Drill of the Week: Emergency Radio Communications

By Forest Reeder

By now we should be well aware of the hazards associated with firefighting operations. Many hours of training have been conducted focusing on rescue procedures and skills necessary to escape and survive hostile situations.

Prior to putting those skills to work, every firefighter must know what the definition of an emergency is: When to call MAYDAY, when to activate the PASS, when to take action against rapid changes in conditions such as heat or smoke build-up, and so on This training guide is not all-inclusive but lists some common situations to help you develop and practice these general guidelines.

Officers should discuss situations, required actions, and responses from the incident commanders and other companies/members operating at the incident. Refer to local procedures and case study applications for more situations that will require Mayday (refer to the previouis Mayday drill HERE) or Emergency Traffic.

Download this week’s firefighter training drill as a PDF HERE.

Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1979. He currently serves as Battalion Chief / Director of Training & Safety with the Pleasantview (IL) Fire Protection District (www.plvw.org) and is the Director of Training for Southwest United Fire Districts (www.sufd.org). In these capacities, he is responsible for the design, implementation and coordination of in-service training activities as well as a full-service fire training academy program. Forest holds numerous Illinois fire service certifications and holds a Masters Degree in Public Safety Administration from Lewis University.
.

Hand entrapped in rope gripper

Elevator Rescue: Rope Gripper Entrapment

Mike Dragonetti discusses operating safely while around a Rope Gripper and two methods of mitigating an entrapment situation.
Delta explosion

Two Workers Killed, Another Injured in Explosion at Atlanta Delta Air Lines Facility

Two workers were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion Tuesday at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near the Atlanta airport.