One of the ongoing debates in the fire service is whether to switch radio channels on the fireground when a Mayday is transmitted. Simply answering yes or no is the easy part; understanding the questionand why it’s being askedis actually the real answer to the question.
Think about the question for a minute: Should we switch firefighters to another radio channel during a Mayday? Before we commit to an action (or answer), let’s try and understand why we even consider switching a radio channel when something bad happens on the fireground.
We use the radio for a number of reasons, but the main purpose is to communicate needed information to update firefighters on how things are going. The information flows from Command to individual companies, from companies to Command, between companies, and between individual company members. The information can be routine (transmitting common information updates that take place on every fireground: search results, fire location, crew location, ventilation needs) or it can be emergency (Mayday, safety issue, evacuation). Whatever the information, it must be communicated, received, and understood.
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