LISTEN TO THE MAYDAY RADIO TRAFFIC FROM THIS MORNING:
Be warned that this is real life audio.
These members were trapped and thank God they survived and are recovering.
This is a link for a few moments of the MAYDAY RADIO TRAFFIC. While naturally the facts of exactly what, why and how it happened are not yet out, these Firefighters were trapped and burning. It is critical for a multitude of reasons why every Firefighter must understand what these members went through this morning.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ATTACHED – https://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/download/243/tsl-files/368390/north-east-md-firefighters-burned-audio.mov
This is a good opportunity to consider/reminder/review of what your/mine/our FD’s MAYDAY policy & procedures are (see sample checklist below)….
If able to, what do the trapped/MAYDAY members do?
-What does command do?
-Does command have a checklist and an aide at the CP to assist BEFORE a MAYDAY is called?
-Is there water on the fire?
-Are the trapped members able to be protected from fire?
-What does dispatch/communications do?
-What do companies not directly involved do?
-Who is focused on the fire problem while the MAYDAY is being managed?
-What does the Rapid Intervention crew do upon MAYDAY transmission?
-What if there is no RIT team on scene…yet?
-What if there is no RIT team on scene…yet?
-How many Firefighters are on your 1st alarm? 2nd alarm? etc?
-Is EMS due on every 1st alarm assignment?
-How many chiefs are on the 1st alarm as to “division out” the incident?
-Policy and procedures (and training) MUST include your fire communications dispatch and usual mutual aid responding departments personnel as well.
HERE IS SAMPLE MAYDAY CHECKLIST: