By ROBERT GOPLIN
According to the results of a 2009 survey of 187 firefighters across several Midwestern states, most firefighters felt that their coworkers wouldn't know when to call a Mayday. Almost half said they would not call a Mayday even if they were in a flashover or a backdraft. The research project, "Human Factors Affecting Mayday Decisions," asked questions that, although not scientifically developed, were intended to determine how firefighters decide whether to call a Mayday and how comfortable they were with calling one.
Sixty-four percent of firefighters believed that there are nationally recognized situational parameters that instruct them as to when to call a Mayday. No such parameters exist.
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