SOP # 95-10 COMMUNICATIONS

SECTION 1:  FREQUENCIES

 1-1    THE CAVE  CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO OPERATE
ON SEVERAL FREQUENCIES.  THE SHARP COUNTY OES FREQUENCY SHALL BE OUR PRIMARY LINK WITH THE  DISPATCHER, THE POLICE, OTHER FIRE DEPTS., OES AND OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICE  AGENCIES.  CHANNEL 1 POSITION ON ALL FIRE DEPARTMENT RADIOS , IS A REPEATER OPERATION AND WHEN TRANSMITTING ON IT, YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD THROUGHOUT SEVERAL COUNTIES.  CHANNEL 2, ON MOST RADIOS, WILL BE A TALK AROUND CHANNEL ON THIS SAME OES FREQUENCY  BUT WILL ONLY BE HEARD WITHIN OUR FIRE DISTRICT OR AREA.
 

1-2   FREQUENCY USE WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) SHARP CO OES REPEATER:  USE WILL BE LIMITED TO THE DESCRIPTION
IN 1-1 ABOVE EXCEPT IT MAY ALSO BE USED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER RADIO IF UNABLE TO DO SO ON THE TALK AROUND CHANNEL.  THIS FREQUENCY WILL NOT BE USED FOR IDLE CHIT-CHAT, ONLY BUSINESS.  THIS FREQUENCY CAN BE  USED TO REQUEST A 10-21 OR 10-88 OR OTHER INFORMATION ONLY IF THE TALK-AROUND FREQUENCY  WILL NOT WORK AND THEN MUST BE USED ONLY ON A LIMITED BASIS.
(B) SHARP CO OES TALK-AROUND:  ALL RADIOS WILL BE
CHANGED TO TALK-AROUND FREQUENCY AT A INCIDENT AS SOON AS THE
RESPONDING UNITS HAVE  CHECKED 10-97 AT THE SCENE AND WILL REMAIN ON
THIS FREQUENCY UNLESS THE NEED TO COMMUNICATE  WITH DISPATCHER OR
INCOMING UNITS THAT ARE OUT OF RANGE FOR TALK-AROUND FREQUENCY
UNLESS  RANGE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROHIBITS.  EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE AVOIDED ON  THIS  FREQUENCY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE UNLESS EMERGENCY CONDITIONS WARRANT USE.
(C) FIREGROUND FREQUENCY:
THIS FREQUENCY IS RESERVED FOR CONFINED SEARCH AND RESCUE
OPERATIONS, INTERIOR FIRE ATTACK OPERATIONS AND OTHER INCIDENT
OPERATION THAT DEMAND A SECURE  FREQUENCY TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND
SAFETY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS INVOLVED IN A LIFE TREATING OPERATION.  THIS
FREQUENCY SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN A HANDHELD RADIO SO AS TO PREVENT
TRANSMISSIONS THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS EMERGENCY SCENE OPERATIONS.
      ( THIS IS A SECURE FREQUENCY AND
MUST BE      TREATED AS SUCH!!!! )
(D) PRIVATE FREQUENCY: (SIDNEY)  THIS FREQUENCY MAY BE USED FOR
NON EMERGENCY USE IF THERE IS NO INCIDENT IN PROGRESS WITHIN OUR FIRE
DISTRICT AT THE TIME AND ONLY USED WITH A HANDHELD.  DURING A CITY
FIRE/EMERGENCY, THIS CHANNEL WILL BE USED BY THE PUMPING UNITS FOR
INTER-UNIT COMMUNICATIONS DURING RELAY OPERATIONS OR OTHER NEEDS.
( E ) OLD WATER CO FREQUENCY:  DURING EMERGENCY INCIDENTS, THIS
FREQUENCY WILL BE ASSIGNED A USE  BY THE INCIDENT COMMANDER
ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AT THE INCIDENT.
( F ) INDEPENDENCE CO OES FREQUENCY:  FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY!

 SECTION 2 CALL SIGNS:
 2-1  CALL SIGNS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
 (A) APPARATUS:  USE APPARATUS UNIT NUMBER.
 (B) OFFICERS:  USE NORMAL CALL SIGN NUMBERS.
 (C) SEARCH/RESCUE TEAMS:  USE SEARCH/RESCUE ONE, TWO AND ETC.
 (D) ATTACK TEAMS:  USE ATTACK TEAM ONE, TWO AND ETC
 (E) VENTILATION TEAMS:  USE VENT TEAM ONE, TWO AND ETC.

 2-2  RADIO TRANSMISSIONS:  THE USE OF THE 10 CODES IS
RECOMMENDED TO SHORTEN TRANSMIT TIME ON THE  AIR.  IF YOU DON'T
REMEMBER THE 10 CODE, USE  PLAIN ENGLISH.  BELOW ARE A FEW RULES TO GO
BY WHEN USING RADIO COMMUNICATION:
(A) ALWAYS CHECK TO SEE IF CHANNEL IS CLEAR
BEFORE TRANSMITTING.
(B)  KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY BEFORE YOU KEY THE MIC.
(C)  USE 10 CODE WHEN POSSIBLE, OTHERWISE USE
PLAIN ENGLISH.
(D)  HOLD MIC APX. 2" FROM MOUTH AND SPEAK IN A NORMAL VOICE.
DON'T YELL!
(E)   DURING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, REPEAT MESSAGE  BACK TO
SENDER.
(F)   KEEP MESSAGES AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE, BUT BE SURE THEY ARE
UNDERSTOOD.
(G)  USE CAUTION ON WHAT YOU SAY. LOTS OF SCANNERS ARE
MONITORING.
2-3 EMERGENCY TRAFFIC:  ALWAYS CLEAR THE CHANNEL IF ADVISED
EMERGENCY TRAFFIC IS IN PROGRESS OR NEEDED.  LIKEWISE, YOU SHOULD
ADVISE WHEN YOU HAVE EMERGENCY TRAFFIC AND REQUEST A CLEAR CHANNEL.
10-CODE FOR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC IS 10-33, YOU MAY ALSO SAY MAYDAY FOR
EMERGENCY TRAFFIC.
 
2-4  BASIC 10-CODES:
( A ) 10-4   MESSAGE RECEIVED / UNDERSTOOD
( B ) 10-6   BUSY
( C ) 10-7   OUT OF SERVICE
( D ) 10-8   IN SERVICE
( E  ) 10-9   REPEAT MESSAGE
( F ) 10-19  RESPONDING / IN TRANSIT
( G ) 10-22  CANCEL ALARM OR MESSAGE
( H ) 10-97  ARRIVED AT SCENE
( I ) 10-98  JOB FINISHED / LEAVING SCENE
THE 10-CODES IN BOLD ABOVE SHOULD BE GIVEN ON EACH INCIDENT RESPONSE AND THE LOCATION OF THE SCENE SHOULD BE GIVEN FOLLOWING PROPER 10- CODE. ONLY APPARATUS UNITS AND THE CHIEF OFFICERS SHOULD REPORT 10-19 TO INCIDENTS.