Chapter 2

Question 1

Which is a guideline to follow when answering non-emergency calls?

A. Relay messages by the end of the business day.
B. Identify yourself and your department, station, or unit.
C. Answer with only “Hello” and wait for the caller to respond.
D. Check back with the caller periodically after leaving them on hold for an extended time.

Answer 1

B. Identify yourself and your department, station, or unit.

Question 2

If you cannot answer a caller’s question when handling a non-emergency call, you should:

A. Ask them to hang up and call again later.
B. Put them on hold until the Chief is available.
C. Disconnect the call according to local protocol.
D. Refer them to someone who can answer the question.

Answer 2

D. Refer them to someone who can answer the question.

Question 3

What should you do if someone that is angry or upset calls the station?

A. Remain calm and never become confrontational.
B. Transfer the caller to the emergency dispatch center.
C. Record the caller’s name and number and call them back later.
D. Tell the person that they must call back when they calm down.

Answer 3

A. Remain calm and never become confrontational.

Question 4

Which type of telecommunications system is a dispatch center run directly by the fire department, emergency medical service, or law enforcement agency?

A. Municipal Alarm Box System
B. Public Safety Answering Point
C. Enhanced 9-1-1 Public Alerting System
D. Emergency Service-Specific Telecommunications Center

Answer 4

D. Emergency Service-Specific Telecommunications Center

Question 5

Which type of telecommunications system is a central location that routes all emergency calls to the appropriate fire, emergency medical, or law enforcement dispatcher?

A. Base station radio
B. Public Safety Answering Point
C. Enhanced 9-1-1 Public Alerting System
D. Emergency Service-Specific Telecommunications Center

Answer 5

B. Public Safety Answering Point

Question 6

6. How do enhanced 9-1-1 (E-9-1-1) systems function to aid in emergency communications?

A. Record all non-emergency call information in order to free dispatchers to handle emergency calls.
B. Remove the need for dispatchers by automatically routing call information to responding units.
C. Combine telephone and computer equipment to provide the dispatcher with the caller’s phone number and location.
D. Provide smaller departments with access to the 9-1-1 dispatchers and emergency resources of nearby metropolitan areas.

Answer 6

C. Combine telephone and computer equipment to provide the dispatcher with the caller’s phone number and location.

Question 7

Which piece of communications center equipment is used to communicate with mobile and portable radios at the emergency scene?

A. Direct-line telephones
B. Two-way radio system
C. Tone-generating equipment
D. Text phone or Teletype system

Answer 7

B. Two-way radio system

Question 8

A TDD or Teletype system in a fire department communications center is used to:

A. Receive calls from individuals with hearing impairments.
B. Send text messages to cell phones of responders on scene.
C. Communicate with fire department facilities, hospitals, and utilities.
D. Record location information about calls received from mobile phones.

Answer 8

A. Receive calls from individuals with hearing impairments.

Question 9

Which type of communications center equipment is used to communicate with hospitals or other response agencies?

A. Enhanced 9-1-1
B. Base station radio
C. Direct-line telephone
D. Public Safety Answering Point

Answer 9

C. Direct-line telephone

Question 10

What information should be gathered from every caller when processing an emergency call?

A. Property owner’s name
B. Age of victims involved
C. Type of response units needed
D. Location and type of emergency

Answer 10

D. Location and type of emergency

Question 11

Once an emergency has been reported, the information must be:

A. Logged into the incident reporting database.
B. Transmitted to the responding units or personnel.
C. Posted on the appropriate department information board.
D. Verified by a secondary source before being reported to personnel.

Answer 11

B. Transmitted to the responding units or personnel.

Question 12

With regard to relaying emergency information, sirens are an example of a(an):

A. Visual alert.
B. Audible alert.
C. Electronic alert.
D. Secondary alert.

Answer 12

B. Audible alert.

Question 13

Which is an electronic means of relaying emergency information to responding units or personnel?

A. Airhorn
B. Vocal alarm
C. Electronic light signals
D. Scrolling message board

Answer 13

D. Scrolling message board

Question 14

Which type of communications equipment is worn by emergency personnel and alerts the wearer by tone, light, or vibration?

A. Pager
B. Vocal alarm
C. Mobile Data Terminal
D. Teletype (TTY) system

Answer 14

A. Pager

Question 15

Which type of communications equipment that is most often used in small communities is mounted on top of a water tower or tall building and is designed to produce a signal that everyone in the community can hear?

A. Pager
B. Airhorn
C. Radio fire alarm box
D. Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

Answer 15

B. Airhorn

Question 16

What must be done immediately after emergency information is transmitted and responding personnel confirm that they have received the information?

A. The telecommunications center confirms that all units have been notified and are on assignment.
B. Emergency personnel and communications center personnel end the transmission according to local protocol.
C. Dispatchers log the emergency information into the local database, making it available for incident reporting purposes.
D. Dispatchers contact outside departments such as law enforcement that may be needed to assist fire department personnel.

Answer 16

A. The telecommunications center confirms that all units have been notified and are on assignment.

Question 17

Which entity is in charge of regulating all radio communication in the United States?

A. National Fire Protection Association
B. National Association of Broadcasters
C. Federal Communications Commission
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Answer 17

C. Federal Communications Commission

Question 18

Sending personal messages over a designated fire department radio channel is:

A. A federal offense.
B. In violation of NFPA standards.
C. Allowed if approved by the company officer.
D. Acceptable if there is no emergency radio traffic at the time.

Answer 18

A. A federal offense.

Question 19

Clear text can BEST be described as a:

A. Method of using plain English in radio communications.
B. Set of agency-specific codes or words used to transmit emergency information.
C. Communication tool used to receive emergency information from individuals with hearing impairments.
D. Set of written codes used to record non-emergency fire department messages or emergency communications.

Answer 19

A. Method of using plain English in radio communications.

Question 20

One way that fire department radios are used is to:

A. Hold post-incident debriefings.
B. Notify the public of emergencies.
C. Request additional resources on scene.
D. Transmit personal messages to responders.

Answer 20

C. Request additional resources on scene.

Question 21

Which type of radio system is used in a fixed location such as a fire station or telecommunications center?

A. Mobile radio
B. Portable radio
C. Base station radio
D. Fixed location radio

Answer 21

C. Base station radio

Question 22

Which type of radios are mounted in fire apparatus and are powered by the vehicle’s electrical system?

A. Mobile radios
B. Personal radios
C. Base station radios
D. Fixed location radios

Answer 22

A. Mobile radios

Question 23

When portable radios are used in hazardous atmospheres, they:

A. Are more likely to fail because of interference.
B. Should be contained in a special protective case.
C. Must only be used for a very brief amount of time.
D. Must be intrinsically safe for the specific environment.

Answer 23

D. Must be intrinsically safe for the specific environment.

Question 24

The straight-line travel of radio signals between the transmitting radio and the receiving radio is known as:

A. Direct communication.
B. Single communication.
C. Indirect communication.
D. Repeated communication.

Answer 24

A. Direct communication.

Question 25

If an incident grows in complexity, the: A. Command and tactical channels may be expanded. B. Command and tactical channels should be restricted. C. Non-emergency channels must be switched to emergency channels. D. Emergency channels must be switched to non-emergency channels.

Answer 25

A. Command and tactical channels may be expanded.

Question 26

What usually indicates that a radio receiver is near the limit of the radio transmission range? A. Repeating beeps B. Physical barriers C. Broken messages D. Background noise

Answer 26

C. Broken messages

Question 27

What should a firefighter do first to try to overcome physical barriers that interfere with radio communication? A. Change the radio battery B. End radio communications C. Turn 90 degrees or lift the radio higher D. Disassemble the radio and put it back together

Answer 27

C. Turn 90 degrees or lift the radio higher

Question 28

How can a firefighter overcome dead zones in a building that interfere with radio communications? A. Move to an outside wall or doorway B. Change to a different communication channel C. Turn the radio off, and then turn it back on again D. Lift the radio higher and raise the antenna straight up

Answer 28

A. Move to an outside wall or doorway

Question 29

What is likely to be a source of interference with radio communication? A. Repeaters B. Hydraulic tools C. Underground power lines D. High-voltage transmission lines

Answer 29

D. High-voltage transmission lines

Question 30

How can ambient noise be overcome when transmitting on the radio? A. Use PPE to create a wind barrier B. Change to a different radio channel C. Use a repeater to increase the signal D. Move to an exterior part of the building

Answer 30

A. Use PPE to create a wind barrier ✨You should be so bloody proud of yourself.✨

Question 31

All recorded radio transmissions are: A. Kept by the jurisdiction for a minimum of seven years. B. Transcribed into text and stored with local court records. C. Reviewed by fire department officers for training purposes. D. Part of the official incident record and may become public.

Answer 31

D. Part of the official incident record and may become public.

Question 32

A guideline for radio communications is that individuals must identify themselves: A. On every emergency radio transmission. B. Only when they are the receiver of the message. C. On the first radio transmission at an incident scene. D. Because radio frequencies are monitored and recorded.

Answer 32

A. On every emergency radio transmission.

Question 33

Which action helps ensure the start of a radio message is not cut off? A. Speak immediately after keying the microphone. B. Key the microphone three times before speaking. C. Speak immediately after turning on the microphone’s power. D. Key the microphone and then wait a second or two before speaking.

Answer 33

D. Key the microphone and then wait a second or two before speaking.

Question 34

In order to improve the ability to hear and be heard when using the radio, it is important to: A. Be concise and to the point. B. Use pauses and verbal fillers when possible. C. Use a monotone expression when speaking. D. Position the microphone near the PASS device.

Answer 34

A. Be concise and to the point.

Question 35

Which guideline will help a firefighter ensure that they are heard and understood when communicating by radio? A. Speak across the microphone. B. Shout if the receiver does not understand. C. Use slang or regional expressions whenever possible. D. Hold the microphone 1 to 2 inches (25 to 50 mm) from the SCBA voice port.

Answer 35

D. Hold the microphone 1 to 2 inches (25 to 50 mm) from the SCBA voice port.