COMMUNICATION TIP #5 6/4/06
"Stand By" You have just arrived at the scene of a working fire in a large commercial building. First arriving companies are hot on your tail and you are trying to
a. size up the fire
b. develop strategy and tactics
c. place your companies
d. request additional companies
e. write down your company assignments for resource tracking
Now....all of this is tough enough but the thing that is really confusing the situation is all of the radio traffic...you can't even get a word in edgewise. As the IC you need to gain control or it's only going to get worse. Your frustration is mirrored by the Company Commanders who are trying to talk to you over the radio and getting no response. They don't know if your failure to answer them is because you don't hear them or because their radios aren't working.
It's unfortunate but true that our worst radio communications often occur at the most critical time of the incident when we can least afford them: as companies are arriving on scene. As the IC there is a method that you can use to not only gain control of radio traffic but also buy critical decision making time. And you can do this while letting your responding companies know that you hear them and will address their messages. Respond with a clear and concise "Stand By".
As simple as this sounds... it works. It not only reduces the stress level of those trying to contact you but also insures them that they are being heard. "Engine 78 Stand By" lets that officer know that the message got through and that you will get back to him/her in a moment. The message "Stand By" tells them that your are understandably busy at the moment but have not forgotten them. Use of the phrase "Stand By" also gives you time to formulate your plan of attack and focus on better organizing assignments with less communication confusion.
Give it a try....it works!
a. size up the fire
b. develop strategy and tactics
c. place your companies
d. request additional companies
e. write down your company assignments for resource tracking
Now....all of this is tough enough but the thing that is really confusing the situation is all of the radio traffic...you can't even get a word in edgewise. As the IC you need to gain control or it's only going to get worse. Your frustration is mirrored by the Company Commanders who are trying to talk to you over the radio and getting no response. They don't know if your failure to answer them is because you don't hear them or because their radios aren't working.
It's unfortunate but true that our worst radio communications often occur at the most critical time of the incident when we can least afford them: as companies are arriving on scene. As the IC there is a method that you can use to not only gain control of radio traffic but also buy critical decision making time. And you can do this while letting your responding companies know that you hear them and will address their messages. Respond with a clear and concise "Stand By".
As simple as this sounds... it works. It not only reduces the stress level of those trying to contact you but also insures them that they are being heard. "Engine 78 Stand By" lets that officer know that the message got through and that you will get back to him/her in a moment. The message "Stand By" tells them that your are understandably busy at the moment but have not forgotten them. Use of the phrase "Stand By" also gives you time to formulate your plan of attack and focus on better organizing assignments with less communication confusion.
Give it a try....it works!
