OG 4052 Radio Communications

Issued By: OPERATIONS (B.CLARKE)
Approved By: Fire Chief William H. Mosher     
Date of Issue: 2011/01/05
Revision Date: 2011/08/24

PURPOSE: 

To provide proper procedures for the transmission of messages via the Halifax Regional fire & Emergency’s radio system.  Communications can be in the form of either non­emergency or emergency communications. Non­emergency communications consist of messages outside of an emergency response. These messages generally consist of units on the road, in service or returning to station. Emergency communications are for tactical use on emergency scenes.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this operating guideline is to improve overall radio communications before, during and after incidents. 

SCOPE: 

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer members of HRFE. 

PROCEDURE:

•    We use receiver from caller format. I.e. A Dispatch ­ This is Engine 29".
•    Your message must identify the receiver (who you want to talk to) and the sender (you).
•    Before transmitting know what you are going to say.  Choose precise terms to communicate the desired message as clearly and briefly as possible without wasting airtime.
•    Commands orders to operating companies should indicate a specific task assigned the company.
•    In addition to being task oriented, assignments should indicate an objective to the action.  The company should know exactly where to go, to whom to report, what the task is, and what is the objective of the task. Orders should tell what to do ­ not how to do it (unless Command wants something specific).
•    Speak clearly at a practiced rate. Not too fast and not too slow. Control your emotions and excitement deliberately. If you do not consciously control your voice, it will become garbled under stress.
•    Prioritize your message.  Do not use valuable airtime with unimportant messages or insignificant details.
•    Do not interrupt conversations unless you have Emergency Traffic or a “May Day”. 
•    Listen before transmitting and wait until a message transaction has been completed.

Pause between consecutive messages.  This will make it clear when one message has been completed and another started. It also allows other units to break in with urgent/emergency traffic if applicable.

Receiver of message should give a brief description of the message back to the sender to ensure that the message was understood.

When apparatus is being moved for reasons other than responses; i.e. Standby, Training, ISI, 

Mechanical, etc. the following information shall be relayed to Dispatch:
•    The identification of the unit;
•    Whether in-service or out­of­service;
•    Location and reason for movement.

When apparatus has arrived at the desired location, the following shall be relayed to Dispatch:
Announce arrival; Give location.

RESPONDING TO A CALL 

When responding to a call the following shall be relayed to dispatch:
 
Initial Responding Procedures: 

•    The identification of the unit responding and responding Code 1 or 3;
•    The address or location the unit is responding to;
•    The nature of the call; i.e. Structure fire, medical assist, etc.
 
Arrival Procedures: 

On arrival, the first arriving unit will give the following information to dispatch when applicable:

•    Identification of unit arriving and repeat address;
•    Building / Area description;
•    Describe the problem;
•    Actions being taken;
•    Declaration of the strategy;
•    Establish and naming of Command;
•    Additional resource request.

Once command has been established and the IC has completed their size up a follow up report is necessary.
 

Follow up Report : 
•    Accountability Location;
•    Immediate Safety concerns;
•    CAN report.

 Arrival Procedures for all other units:
•    Identification of unit,
•    Announce arrival and any pre­designated actions, i.e. Staged, Catching Hydrant, etc.

 TERMINATION OF A CALL 
•    When an incident has been successfully mitigated, the following shall be relayed to Dispatch:
•    Termination of Command;
•    Unit identification and whether in-service or out­of­service; Location returning to.

REPEAL:

OG 2001 – Radio Communication for Response Codes has been repealed.

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:  

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the procedure followed for radio communications before, during and after an incident.