MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY **Having the confidence, knowledge, and courage to call for help when you need it**

Rules To Live By… The first and absolutely most important factor in calling for a MAYDAY is the decision to call for a MAYDAY… If you have difficulties now remembering how to call for a MAYDAY or the LUNAR acronym, how will you remember it when you know your LIFE is in DANGER?!

How to avoid the need for calling a MAYDAY Recognize the potential for collapse Recognize the indicators of Flashover Stay orientated when in a structure Remain in contact with your crew TRAIN. TRAIN. TRAIN. And… TRAIN AGAIN!

Reasons why Firefighters don’t call for a MAYDAY Not wanting to “loose control” of the situation Loss of situational awareness Fear of the unknown Fear of retribution (for getting into the situation) Lack of knowledge Attempting to fix the problem PRIDE/EGO Denial

When To Call For A MAYDAY… A MAYDAY should be called for immediately when… Become tangled, pinned or stuck Fall through roof or floor Collapse that blocks your exit Become disoriented or separated Cannot find any exit (door or window) Low air alarm with no exit If any of your PPE fails Injured or medial emergency while in IDLH If you have that gut feeling something is not right and you cannot remove yourself from that situation BASICALLY….WHEN LOST – MISSING – TRAPPED - IN TROUBLE

Problems With The MAYDAY Transmission Volume – firefighter speaks too loudly or not loudly enough Speed – firefighter speaks to rapidly Quality – the voice is deep or soft and hard to understand Feedback – the firefighters radio is to close to another radio in the area Traffic – firefighter is trying to transmit amid all the other fire ground traffic Failure – firefighters radio does not work properly or battery is dead Inattention – Command is distracted or not paying proper attention and misses the message

What to do if you call a MAYDAY Call “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY” Wait for Command to acknowledge you Give LUNAR Report Ensure Command acknowledges & repeats your LUNAR Report Activate PASS Device & Emergency Identifier (EI) Orient yourself Communicate with your crew, the RIT team or Command using – CAN Report Continually sound the floor, switch your handlight to the strobe position, etc.

What to do if you call a MAYDAY Give LUNAR Report L – Location (where you are in building) U – Unit – apparatus you were assigned to N – Name – give your name. A – Assignment/Air – what your assignment was & what your heads up display tells you (air) R – Resources – what you need or think you need to get out of the MAYDAY situation

What to do if you call a MAYDAY LUNAR Example: L – Was operating on the 1st floor, approximately 75’ inside of the building. The floor collapsed and now I’m in the basement. U – Engine 52. N – Captain John Snow. A – Assigned to Fire Attack and have approximately 50% of my air supply left. R – I need a RIT team with several guys and a saw to remove me from the debris pile.

What to do if you call a MAYDAY LUNAR Example: Firefighter: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY Command: All units on the fireground, hold your radio transmissions, a MAYDAY has been declared. Command acknowledges your MAYDAY, go ahead with your LUNAR. Firefighter: This is Captain John Snow from Engine 52 assigned to Fire Attack. I was on the 1st floor approximately 75’ inside of the building, when the floor collapsed. I’m now in the basement with a large debris pile on top of me. I have approximately 50% of my air supply left and will need a RIT team with several guys and a saw to remove me.

What to do if you call a MAYDAY LUNAR Example (continued): Command: Command acknowledges your LUNAR. Captain John Snow from Engine 52 assigned to Fire Attack was on the 1st floor approximately 75’ inside of the building, when the floor collapsed. You’re now in the basement with a large debris pile on top of you. You have approximately 50% of your air supply left and will need a RIT team with several guys and a saw to remove you. The RIT team has been deployed. All units on the fireground, an active MAYDAY is in progress. All units, with the exception of the RIT Team & Captain John Snow, switch to TAC 2.

What to do if you call a MAYDAY LUNAR Example (continued): You do NOT have to give your LUNAR report in that exact order, i.e.: LUNAR. Practice, practice, practice (and practice again), what works best for you. Practice your LUNAR out loud. The only thing that matters is that you cover everything and report it in your message. Is it okay to give MORE in your message? YES! If you’re in a bathroom, report it. If you’ve broken your leg, report it. If you see a window, report it. All of these things are important and could save your life! If your gut tells you it’s important enough, then transmit it!

What to do if you call a MAYDAY Orient yourself Calm down and get your bearings straight Don’t Panic! Control your breathing. You may need that extra air! Anyone ever involved in a MAYDAY situation, will tell you that seconds feel like eternity and that there is nothing rapid about a RIT. Be systematic in your actions Let Command/RIT know what you see, hear & feel

What to do if you call a MAYDAY Communicate with your crew, the RIT team and/or Command using – CAN Report C – Conditions – visibility, heat, structure A – Actions – what you are doing, where you are going N – Needs – what you need or think you may need You C-A-N get yourself out of the situation – NEVER give up!

What to do if you call a MAYDAY Solve the problem! Highest priority after giving your MAYDAY…… Go back on your training, remain calm and orient yourself.

Command Actions Acknowledge MAYDAY Deploy RIT Additional Resources Confirm the MAYDAY & repeat the LUNAR report Inform Communications & all units of the MAYDAY Switch all units (except the MAYDAY member & RIT team) to an alternate channel. Fireground operations must continue. Deploy RIT Also consider having RIT report to Command for quick face-to-face briefing/coordination Additional Resources Assign an additional RIT Request additional EMS units

Command Actions continued.. Assign an aid to Command Assign an “Incident Commander” (i.e. whoever was in charge of Operations) to the alternate channel. Fireground operations must continue Conduct a PAR Rapid and quick Make a Rescue Division or RIT commander Reassess Risk vs. Benefit of all fire ground operations Consider fire spread, building integrity, risk of making more “victims”

Wrapping Up… Review local jurisdiction MAYDAY SOG Houston, Texas MAYDAY

Conclusion Comments, questions or concerns???