Fire Ground Emergencies - Mayday

Question 1

Any officer hearing a MAYDAY or an URGENT transmission and realizing that it
has not been acknowledged by the Incident Commander shall ________

Answer 1

acknowledge the
transmission and relay all information to the Incident Commander.

Question 2

Definition of mayday

Answer 2

Indicates that a life-threatening situation has developed

Question 3

Mayday examples

Answer 3

imminent collapse, collapse has occurred,
unconscious firefighter or life-threatening injury, report of a missing firefighter, or
member becomes lost or trapped.

Question 4

Urgent traffic definitions

Answer 4

This transmission is used to indicate that a member has suffered an
injury that is not immediately life-threatening, to inform members of a serious
change in conditions, or to notify Command that a civilian victim has been located.
It should be used in the following situations:

Question 5

Urgent traffic examples

Answer 5

A member suffers an injury that will require transport to the hospital

ii. A change from interior to exterior attack strategy

iii. Fire is spreading to an exposure or may rapidly extend soon

iv. There is a loss of water supply or pump pressure

v. A civilian is located requiring rescue
vi. Low air alarm is heard in the vicinity, or a member has a low air alarm.

Question 6

What is abandon structure?

Answer 6

This transmission is used to direct personnel operating in
the hazard zone to immediately cease all operations and rapidly and safely exit

Abandon the structure is preceded by urgent traffic

Question 7

What is Withdrawal from the Structure:

Answer 7

This transmission is used to order a controlled
tactical movement from current operating positions to a safer location. It is
preceded by the term “URGENT.”

Question 8

What is Evacuate the Structure:

Answer 8

This term will be limited to removal of civilians who are
exposed or potentially exposed to hazards presented by the incident.

Question 9

What can be done in an IDLH environment where a firefighter experiences a life-threatening
situation (Mayday)

Answer 9

the ESK button can be activated.

Question 10

What are some indications for ESK activation?

Answer 10

Examples include the
following:
i.
If you are unable to contact Command due to radio traffic congestion

ii. Commands misses your initial call
iii.

If you can’t make the initial call, or
iv.

If you feel like you have one shot at calling the mayday

Question 11

LUNAR

Answer 11

LUNAR - Location, Unit, Name, Air left in SCBA cylinder or
Assignment of the member if the MAYDAY is being given for a missing partner, and
Resources needed (if known)

Question 12

All maydays go to command unless

Answer 12

unless the
unit calling the MAYDAY is operating under a Division or Group Supervisor on a
different radio channel than Command. In this instance, the Mayday traffic will go to
the Division or Group Supervisor who will address the Mayday traffic

Question 13

When should a CAN report be provided to the IC in a mayday?

Answer 13

ASAP

Question 14

Studies are showing that approximately ____of Firefighter
emergencies are mitigated “from the inside out.”

Answer 14

90%

Question 15

IC’s should strongly consider
managing the MAYDAY in this order:

Answer 15

a. Encourage the firefighter in distress to help themselves.
b. Contact the distressed Firefighters crewmember(s) to assist.
c. Contact other units in the vicinity to assist.
d. Use “on deck” crews and outside resources to assist.

Question 16

What should units who are not involved in the mayday do?

Answer 16

continue
their current task as the fireground is still active and other critical factors may exist.

Question 17

In the event of a collapse, mayday, or other danger - what should the IC do

Answer 17

call for a roll call - consider units working closest to the danger first

Question 18

How should a unit respond when a par is requested by the IC?

Answer 18

The called unit will respond by identifying
their call sign, location, and then saying PAR.

Question 19

What is the emergency abandon signal?

Answer 19

The Incident Commander may order all or specific apparatus to sound their air
horns in the following audible pattern for a period of thirty (30) seconds: 3-second
blast, 2-second pause, 3-second blast, 2-second pause, 3-second blast, 2-
second pause.

Question 20

Following any order to Abandon or Withdraw, the Incident Commander shall

Answer 20

conduct a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) once it is feasible to do so.