issued by the Incident Commander.
4.
The RIT is to be immediately activated by the Incident Commander and
put into an operational mode. The
RIT shall make a coordinated entry for rescue with direction from the Incident
Commander and assistance from other crews on the scene as necessary.
When a RIT is placed into a
rescue mode, another RIT shall be formed from crews on the scene and placed in
service to back up the RIT operating on the interior of the structure.
5.
One person at the Incident Command Post shall be designated to
communicate directly with the RIT. This
person shall keep the Incident Commander apprised of the situation until
resolved.
6.
When the "May Day" situation has been completed, the Incident
Commander shall advise all crews of an "All Clear" and that the RIT
rescue intervention/operation has been terminated.
7.
A RIT shall be re-organized after a rescue attempt, and be maintained
until the Incident Commander determines that an IDLH no longer exists.
8.
When an RIT is deployed, a written report shall be prepared by the
Incident Commander detailing the events and particulars surrounding the event.
The report must be forwarded to the Division Chief of Operations within
forty-eight hours of the incident.
9.
In the event of a situation where personnel not at the incident hear a
MAYDAY transmission and realize that those on the incident scene have not
heard it, it shall be the responsibility of personnel who hear such a message
to immediately alert the Incident Commander and/or E.O.C. that a MAYDAY has
been transmitted and provide any essential information.
10.
At no time shall civilian medic employees be used as a RIT member.
11.
A minimum of one additional alarm shall be requested by the Incident Commander
to reinforce the efforts of those already performing rescue, in addition to
the personnel needs due to serious potential for fire or hazard extension.