Re: May Day for personnel in danger

[Guest guest]

Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a combative

patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on our

radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

purpose of the button all together

-Chris

Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

keyboard on my iPhone

> Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

>

> , Director

> Seminole EMS

>

>

[Guest guest]

Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a combative

patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on our

radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

purpose of the button all together

-Chris

Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

keyboard on my iPhone

> Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

>

> , Director

> Seminole EMS

>

>

[Guest guest]

Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a combative

patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on our

radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

purpose of the button all together

-Chris

Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

keyboard on my iPhone

> Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

>

> , Director

> Seminole EMS

>

>

[Guest guest]

Our Regional Communication Center does a time check on our units, if we

respond with the correct time all is good, if we are in need of assistance

we give an inaccurate time and they send an air strike, our radio system

also has a button that you can push that activates an emergency signal on

the CAD (each radio has a unique identifier so CAD indentifies exactly who

is sending the signal).

Lee

From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

Behalf Of

Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 12:33 AM

To: texasems-L

Subject: " May Day " for personnel in danger

Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are

in trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law

enforcement, FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not

need your specific information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

, Director

Seminole EMS

[Guest guest]

Our Regional Communication Center does a time check on our units, if we

respond with the correct time all is good, if we are in need of assistance

we give an inaccurate time and they send an air strike, our radio system

also has a button that you can push that activates an emergency signal on

the CAD (each radio has a unique identifier so CAD indentifies exactly who

is sending the signal).

Lee

From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

Behalf Of

Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 12:33 AM

To: texasems-L

Subject: " May Day " for personnel in danger

Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are

in trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law

enforcement, FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not

need your specific information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

, Director

Seminole EMS

[Guest guest]

Check out the Motorola MDC1200 " Body Alarm " features available on most radios.

Subject: " May Day " for personnel in danger

To: " texasems-L " texasems-L >

Date: Monday, February 22, 2010, 6:32 AM

 

Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are in

trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law enforcement,

FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

, Director

Seminole EMS

[Guest guest]

Check out the Motorola MDC1200 " Body Alarm " features available on most radios.

Subject: " May Day " for personnel in danger

To: " texasems-L " texasems-L >

Date: Monday, February 22, 2010, 6:32 AM

 

Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are in

trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law enforcement,

FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

, Director

Seminole EMS

[Guest guest]

Check out the Motorola MDC1200 " Body Alarm " features available on most radios.

Subject: " May Day " for personnel in danger

To: " texasems-L " texasems-L >

Date: Monday, February 22, 2010, 6:32 AM

 

Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are in

trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law enforcement,

FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

, Director

Seminole EMS

[Guest guest]

On Monday, February 22, 2010 00:32, " " emsdir@...> said:

> Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

> personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word?

The best system I have ever noted, we implemented in a rural county service in

the over twenty years ago. Since policy dictated clear-text language on the

radio, without the use of any radio code numbers, the use of ANY ten-code

constituted a distress signal. That way, you could say " everything is 10-4

here " if checked on by dispatch, and that would be a distress signal without

alerting anyone else listening.

Rob

[Guest guest]

In fire service, we have a " PAS " device hooked up to our gear. If you go one

minute without moving, a very loud, high-pitched sound is emitted, the scene is

evacuated, and a Rapid Intervention Team is sent in. If you get in a situation

where you are injured and cannot get out, you get on the radio, say who you are,

why you can't get out, and where you are or how you got there, if you know it.

Then you push a button on your PAS device, that same sound is emitted, the site

is evacuated, and RIT is sent in. If the Incident Commander decides it's become

too dangerous, they lay on the air horn three times, and then send an evacuation

tone out over the radio. Some departments have PAS devices that will also go off

if the evacuation tone is hit, but the department may or may not use that

feature. When firefighters are coming out, they check the “PAR” tag (a tag with

a picture of you that you leave with someone before you go inside). If you are

discovered to be missing when everyone else is brought out, the RIT team is sent

in for you.

This may not be accurate for all fire departments, but the three I've been at

have been the same.

If it's a hazardous materials scene, you get on your radio, say, " May Day May

Day May Day. " , and a brief explanation (ex “Man Down”). And the decision is made

whether to rescue you or not.

If you're on the EMS side I can't speak to our city's protocols, since they're

fire-based and I'm not that good yet, but on the county EMS side, you simply

call for PD. If you don't want the patient to know, you look through your bags,

turn to your partner, and go " Hey, I think I left the PD in the truck, could you

go grab it for me? " , and your partner goes out, calls for PD, and BRINGS

SOMETHING BACK. Usually gauze.You can always call for PD in front of the pt, if

you don't want to be alone or leave your partner alone, and you can’t retreat to

the truck.

If the incident has already escalated, and there's no way to retreat to a safe

location, or if your safe location is still in an area of imminent danger, AND

you believe that your life is in immediate danger, pick up your radio, say,

" Medic 19, Dispatch. We need PD here, NOW. " , and turn your radio entirely OFF.

If dispatch can communicate with you, and gain details, the police will come

Code 1, maybe Code 2. If they lose communication, the police will come Code 3,

and they'll come PDQ. Now, obviously, you have to be able to weigh the

consequences of what your doing with how much danger you're in. You have to

decide whether it's really worth it to risk someone else's life (by PD going

Code 3, and coming into a situation with a big, bright light, and a big, loud

siren, saying " SHOOT AT ME! " ) to save yours. I can think of one situation I've

ever even heard of where that was justifiable. However, it is an option.

I apologize for the length of this, but I'm a safety nut.

> Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are in

trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law enforcement,

FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

>

> , Director

> Seminole EMS

>

>

[Guest guest]

One system I worked had a squawk they would add to the dispatch at the

end which was simply " all personell use caution while responing " . This

was code basicly for an active and non contained Law Enforcement event.

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET

FF/NREMT/FSI/EMSI

Typed by my fingers on my iPhone.

Please excuse any typos.

(Cell)

LNMolino@...

> Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

> request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

> needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

> traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

> witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

> emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a combative

> patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on our

> radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

> usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

> alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

> purpose of the button all together

>

> -Chris

>

> Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

> keyboard on my iPhone

>

>

>

> > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> >

> > , Director

> > Seminole EMS

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Pardon me for being the voice of paranoia, but I think we should exercise some

discretion in sharing specific operational security details as this is an open

list. If I remember correctly, the original post asked just if the practice was

being used, not specific details.

While it's unlikely to be an issue, we should remind ourselves that a variety of

" bad guys " would love to know how EMS and fire services operate.

-Wes Ogilvie

Re: " May Day " for personnel in danger

One system I worked had a squawk they would add to the dispatch at the

end which was simply " all personell use caution while responing " . This

was code basicly for an active and non contained Law Enforcement event.

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET

FF/NREMT/FSI/EMSI

Typed by my fingers on my iPhone.

Please excuse any typos.

(Cell)

LNMolino@...

> Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

> request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

> needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

> traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

> witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

> emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a combative

> patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on our

> radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

> usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

> alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

> purpose of the button all together

>

> -Chris

>

> Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

> keyboard on my iPhone

>

>

>

> > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> >

> > , Director

> > Seminole EMS

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Amen Wes!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Re: " May Day " for personnel in danger

One system I worked had a squawk they would add to the dispatch at the

end which was simply " all personell use caution while responing " . This

was code basicly for an active and non contained Law Enforcement event.

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET

FF/NREMT/FSI/EMSI

Typed by my fingers on my iPhone.

Please excuse any typos.

(Cell)

LNMolino@...

> Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

> request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

> needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

> traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

> witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

> emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a combative

> patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on our

> radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

> usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

> alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

> purpose of the button all together

>

> -Chris

>

> Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

> keyboard on my iPhone

>

>

>

> > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> >

> > , Director

> > Seminole EMS

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I think that the silent radio based emergency alert along with dispatch checking

with the unit to verify thier status would be the way to go. If the medic

activates his MDC1200 (Body Alarm) then dispatch would check to make sure that

the body alarm was not activated accidentally. " Medic 21 confirm status " or

something along those lines would be the best way to do it.

 

Some of the new Motorola Astro stuff is even GPS capable so that dispatch would

know the exact location of the unit calling. (Granted, the unit should call out

at a specific location upon arrival but.......)

>

> > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> >

> > , Director

> > Seminole EMS

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Ah Wes your point is semi valid from a pure OPSEC perspective.

However, the bad guys can study any given system ad nauseum and event

test it by way of false alarms. It's been done and likely is as we

speak.

Notice I said " a system I worked in " , since I can't hold a job no one

could ever know where itvwas in the world.

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET

FF/NREMT/FSI/EMSI

Typed by my fingers on my iPhone.

Please excuse any typos.

(Cell)

LNMolino@...

>

> Pardon me for being the voice of paranoia, but I think we should

> exercise some discretion in sharing specific operational security

> details as this is an open list. If I remember correctly, the

> original post asked just if the practice was being used, not

> specific details.

>

> While it's unlikely to be an issue, we should remind ourselves that

> a variety of " bad guys " would love to know how EMS and fire services

> operate.

>

> -Wes Ogilvie

>

> Re: " May Day " for personnel in danger

>

> One system I worked had a squawk they would add to the dispatch at the

> end which was simply " all personell use caution while responing " . This

> was code basicly for an active and non contained Law Enforcement

> event.

>

> Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET

> FF/NREMT/FSI/EMSI

> Typed by my fingers on my iPhone.

> Please excuse any typos.

> (Cell)

> LNMolino@...

>

>

>

> > Places I have worked used may day for on scene opps we could also

> > request " emergency traffic " for instance if we witnessed a wreck or

> > needed law enforcement asap we would contact dispatch with emergency

> > traffic example " medic 1 to dispatch emergency traffic we have

> > witnessed and accident at smith street and jones " or " medic 1

> > emergency traffic I need S.O. Priority to my location for a

> combative

> > patient " I have also worked where we had emergency call buttons on

> our

> > radio but they were not always helpful because the dispatcher would

> > usaually say something along the lines of " medic 1 your radio is in

> > alert do you need assistance " which in my opinion kinda defeats the

> > purpose of the button all together

> >

> > -Chris

> >

> > Sorry for the spelling and punctuation this was typed on tge tiny

> > keyboard on my iPhone

> >

> >

> >

> > > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that

> dispatch

> > > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> > >

> > > , Director

> > > Seminole EMS

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

good point wes. kinda like those " SWAT team " shows that show all their tactics

on national TV......

>

> > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> >

> > , Director

> > Seminole EMS

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info everyone. I have my Provider survey this week and this is

one item on the list I have yet to resolve. It is on the check list as a

recommendation, as it was two years ago, but I am still looking for a way to

manage this in our local. We are fortunate to not have had a problem, but you

never know when the first might occur.

, Director

Seminole EMS

From:

Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 12:32 AM

To: texasems-L

Subject: " May Day " for personnel in danger

Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert dispatch if

personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code, pass phrase or word? Is

there a confirmation question that dispatch asks to confirm if personnel are in

trouble or if scene is secure? Is the same system in place for law enforcement,

FD etc...? I am curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

, Director

Seminole EMS

[Guest guest]

I know of one service that has the emergency button de-activated on their

radios. That may have changed since I worked there.

> >

> > > Do any services out there utilize a " May Day " signal to alert

> > > dispatch if personnel are in danger? Do you have a special code,

> > > pass phrase or word? Is there a confirmation question that dispatch

> > > asks to confirm if personnel are in trouble or if scene is secure?

> > > Is the same system in place for law enforcement, FD etc...? I am

> > > curious how others are doing this. I do not need your specific

> > > information, just a general idea of how this is managed.

> > >

> > > , Director

> > > Seminole EMS

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

We (large urban fire based ems) have the " emergency " button on our radio

but with the accidental activations they developed a code for " WE NEED HELP

NOW " unfortunately our code was the police code for " print a report " .

The Chief's finally got together and developed three codes that mean the

same thing for both departments(three different items needing discretness).

Dispatch simply ask Medic 88 do you have a xyz? We can simply say

affirmative or if we do not answer they send the calvary. The most important

thing

is that if your law enforcement hears the code they know that you need

help.

We still have the button and it works but they ask ONE time " Do you have a

xyz " ? and then go from there....

Hope this is not overly specific....(oh wait we have ESK)

Weeks

L.P.