Greene County - Greene Government

Transcript

GREENE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES Standard Fire Radio Procedures Director John P. Farrell Jr. Deputy Director Randy Ormerod PURPOSE: This procedure will acquaint Fire Service members with the standard practice for the Fire Radio System in Greene County. These procedures and rules are according to the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. REGULATIONS: No Fire Officer or Firefighter may use the 2-way Radio System licensed under the County of Greene unless they have received radio training. All fire department or company base stations operating on the system must follow the rules and regulation established for the County. Training may be given by the Chief of a department or company, by the Training Officer of the department or company, a State Fire Instructor, the Director of Emergency Services, Deputy Director of Emergency Services or a Sr. Dispatcher. Greene County request ALL Departments and Companies to utilize the Incident Command System (ICS). By using the ICS at all incidents will streamline communications and make the incident more manageable. The Incident Commander needs to operate the Command Post from a MOBILE radio. GREENE COUNTY FIRE RADIO: This is a DUPLEX SYSTEM operating on the frequencies of 46.14 MHZ and 46.26 MHZ assigned by the FCC. 46.14 MHZ is the primary frequency used by the County Base Stations when transmitting to mobile units, other base stations, station house receivers, and home alert units. 46.26 MHZ is the secondary frequency used ONLY under the direction of the ranking Emergency Operations Dispatcher on duty, the Greene County Emergency Services Director, Greene County Emergency Services Deputy Director, Deputy Fire Coordinator, or the Fire Officer in charge of an incident may also request the use of the frequency from the Dispatcher. 46.14 MHZ (Channel 1 or Frequency 1) is the frequency used during normal operations. 46.26 MHZ (Channel 2 or Frequency 2) is the frequency used whenever 46.14 MHZ becomes overcrowded. 46.30 MHZ (Portable ONLY) may be used for fire ground operations. GREENE COUNTY EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTER: The County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) is in the County Emergency Services Building, 25 Volunteer Drive, Cairo, N.Y. Telephone: 622-3344 for Emergency Business Only! 622-3548 for Office Business, 622-3133 for FAX. ***All administrative and emergency numbers are capable of TDD operations***. ***All Phones and radios are taped*** Greene County’s Radio Identifier: Greene 9-1-1 FCC Requirements and Radio Regulations Efficient communication is essential in today’s world. Of all the resources available, two-way radios are recognized as the most efficient system for keeping all units informed as to the exact conditions that exist on the scene of an incident. Preliminary reports and status updates make it possible for officers to deploy their equipment most efficiently. It’s value in the management of resources and operations has been well established. Keep in mind: • All radio communications must comply with the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. • All conversations shall be as brief as possible and all unnecessary repetition avoided. • All radio conversations shall be business-like without personal greetings or pleasantries. • All transmissions shall be courteous, but expressions of courtesy such as "thanks" and "please" shall be avoided in the interest of brevity. Indecent, obscene or profane language is strictly prohibited. • Members shall use titles when identifying themselves, or addressing others. Avoid abbreviations such as "Cap". Never call a person by their first name no matter how well they are known. Formal procedures are recommended by the FCC for all radio communications. • If an error has been made, simply say "correction" and re-word the message. • All messages should be acknowledged as quickly as possible. Avoid the use of "OK" except as a qualifying answer as in a properly received test. Otherwise, acknowledge messages with the phrase “Message Received" or simply “Received”. MOBILE IDENTIFIER: The identifiers of mobile units will include:  TYPE OF VEHICLE  COUNTY NUMBER OF VEHICLE (Example E3-21) We permit two way mobile radios in all Fire Department or Company owned emergency vehicles and Chiefs or Assistant Chiefs private vehicles when specifically authorized by the County Fire Coordinator. PORTABLE IDENTIFIERS: We suggest that the number of the apparatus to which department assigns the portable radio be used, by changing the identifier to read “PORTABLE” followed by the number assigned to the apparatus. Example: Engine 4-3 the portable would be “PORTABLE 4-3”: Should a department or company prefer to use the same numbering as applies to apparatus, use the County assigned prefix number for the department or company followed by the next open number for the department or company. Example: “PORTABLE 18-6" If more than one portable is on an apparatus, letters may be added after the number. Example: “PORTABLE 18-3A, 18-3B, etc.” BASE STATION IDENTIFIERS: All base stations are to use their FCC Call Letters and number at least once in each transmission as per F.C.C. rules and regulations. CHIEF OFFICER CAR IDENTIFIERS: Greene County Fire Coordinators will use “GREENE” or “COUNTY” as their identifier prefix for Mobiles or Portables. A local Fire Chief with a radio equipped vehicle will use the identifier number assigned to their department or company. Examples: COORDINATOR: GREENE CAR 1 or “COUNTY CAR 1” KISKATOM CHIEF: “CAR 16-10” Making Requests for Additional Equipment or Personnel • All requests for additional resources should come from the Incident Commander or person in charge at the scene. • The Incident Commander should make the request using a mobile radio, not a portable. • In accordance with NYS law, a patrol unit is sent to ALL motor vehicle accidents. It is not necessary to specifically request one. • If a police officer has not been assigned to the call and one is needed, one may be requested. Be prepared to describe the problem or justify the request. • In the event of an obvious death, whenever possible, it is suggested you contact the Communication Center by phone to explain the circumstances. Exceptions would be a death as a result of a motor vehicle accident. • Be aware that what started out as a fire or EMS call could easily become a crime scene, such as a suicide or an assault. • In the event of a fire or EMS call at the scene of a potential crime scene or hazardous situation, you may be asked to stand-by “near” the scene until it is secured by law enforcement personnel. Not doing so may place your personnel in danger as well as that of the responding officers. MUTUAL AID ASSISTANCE: When calling Greene 911 for mutual aid assistance, the person calling must BE SPECIFIC: 1) What agency unit 2) Where exactly do you want the Dept./Company or unit. BY RADIO---Call “Greene 911” and give the identifier of the unit you are calling from and the above information EXAMPLE: Greene 911 this is Hunter Command request Tannersville with 1 Engine to the scene and have Haines Falls relocate with (1) ETA to standby at the Hunter Firehouse. STATION HOUSE RECEIVERS: Station House Receivers are used to activate local alarms via radio tones generated at the ECC. The Dispatchers can activate any Fire department or company's public alarm system or activating ALL alarms at once by means of a Group Call set of tones. ALARM TESTS: The local Chief and the Director’s office establish tests. Every Department or Company must test their alarm system from the Greene County 911 Center at least once a month. We will not allow any test when any County unit is Out of Service on an emergency. A county wide “ALL CALL” alarm/siren test will be conducted four times a year on the third Saturday of the last month of the quarter at 13.00 hours March, June, September and December. ***THIS IS A TEST OF THE ALARMS/SIREN AND NOT PAGERS*** INTER COUNTY FREQUENCY (STATEWIDE): Greene County 911 are licensed on 45.88 MHZ to coordinate inter county operations. The FCC issues the license for one base station at 911 Center and mobiles in the Director, Deputy Director’s and Deputy Fire Coordinators’ vehicles. Under established statewide regulations, there may be no other units licensed to operate on this frequency and no Fire department or company is permitted to operate on the same. It is strictly a “COMMAND FREQUENCY.” Strict rules are established for its use. EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTER’S identifier is “GREENE 911” In the event a fire department or company needs assistance from outside the County, they must call the Greene County 911 Center in the usual manner. The 911 Center will then transmit the request on the Inter County Frequency (45.88 MHZ) to the Control Center of the County from where the department request assistance. That Control Center will then relay the request through normal Mutual Aid Procedures in that County to the Fire department or company from which assistance is requested. The counties surrounding Greene that are equipped with the 45.88 frequency are: Delaware, Columbia, Ulster, and Schoharie. VEHICLE DESIGNATIONS: "E" - ENGINE - Pumper equipped with a 500 G.P.M. or a larger pump. "T" - TRUCK - Ladder, Aerial, or Quint. “C” - CAR - Officers Car. "TA" - TANKER - Tank truck with less than a 500 G.P.M. pump. "ETA”-ENGINE-TANKER - 500 G.P.M. or a larger pump & 600 GAL. or larger water tank. "R" - RESCUE - Rescue truck, Ambulance, or Emergency unit. "M" - MISCELLANEOUS - any vehicle not otherwise identified: (i.e., High Pressure Fog, Utility van, Mini Pumper, etc.) “P" - PORTABLE - hand-held radio, Walkie talkies, etc. TERMINOLOGY: OUT OF SERVICE When an apparatus leaves its station for a FIRE, REPAIRS, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON to be out of service and not available for Mutual Aid - the unit must report to the 911 Center. RESPONDING When an apparatus leaves its station for a FIRE, REPAIRS, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON to be out of service and not available for Mutual Aid - the unit must report to the 911 Center. ON THE SCENE When the equipment is on the scene of the emergency. ARRIVING When the equipment is on the scene of the emergency. IN SERVICE When the unit has been returned to its station or is again in service and ready to respond to an alarm. ACKNOWLEDGE Let me know if the message was received and understood. AFFIRMATIVE - Yes or true. Opposite of negative. ALL STATIONS - Attention all stations - Stand by for message. CORRECTION - Use if any error has been made. EMERGENCY - Any incident that threatens life and/or property. EXPOSURES - The surrounding property on all sides of a fire building or fire area. Exposures are defined in clockwise order beginning with "Side 1” which is the street side. FALSE ALARMS o MALICIOUS FALSE ALARM (MFA) - An alarm deliberately sounded to cause inconvenience, disturbance, and excitement. o EQUIPMENT - Malfunction of alarm system equipment. o ACCIDENTAL/NON-MALICIOUS - Accidental activation of a fire alarm system. o GOOD INTENT - Mistaken activation of the fire alarm system by a citizen with good intentions. ICS - INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM - A component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept in the United States. It is a management protocol originally designed for emergency management agencies and later federalized. ICS is based upon a flexible, scalable response organization providing a common framework within which people can work together effectively. These people may be drawn from multiple agencies that do not routinely work together, and ICS is designed to give standard response and operation procedures to reduce the problems and potential for miscommunication on such incidents. ICS has been summarized as a "first-on-scene" structure, where the first responder of a scene has charge of the scene until the incident has been declared resolved, a superior-ranking responder arrives on scene and seizes command, or the Incident Commander appoints another individual Incident Commander. ICS provides for a unified single point of contact for any size incident. At no time is there more than one Incident Commander at the same incident. (Fire Command & EMS Command) MESSAGE RECEIVED I have received and understood the message. NEGATIVE No or not true. Opposite of affirmative. OCCUPANCY The purpose for which a building is being used such as a residential dwelling, grocery store, textile factory, storage loft, hotel, rooming house, office building, etc. • OCCUPANTS Person or persons within a building. • OCCUPIED People in building at the time of the fire. • UNOCCUPIED No people in the building at the time of the fire. • OUT OF SERVICE Not available to respond due to routine or mechanical conditions, or operating on an alarm or drill. • PROCEED Go ahead with your message • PRIORITY 1 Emergency response mode using warning lights and siren. • PRIORITY 2 Non-emergency response mode. No warning lights or siren. • PRIORITY 3 Response for a stand-by only. There is no emergency. • REPEAT Repeat your last message. • UNIT The term used to designate any police, fire or EMS vehicle or person. • EMERGENCY TRAFFIC Message to follow will be of a life-threatening nature. • “MAYDAY” Message transmitted ONLY when you or your crew are threatened with "grave and imminent danger." This distress call consists of the word “Mayday” repeated three times. • VACANT Unused or abandoned building. IN and OUT OF SERVICE information is necessary so that the 911 Center is aware whether or not a specific piece of equipment is available for dispatching. HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT PROCEDURE: Before beginning any transmission, be sure to LISTEN and be certain no one else is transmitting. We can compare the system with a party line telephone and we must all share the use. Whenever receiving an urgent message from the 911 Center, another mobile, or another base station, you should always repeat the message to insure you have received it correctly. This applies to the 911 Center personnel and mobile operators. When transmitting a call, be sure to give the Call Signs of the unit or base being called FIRST, followed by the identifier of the unit from which you are calling. Example: “GREENE 911” - this is Greene Car 1” The use of any codes including “10” codes are prohibited. • It is important when using any radio that you use proper radio procedures. By doing so, chances are good the person you are calling is prepared to hear or “copy” your message and they will receive and understand it completely. • Be sure to select the proper channel. • Be sure the volume is turned up. • Be sure the channel is clear of other radio traffic. • Always use your complete identifier (“Ambulance 721” not just “721”) • Do not attempt to contact Fire or EMS Control during a dispatch. • Press and hold the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button on the microphone for approximately one second before speaking to allow the ANI data packet (squawk tone) to be sent. • Speak in a normal voice. Shouting or loud talking causes distorted sounds that are difficult to understand. Every effort should be made to keep your voice calm, regardless of the situation. If a person is out of breath, they should pause momentarily and regain their composure prior to transmitting. • Speak clearly in a natural conversational rhythm. • Speak at a steady slow to medium pace, do not rush. • Hold the microphone at a 45 degree angle about 2-3 inches from your mouth and speak across it. • Try to avoid background noises. Sirens, air horns and other load noises can seriously impair reception of messages. • All messages should be clear, concise and to the point. • Release the PTT button after your message has been transmitted. • At no time is obscene or vulgar language appropriate. • Remember, a message has no value if it is not clearly understood. • Listen for a Communication Officer to acknowledge your message. If, after a short time the Communication Officer has not acknowledged, call and ask if he/she copied your last transmission. RECEIVER CONTROLS: To conserve the vehicle's battery, the engine should be running while the radio is on. ESPECIALLY WHEN TRANSMITTING. ON-OFF SWITCH - Green Pilot light is on. CHANNEL PLAN: (Mobile & Portables) Channel 1 46.14 Greene County dispatch frequency Channel 2 46.26 Greene County 2nd frequency Channel 3 46.30 Greene County fire ground operations SQUELCH CONTROL - Adjust to noise level, and then back off until noise stops. VOLUME CONTROL - Adjust until you can hear (a signal is necessary). Note: VOLUME CONTROL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANSMITTING - ONLY CONTROLS THE RECEIVER. FIRE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIER NUMBERS ASSIGNED EACH DEPT. OR CO. DEPT. ASHLAND ATHENS CATSKILL CAIRO COXSACKIE BASE STATION ID'S KUV 753 WPII 566 WPII 567 KTH 520 KXZ 554 KNBP 852 DEPT NO. 01 02 03 LANESVILLE EARLTON KXK 361 EAST DURHAM EAST JEWETT FREEHOLD GREENVILLE KZB 212 HAINES FALLS KNBG 331 HENSONVILLE HUNTER JEWETT KISKATOM WPIN 409 LEEDS WPUN 601 LEXINGTON KNAG 23 MEDWAY-GRAPEVILLE NEW BALTIMORE KNFM 272 OAK HILL-DURHAM PALENVILLE PRATTSVILLE ROUND TOP TANNERSVILLE KFM 335 WINDHAM KWX 617 WEST ATHENS-LIMESTREET 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 OUT OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS (on County Frequencies) COEYMANS TRI-VILLAGE KVD 709 COEYMANS HOLLOW SAUGERTIES MEDUSA SAXTON RAVENA GRAND GORGE WESTERLO COXSACKIE CORRECTIONAL INST. N.Y. STATE DEC RANGERS GREENPORT FIRE DEPT. CITY OF HUDSON FIRE DEPT. 51 53 54 55 58 61 62 TWO-WAY MOBILE RADIOS To comply with Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 115 a # 2 and FCC Rule 90.21 (a) we permit mobile radios in: Mobile radios range from 25 to 110 watts. 1. All emergency vehicles a. maximum wattage - 60 watts 2. Chiefs and Assistance Chiefs vehicles a. maximum wattage - 60 watts b. maximum units per dept. - 1 Chief and 4 Assistant Chiefs 3. Radios WILL NOT be installed and used in line officers vehicles. (Foremen, Captains, or Lieutenants, etc.) 4. Radios WILL NOT be installed and used in Fire Police private vehicles. 5. All vehicles will use their assigned County Identifiers. PORTABLE RADIOS Portable radios, though convenient, are best used for on scene communications. With a maximum output power of 5 watts, they are not well suited for communications with base stations. Mobile radios range from 25 to 110 watts. If you attempt to contact the Communication Center on a portable and you are unreadable, do not keep trying, switch to a mobile radio or change your location. We permit portable radios for: 1. All Emergency vehicles. a. maximum wattage - 10 watts 2. Chiefs and Assistance Chiefs private vehicles. a. maximum wattage - 10 watts 3. The 46.30 MHZ Fire Ground Frequency has been designated for Portable Radios ONLY as stated in FCC Rule 90.21 note 1 a. maximum wattage - 10 watts 4. All portables will use their assigned County Identifier. TWO-WAY BASE STATIONS 1. Transmissions will be only for communications essential to official fire activities. a. Announcements will be authorized only by the Chief, Asst. Chief, or Senior Officer present in the Department. They will be responsible for controlling the announcements of their Department. b. Permission must be obtained from the Greene County Emergency Operations Center Dispatcher before any announcement is made, except in an emergency. We will allow no announcement when any county unit is out of service on an emergency. c. Permitted announcements: 1. Emergency nature 2. Special meetings, drills, or classes 3. Cancellations or changes of meetings, drills, or classes 4. Funeral notices d. Non Permitted Announcements: 1. social events 2. sporting events 3. fund drives 4. company/department regular meetings 5. commissioners/board of directors regular meetings 6. officers regular elections 7. raffle drawings 8. ladies auxiliary regular activities 2. The radio will not be used for personal or "sensitive" messages. 3. Base stations must be protected to guard against unauthorized use. 4. All base stations will use their FCC assigned call letters and numbers in each transmission. 5. Tests should be conducted once a week. a. Permission will be obtained from the Greene County 911dispatcher before any tests are conducted. b. We will not allow tests when any County unit is out of service on an emergency. 6. Permitted announcements that are done by Greene 911 will be done once. TESTS FROM GREENE 911 1. Are conducted at the request of the local department. 2. Every department must test their alarm system from the 911 Center at least once a month. 3. We strongly urge that all departments test their alarm system from the 911 Center weekly. 4. "All Call" alarm tests will be conducted quarterly from the 911 Center. We will conduct these tests on the 3rd Saturday of March, June, September, and December at 1300 hrs. PURCHASING NEW OR REPLACING OLD EQUIPMENT 1. All radio equipment ordered or purchased by any department must be compatible with the present system and must comply with all FCC and Greene Co. regulations. 2. The Director of Emergency Services must be notified on any new or replacement radio equipment. John P. Farrell 11/18/13