Imagine you are attending a major mutual aid incident where information has to be passed efficiently and timely to achieve the planned objectives of the current operational period. Many agencies are attending including fire, EMS, law enforcement, public utilities, civilian volunteer agencies, and the military. That is the ever-present possibility for emergency services, where efficient radio procedures are critical to the operation.
The Art of Clarity: Radio Speak That Speaks to Everyone
In the emergency radio world, clarity is king. Forget the riddles; simplicity is the key. Each message is important or you wouldn’t be trying to transmit it, and the last thing you want is a misinterpreted cry for help. So, comms experts have crafted a language that’s as clear as a sunny day.
Picture this: many people and agencies will be on the radio, and many will be on your channel all with something to say and they want to be heard. You need a standardized low-drag method of initiating a conversation and quickly ending it.
The concept of: “Hey you, it’s me” is universal in emergency services and military comms. Key the handset, state who you are talking to first, and then say who you are. Wait for confirmation that the recipient is listening before you transmit a message, or else you may have to tie up the channel to repeat the message again.
Example:
“Pumper 1 officer from Incident Command”.
“Pumper 1 officer answering”.
“ Pumper 1 officer from IC, your crew is now fire attack team. Extend a hose line from pumper 1 to the alpha side door and wait for the command to enter”.
“Pumper 1 acknowledges, we are now attack team, setting up at the alpha door”.
“Attack team from IC, roger, out”.
In the above example, the sender first gets the attention of the receiver to ensure he/she is listening. When the receiver confirms that he/she is listening, only then does the sender transmit the complete message. The receiver should paraphrase the message back to the sender so that the sender can confirm that the instructions are clearly understood. Once that is done, the sender can close the conversation.
Clarity and brevity are important to avoid verbal tirades and to clear the channel as fast as possible for the next message.
The Golden Rule of Radios: Listen More, Talk Less
In the fast-paced world of emergency incidents, it’s tempting to be the chatterbox of the airwaves but hold your tongue. The golden rule of radio etiquette is simple: listen more, talk less and when you do talk, get your message through with as few words as possible. Make sure you are understood the first time.
By keeping the chatter concise and pertinent, professional responders ensure that critical information isn’t lost in a sea of words. It’s a bit like packing a punch with every syllable, ensuring that every transmission hits the mark.
The Radio Ballet: Choreographing Emergency Responses
Emergency services radio conversations should operate like a well-rehearsed procedure with maximum efficiency in mind. Every effort should be made by all parties to facilitate seamless communication that can make the difference between chaos and control.
The Emergency Radio Cheat Sheet: Codes and Acronyms Demystified
The famous “10” code means different things to each agency.
Example 10-1 10-2, 10-4 etc. Whatever code or acronyms you use should be consistent with best practices of incident command and should be universally understood by each agency in your jurisdiction or mutual aid district. If an inconsistency exists then plain language is always universally understood.
The Tech Tango: Embracing Digital Advances in Emergency Radios
Your choice of comms equipment should take into consideration high heat, extreme cold, moisture protection, or any other expected adverse conditions and should be easy to use with gloves on. All depts in your jurisdiction should use a common device that suits the needs of all agencies, and they should be tested for function in the geographic and built-up areas where they are intended to be used. A standardized training program should be comprehensive and thorough in its learning objectives to meet the needs of all users. Inter-agency comms exercises are a must to ensure all depts learn the capabilities and limitations of the equipment.
Don’t just issue new radios with the assumption that they will be used properly since that is unlikely to happen. Let’s keep our comms clear, concise, and ready for whatever incident we attend next.
About the author:
James Radul is the founder of EOC. He has worked in emergency services for 28 years as a full-time firefighter/fire rescue training officer and EMT. He has served as a paratrooper, military medic, and intel operator during his 31 years of full-time and reserve military service. He has training and diverse instructional experience in emergency response, workplace safety, wilderness first aid, and a deep interest in emergency preparedness, outdoor tech, and fieldcraft.
