Preventing the MAYDAY

There is an excellent presentation being delivered that is called Managing The MAYDAY. It is probably one of the finest programs I have ever attended as it relates to the Incident commander's actions after the MAYDAY.
As I was thinking the other day, I thought that we should take a look at the training necessary to prevent the MAYDAY. We will probably never prevent them all, but I would like to believe that with proper training and focus we could work to minimize the Mayday.

Step # 1 - Attitude
Let's begin to train our people that it is not OK to get separated, trapped, or to freelance. Violation of crew integrity will have major safety ramifications. Let's spend time teaching risk assessment, so that we don't take unnecessary risks.Ask your troops the following question: "Who told you it was OK to die in a building fire?" You might be surprised when you get the answer...well that's what firefighters do, or worst yet that they got that idea from you!

Step # 2 - Hoselines
I am well aware that many major cities and even medium size departments have ladder or rescue companies that operate in advance of or above the fire without hoseline protection. I think that while this will still occur in some cases it should be a concious decision and based upon the protection of a hoseline being stretched. Firefighters operating without the protection of a hoseline are at great risk. You may choose to continue to do it.....just recognize the risk involved.

Step # 3 - Basics Training
We all want to do specialized rescue, confined space, high angle and all the fancy stuff. Focus much time on SCBA over and over, hose line advancing, and ladder raising and placement. It is these subjects that will ultimately save many firefighter lives.

Step # 4 - Proper Emergency Evacuation Training
Many departments have an "all out" emergency evacuation signal. Do your personnel really know what it means and what they are responsible for when this happens. Did we tell them that maybe the crew that is on the first floor, does not leave the building until crews operating above have left. Maybe it is a critical task that they remain in place an additional couple of seconds to protect the interior stairs while others escape. The most important fact about the sounding of air horns or whatever signal for evacuation that you use, is for each company operating on the interior to acknowledge this order. When you train and practice make sure each company acknowledges the receipt of the message and further that the call the IC when they are in a safe area.

The items discussed above are not all inclusive by any means, and each of these could probably stand alone as a drill individually. Get your personnel and convince yourself that although we must be prepared for the MAYDAY, our real goal should be to try to prevent it!