Before the mid-1990s, the fire service did not have a recognized standard approach to calling a Mayday during fire operations. Many departments actually didn’t have members call “Maydays,” per se; members in trouble just got on the radio and told command: “We need help, come and get us.” This was an actual quote from a “Mayday” during a fire in the mid-1990s that resulted in two line-of-duty deaths during a truss roof collapse. In fact, the firefighters’ call for help wasn’t even heard on the fireground, but rather by a chief officer in an office building many miles away. As firefighter survival and “get out alive” programs started to become a hot topic and “two-in/two-out” became an OSHA mandate, instructors began to teach acronyms to help the distressed firefighter call for help. Some were good and provided a lot of information, but this information had to come from distressed firefighters during the worst time in their career under the most stressful situations. Once thought to be a good idea, these mnemonics now seem impractical due to the training and experiences of past Maydays, however there is one—”Who, What, Where”—that seems to be simpler and provides the initial information that the incident commander (IC) requires.
LUNAR and ASLIP
Acronyms such as L (location), U (unit), N (name), A (Air), R (resources needed) and A (Air), S (situation), L(location), I (intent), P (par) were two good methods when initially taught. These gave the IC an idea of what the issue was, such as:
- the firefighter was lost;
- was out of or low on air;
- was trapped;
- had a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) emergency;
- had become separated from crew;
- had medical emergency;
- there was a collapse;
- etc.
They also provided info about the SCBA air reading, what was needed for rescue, what the firefighters were planning to do to rescue themselves, and so forth.
We have learned through experience and training that these acronyms are impractical for the distressed firefighter. The IC or person in charge of rescuing the down firefighter can hopefully ask and get the necessary information. This does several things: it maintains communications between the down firefighter and person in charge of the rescue operation and eliminates the need for the down firefighter to remember the information needed based on ane accepted acronym.
A Simpler Solution
Alternately, there is another, very simple acronym that a downed firefighter can use following the transmission of a Mayday.
The acronym of “Who, What, Where” is much easier for a downed firefighter to remember and provides much of the same information. One of the most important things to remember is that firefighters must determine first whether they are in a Mayday situation, which requires a degree of self-evaluation.
“Typical” Mayday situations were enumerated above, but early recognition is vital, and calling the Mayday early is even more vital. You must recognize that you, your crew, or your buddy are in a Mayday situation, and you must call for help. Waiting to call, being afraid to call, or not realizing you’re in a Mayday most likely will result in a very negative and tragic outcome.
If you must call a Mayday, it is key that the call is answered by the IC or accountability officer prior to you proceeding with the “who, what, where.” Many Maydays have been missed in the normal fireground radio traffic only to be heard by a dispatcher or a person not on the fireground, or not heard at all due to the normal fireground radio traffic.
Who, What, Where
The “who” of the acronym is fairly easy to remember. Provide your unit and/or riding assignment, and name (Engine 13 C, Firefighter Smith or Engine 13 Nozzleman). Hopefully your accountability system is correct and the accountability officer will know right away who it is based on the unit and riding assignment, if no name is given.
The “what” is the problem (lost, fell down the stairs, trapped by ceiling collapse, out of air or SCBA is not working, and so on). Whatever the situation is, try to tell the IC or accountability officer what the problem is so a plan can be developed and resources obtained for rescue and removal.
The “where” is the location you think you are in the building. I say that because if you are lost, experienced a collapse, or became disoriented, you probably won’t be where the IC ordered you to operate within the structure. Try to maintain some situational awareness as to where you are. Based on the assignment given (“Engine 13, take second line to floor #2”), the IC can start to send the rapid intervention team to that location to begin a search if needed.
Mayday Example
Distressed Firefighter: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday…Engine 13 Charlie to command”
Command: “All units on the fireground hold your radio traffic. We have Mayday in progress. Engine 13 Charlie, go ahead with your Mayday.”
Distressed Firefighter: “This is Engine 13 Charlie, Firefighter Smith. I’m out of air on the second floor, Charlie side.”
Command: “Command received. Engine 13 Charlie, you’re out of air on the second floor on the Charlie side.”
These are three simple words that will help you get the assistance you need in the event you must call a Mayday. An additional acronym that can be used is “C.A.N.”—conditions, actions, needs. This is one of the most common terms you will hear when an IC asks crews about a status or when transfer of command takes place. But getting the “who, what, where” information to the IC should be paramount. The IC or the person in command of the rescue can maintain radio communication with the down firefighter by requesting the “C.A.N.”
Remember, when you are in a life-threatening event that forces you to call a Mayday, you shouldn’t have to think about a crazy acronym. The old adage “K.I.S.S.” (“Keep it simple, stupid”) is what most firefighters like to hear, and “who, what, where” helps with that. It also will help calm you and your crew down, control your air supply, thank about what has or is happening and recognize that you are in a Mayday situation. But calling the Mayday and getting it acknowledged is vital and the first step to not becoming a statistic.
Greg Sellers is a 32-year veteran of the fire service and a firefighter with the Kitty Hawk (NC) Fire Department. He is an instructor in both engine and truck company operations.
