Communication Questions For Firefighters
Some say communication is the most critical link in any effectively run emergency responder system. So what does this statement encompass exactly? Well, in laymens terms, I’m sure most of us would agree with a basic outline of how an emergency operates. An emergency is relayed by a citizen to some form of 911 or dispatch system. This information is then relayed from the dispatch console to the appropriate agencies, be it fire, police, ems, etc. Those agencies then communicate with one another en route to the emergency. Then once on scene units work together to provide a positive, successful outcome for all parties involved. In other words, make sense out of chaos. Our citizens expect us to “fix” the situation when we arrive. So, without going into too much detail or providing a specific nature of call, I pose a few questions for you. These questions are not intended to knock any one link in the chain of survival, just some food for thought.
1. What type of system is your Department employing? A 400 system? An 800 system?
2. How many agencies can you communicate with directly via your truck or hand held radio? Is it effective? Is your Department prepared to mitigate a mass casualty, multi agency incident?
3. Are you receiving the most accurate applicable information from your dispatch console to effectively prepare yourself and crew for what you will be pulling up on in a few minutes? Are your dispatchers clear and articulate when speaking? Is your first due painting a sufficient picture to prepare the next due units?
4. Is there too much non essential information being transmitted by various rigs en route to a call? Shouldn’t we give the first due an opportunity to evaluate and size up the scene before we jump the gun and broadcast potential actions and tactics?
5. Is a Chief Officer trying to coordinate or direct suppression efforts when not yet on scene? How effective is this practice?
We all have certain pet peeves related to this issue; Whether it is “that guy” talking on the radio whom makes us cringe or the dispatcher that cannot pronounce information as you would expect from a professional. I encourage you to respond with some of the issues you interpret as problems or ideas of how your system lacks and could use some tweaking. There are so many thoughts associated with the communications system. Please feel free to share your ideas.
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Advocates For Firefighters
January 17th, 2010 - 13:42
1. 800
2. two
3. We have comm folks who are trained very well.
4. No. We receive training on it and if our guys talk needlessly we police them ourselves.
5. That’s stupid. No chief can handle a scene without arriving first. That’s what the loo and captains are for.
January 17th, 2010 - 13:44
We have an 800 system and we talk to all public safety in our area. The whole works. Our dispatchers are decent but some of our guys on trucks talk too much. The last question shouldn’t be an issue. No one should manage a scene from a distance.
January 17th, 2010 - 13:48
In Columbia we screw it all up. On our shift the division chief runs every scene on his way to every fire. He never stays at hq where he belongs.We constantly complain about the dispatchers but none of the chiefs care on our shift.
January 17th, 2010 - 14:27
1) 800 MHz, as well as VHF for wildland and out-of-county incidents
2) We can communicate with all of the Orange County fd’s, as well as pd, state, USFS, etc. Very effective systems.
3) For most calls, we get more than enough info on our MDCs. And dispatchers give any additional info when available and/or requested.
4) sometimes the MDC can have too much information. It can be hard to decipher it all while driving code 3, checking traffic, and mapping.
5) Our BC’s only check in with the on-scene captains. They don’t make any command decisions until they are there.
January 31st, 2010 - 18:41
1. Combination of 800mhz and VHF Highband. 800mhz for dispatch and response, once on scene we utilize the VHF. We found that with the 800mhz system we often lost contact with interior crews.
2. We can communicate with anybody in the state that utilizes the Palmetto 800 system truck and handheld. Communications-wise we are more than capable. Otherwise I have serious doubts considering that other than a couple of specialized teams we do no drills.
3. Depending on the dispatcher. Most of the time we aren’t given additional information unless we ask for additional information. We are part of a countywide radio telecommunications system and we are way down the priority list after law enforcement and ems.
4. Depending on the unit/person on the radio. We have a few people who still talk the fire out enroute, but for the most part the information is limited to what needs to be transmitted.
5. Not really. Our Battalions are pretty good about letting the IC do his job and only prompting when it sounds like they need a prompt.