alabama fire college chapter 3 communications and alarms
TRANSCRIPT
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Alabama Fire College
Chapter 3 Communications and
Alarms
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Alabama Fire College
Introduction• Effective emergency response• Effective telecommunication• Proactive measures to ensure
communication quality– Teaching communications skills to
employees
– Upgrading communications systems
– Incorporating modern technology
3.2
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Alabama Fire College
3.3
The communications process must be complete and clearly understood in order to be effective.
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Alabama Fire College
Communications Personnel• Receives emergency requests from citizens
– Evaluates need for response
– Sounds the alarm that starts first responders
• Provide prearrival instructions
• NFPA 1061 standard outlines behavioral characteristics
• Quality training program; work performance evaluation
• Adequate staffing level at communications centers
3.4
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Alabama Fire College
The Communications Facility• Many different configurations
– All receive and disseminate emergency and nonemergency information
• NFPA 1221 standards for construction of emergency communications centers– Built in area where little risk of damage
– Limited traffic, limited exposure to man-made hazards
– Few windows; all outside entrances monitored
– Backup power systems use automatic switching devices
3.5
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Alabama Fire College
Computers in the Fire Service• Many departments incorporate computer
systems in the communications systems
• Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems– Handle increased call volume
• Uses for computers– Create and store records on incidents and activities
– Aid in statistical analysis
– Provide remote locations with information
– Allow access to off-site databases for training or incident mitigation
3.6
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports ofEmergencies
• Call-taking process– Receive a report– Interview– Referral or dispatch composition
• Speed is very important during interview• Telecommunicators must prioritize calls
– Most important calls should get fastest attention
3.7
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Alabama Fire College
3.8
The work flow of call processing by a public safety telecommunicator.
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports ofEmergencies (cont’d.)
• Calls should be answered in following priority:– 9-1-1 and other emergency lines
– Direct lines
– Business or administrative lines
• Telecommunicators should:– Speak slowly and clearly with good volume
– Project authority and knowledge
– Use plain, everyday language, and a polite and friendly tone
3.9
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports ofEmergencies (cont’d.)
• Telecommunicator must control the conversation– May be difficult for caller to relay elements of
situation– Ask short, specific questions
• Non-emergency calls should be accommodated– Prior to transferring, provide the number to the
caller• Obtain the following information:
– Location and nature of the emergency– Callback number, caller’s location and situation
3.10
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports ofEmergencies (cont’d.)
• Once caller provides location, secure additional information such as landmarks if safe
• Life safety is of primary importance– Determine if caller is in danger
– If so, provide pre-arrival instructions
• Information relayed to field units via radio
• Note caller’s proximity to incident location– Useful in locating incidents
3.11
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports ofEmergencies (cont’d.)
• Once sufficient address and incident type verified, deploy emergency apparatus
• Average citizen will only report one emergency in a lifetime
• Call takers must ask the right questions to generate meaningful responses
• Emergency medical calls require much more information
3.12
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Alabama Fire College
Methods of ReceivingReports of Emergencies
• Conventional telephones• Wireless or cellular telephones• Emergency call boxes• Automatic alarms• TDD equipment for hearing impaired• Still alarms or walk-ups
3.13
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports byTelephone
• Conventional telephones most commonly used
• Cellular telephones becoming more popular
• 93 percent of the U.S. population is covered by some type of 9-1-1 – 95 percent of coverage is enhanced 9-1-1
• Enhanced 9-1-1 service provides telephone number and address from originating call
• Basic and advanced service available through residential and business lines
3.14
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports viaCellular Telephones
• Any 9-1-1 calls initiated with cell phone routed to a predetermined answering point
• Negative aspects of cell phone use– Significant increase in call center volume– Callers less likely to know their location– Cell phone manufacturers must provide
means to locate cell phone users
• Satellite technology can provide exact position 3.15
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports via Municipal Fire Alarm Systems
• Coded or voice message is generated from an alarm box – Came into use in late 1800s
• Located in a highly visible place open to the general public
• Can be hardwired or wireless and solar powered
• Discontinued in many cities due to false alarms
3.16
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Alabama Fire College
3.17
Some call boxes are equipped with signal switches that allow the caller to select the type of emergency being reported.
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports viaAutomatic Alarm Systems• Two types of public alarm systems
• Five common types of automatic alarm monitoring systems– Local protective signaling system
– Auxiliary protective signaling system
– Remote station protective signaling system
– Central station protective signaling system
– Proprietary protective signaling system
3.18
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports via TDD• Telecommunications Devices for the
Deaf (TDDs) more common– Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
entitles citizens to equal service from public agencies
• Communications centers required to receive calls with specialized equipment
• Devices serve as a backup when enhanced 9-1-1 or CAD is present
3.19
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Alabama Fire College
Receiving Reports via StillAlarm or Walk-Ups
• Receiving complete and accurate information is important
• Protocols for different departments may vary
• Specific notification systems covered in departmental protocols
• Ringdown circuits, base radio, mobile radio communicate with the communications center– Important to notify communications center
3.20
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Alabama Fire College
3.21
A firefighter relays information from the fire station to the communications center via direct telephone circuit.
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Alabama Fire College
Emergency Services Deployment
• Must know nature of emergency for most effective emergency response– Emergency response organizations pre-assign
standard responses for common situations
• Deployment plan based on apparatus types, equipment, number of personnel, and skills
• For low-volume activity, manual run card system is sufficient
3.22
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Alabama Fire College
• Global Positioning System (GPS) aids in deployment of responders
• Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) uses GPS technology to pinpoint incident location and can detect closest response vehicle
• Basic deployment process is the same for manual and automated systems– Verify location and nature of emergency– Determine available resources
3.23
Emergency Services Deployment (cont’d.)
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Alabama Fire College
3.24
AVL systems help to locate the response unit closest to an incident location.
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Alabama Fire College
• Fire station alerting must comply with NFPA standards
• CAD system– Tear and run printers provide hard copy
details of incident and location
• Mobile data terminals and computers– Transmit dispatch information directly to
apparatus or mobile printer
3.25
Emergency Services Deployment (cont’d.)
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Alabama Fire College
Traffic Control Systems• Emergency preemption systems control
traffic signals– Provide safe transition to priority right-of-
way for emergency vehicles
• Systems may allow response vehicle to change the traffic control signals en route
• Variety of systems, each using different technology
3.26
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Alabama Fire College
Radio Systems and Procedures• Once personnel deployed, communicators
provide support– Radio system is the primary link
• Simplex system: one frequency to transmit outgoing messages and to receive incoming– Advantage: simplistic design; reduced cost– Disadvantage: limited range; interference
• Duplex system: two frequencies per channel• Multisite trunking: multiple transmitters on
different channels
3.27
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Alabama Fire College
3.28
Multisite trunked radio systems provide perhaps the best coverage and also offer direct benefits associated with the most efficient use of radio resources.
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Alabama Fire College
Radio Systems andProcedures (cont’d.)
• Proper radio discipline is important– Avoid clipping beginning or end of message
– Be brief but concise
– Avoid touching any radio antenna to avoid burns
– Do not eat, or use slang, profanity, or jargon
– Speak clearly across the microphone
• Portable units should be held perpendicular to ground with antenna pointing skyward
3.29
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Alabama Fire College
3.30
Proper use of a mobile radio microphone.
Improper use of a mobile radio microphone.
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Alabama Fire College
3.31
The user has positioned the portable radio properly and is speaking across the microphone.
The user shows the improper positioning of a portable radio.
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Alabama Fire College
Radio Systems andProcedures (cont’d.)
• Ten codes make up a predetermined message– More confidential and cryptic– Must be learned and remembered
• Clear speech conveys information, issues instructions– Eliminates confusion associated with radio codes
• Electronic tones alert firefighters to evacuate– Some systems use air horns
3.32
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Alabama Fire College
Radio Reports• Communications officer is incident
commander until field units arrive on scene
• First unit arriving gives size-up– Brief information about on-scene conditions
– Clear, precise language
3.33
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Alabama Fire College
Radio Reports (cont’d.)• Size-up contains:
– Correct address
– Situation evaluation
– Emergency location in the building
– Building information, potential occupants
– Request for other agency support
– Location of on-scene command post
– Identity of incident commander
– Brief action plan for the incident3.34
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Alabama Fire College
Radio Reports (cont’d.)• First status report made 10 minutes into
incident– Follow-up reports every 10 to 15 minutes until
situation under control
• Procedures for reporting life-threatening condition or call for assistance– “Emergency traffic” versus “mayday”– Must receive priority over radio
• Firefighters must be trained in department procedures for calling a mayday
3.35
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Alabama Fire College
Mobile Support Vehicles• Mobile support vehicles (MSVs) used
for major events involving fire and EMS– Provide an on-scene command post
• Deployment determined by incident size and projected duration
• Highly specialized • Size depends on jurisdiction
3.36
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Alabama Fire College
Lessons Learned• Telecommunicator is the first person “on
the scene”– Direct impact of citizens’ impression of
department
– Collects information accurately and rapidly transmits to first responders
– Answers incoming calls quickly, gains control of the call, and calms caller
– Makes wise use of all available resources
– Plays vital role in successful outcome of an emergency incident
3.37
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Alabama Fire College
38
Engine Assignments
E1 – What is the primary benefit of an enhanced 9-1-1 system?
E2 – Describe the two types of reporting systems.
E3 – List the four basic Elements of communications.