Communications Standard

1. Communications Standard Inter Operable Municipal Fire Departments of Obion County Communications Standard

2. WELCOME • This is the first in a series of joint training sessions for the municipal fire departments operating in Obion County

3. Goals of the County Wide Training • To better understand the roles and procedures of our neighboring departments • To unify all departments as much as possible • To be able to function as a team during Auto Aid, Mutual Aid , mass causality and or destruction, and natural disaster calls • To introduce new and/or more productive methods of operation • Simple Training

4. Communications • Tonight's goal • To understand and be able to communicate with other fire departments using the COMMUNICATION STANDARD ACCEPTED BY ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN OBION COUNTY

5. Why is INTER OPERABLE COMMUNICATION Is Needed • Successful fire operations require the application of an effective overall management system and the skills of a strong fireground commander. • The lack of understanding of this central command role adversely affects more fires than any other single management problem. • Without strong, central command and the ability to communicate the typical fire scene quickly deteriorates into an unsafe, out-of-control situation.

6. TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES • 1. VHF or 800 MHz radios will be the primary radio system, depending on the Host (primary fire district) Department2. All apparatus from all departments shall check in with 911 on their normal frequency for: Responding, On-Scene, Returning, and In Quarters.

7. TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES cont.. • Once "On-Scene"   Departments have two (2) options for interoperable communications with the host department • A. If your department has the capability to change your radio frequency to the Host department's fireground frequency, all radios should now move to this frequency (this is the preferred option) • 1. If the host department is using VHF, all on scene firefighters should utilize the direct VHF channel (talk around) avoiding the repeater. The I.C. should remain on the repeater channel along with any apparatus not stationary on scene (such as tankers) • B. If your department does not have the ability to accomplish option A above then the member in-charge of your departments resources should locate the incident commander of the incident and work beside him/her as a liaison between your department and the Host department using your normal radio frequency or other frequency as your department desires to communicate with your department personnel on scene.

8. TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES cont.. • Depending on the size and complexity of the incident the IC can designate which other channels should be used and by whom.

9. TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES cont.. • If a "May Day" is called, the I.C. or his/her designee, and the member(s) declaring the "May Day" are the only members that should be communicating on the fireground radio channel. ALL others should maintain radio silence, or switch to a secondary channel to communicate. The secondary channel is VTNMA5 for VHF radios and 8TNMA5 for 800 radios. This channel is linked together and everyone should be able to communicate using this frequency. All crew leaders shall take a PAR of their crew, and unless there are members physically missing shall maintain radio silence. Unless specifically addressed by Command, the Safety Officer, or there designees in rescue efforts, SHUT UP! If you have relevant information, you have two options:

10. TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES cont.. • A. A face to face meeting with Command/Safety • B. Communicate on a secondary channel to someone who can have a face to face with Command/Safety.

11. Guidelines in transmitting: • Be short, specific, and clear. Know what you are going to say before you key the mike. Choose precise, short terms, and avoid uncommon or little used words. Common language and standard fire fighting terms are best understood. Operational orders should be specific.

12. The Order Model • Avoid distracting mannerisms. Use a natural tone; strictly avoid whispering or shouting. Speak in a clear tone at a normal rate. • Prioritize messages. Send critical messages first. Maintain radio discipline, avoid informality, and do not interrupt unless you have emergency traffic. Listen before you transmit. If you can't help the situation, THEN STAY OFF THE AIR!

13. The Order Model • Keep messages task oriented. Indicate a specific assignment or task, which outlines what to do; not how to do it. Those receiving the message need to know where to go, to whom to report, what to do, and the desired results. • Follow the order model (401.4). Be certain that the receiver is ready to receive before transmitting the assignment and make sure the message is acknowledged. A brief restatement of the message is sometimes far more effective than "copy." • Do not use proper names if possible.* Uses of individual names are not proper as far as FCC is concerned. • *Proper names are used occasionally with dispatching.

14. Plain Language • Plain language shall be used in all radio communications. Words and PhrasesApplication Affirmative. Yes. Negative. No. Copy, Copies. Same as 10-4. Message received. Unreadable Signal received is not clear. Loud and clear Self-explanatory. Stop transmitting. Self-explanatory.

15. Plain Language cont… • Respond. Telling a unit where to go. (Emergency run) • Responding. Central, 4151 responding to...(Emergency run) • En route. Responding to a non-emergency location. • In quarters. Unit or personnel back in station. • Uncovered. Unit /station does not have personnel. • Out of service. Indicates unit mechanically down. • In service. Unit or personnel available for traffic. • Repeat. Self-explanatory. • Return to. Tells unit or personnel to return. • What is your location? Self-explanatory.

16. Plain Language cont… • Recall. Units reduce to normal speed; return quarters. • Call______ Self-explanatory. • Disregard last message. Self-explanatory. • Stand by. Self-explanatory. • On scene. Used to indicate unit or personnel at incident. • Can handle. Self-explanatory. • Report on conditions. Self-explanatory. • Fire under control. Fire may not be out, but under control. • All clear. Structure searched once, no victims found. • MVA Motor Vehicle Accident, with or without injuries

17. Plain Language cont… • SPECIAL NOTE: EMERGENCY TRAFFIC - The term "Emergency Traffic" will be utilized by any unit or personnel encountering an immediately perilous situation and will receive the highest communications priority from Dispatch, Command and all operating units. THE AIR ABSOLUTELY BELONGS TO ANY UNIT GIVING THE "EMERGENCY TRAFFIC"CALL.

18. Communications • It is the responsibility of command to initiate, maintain and control communications throughout the emergency incident

19. Communication Problems • Lack of SOP’s • Deficiencies in training • Organization Problems • Equipment Problems • Communication Techniques

20. Maintaining Communications • Once the operation is set up, Command begins to receive feedback in the form of reports on the progress being made and the need for more resources or coordination • Command’s success is dependent on this feedback

21. Sector Reports • Elements of Sector reporting • Position • Progress • Needs • Completion of tasks • Readiness for reassignment

22. Order Model • Radio communications shall be regulated by the following order model guidelines. • 1. Sender shall give the receiver unit ID and then follow with own ID • 2.     Receiver will give your ID to indicate they are ready to receive. • 3.     Sender will then extend message, order, etc.  

23. Order Model cont… • 4.     Receiver will give your ID and acknowledge receipt of message. A brief restatement is the best acknowledgment. • 5. Dispatch will acknowledge all communications directed to it by a brief restatement of the message, with particular attention given to repeating on the scene, size up and progress reports etc.

24. Order Model Example • EXAMPLE: (6100 contacting 911 to get electric company.) • 6100: "911 , 6100." • 911: "6100.” • 6100: "911, dispatch Gibson Electric to this location." • 911: "Copy 6100, dispatching Gibson County Electric."  

25. Unit / Personnel ID Numbers • At the present time, the following Municipal Fire Departments in Obion County use this system: Hornbeak (4400) Fire, Kenton (4300) Fire, Obion (8100) Fire, Rives (6100) fire, Samburg (2000) fire, South Fulton (2100) Fire, and Union City (4100) Fire. Although Troy has taken the four digit number 4700 they are not utilizing this system currently.

26. Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont… • At the present time, the following other area fire departments use this system: Fulton (1100) Fire Department, Water Valley (3100)Fire Department, Wingo (9100) Fire Department, Fulton (1100) Fire Department, Hickman (5100) Fire Department, and Cayce ( ) Fire Department

27. Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont… • The first two digits signify the department. Samburg (20), South Fulton F.D is (21). Union City F.D. is (41), Kenton (43), Rives F.D. is (61), Hornbeak (44), Obion (81), • The third and fourth digit are used for identification of personnel and apparatus. Personnel are identified by numbers 01-99.  

28. Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont… • Special Note: Because of the number of personnel in the Union city Fire Department, the numbers 4001 - 4099 are used in the system to identify personnel. • Apparatus are identified by the following numeric system: • 50 series numbers identify Engines. • 60 series numbers identify Ladder Trucks. • 70 series numbers identify Tankers. • 80 series numbers identify Brush Trucks. • 90 series numbers identify EMS/ Utility Vehicles  

29. Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont… •   EXAMPLES: • "4151" - The number 1 engine from Union City • " 6171" - The number 1 tanker from Rives • " 2101" - The Chief of South Fulton Fire Department. • “8151” - The number 1 engine from Obion

30. FLOOR IS OPEN FOR DISCUSION/ QUESTIONS • THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING