{"id":1934,"date":"2024-09-09T08:12:53","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T13:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-test.motorolasolutions.com\/en_us\/?p=1934"},"modified":"2024-09-09T08:12:53","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T13:12:53","slug":"4-strategies-for-improved-incident-command-post-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-test.motorolasolutions.com\/en_us\/4-strategies-for-improved-incident-command-post-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Strategies for Improved Incident Command Post Communications"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Effective communication is a critical element of incident command in today\u2019s rapidly changing, multi-unit world of emergency response if a successful outcome is to be reached.<\/p>\n<p>Poor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firerescue1.com\/fire-chief\/articles\/386294018-Communication-in-action-and-action-in-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">incident communications<\/a> are frequently cited as a significant factor in many of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program<\/a> reports, commonly known as LODD reports issued by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.<\/p>\n<p>Here are four strategies for improving command post communications.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1986\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1986\" class=\"wp-image-1986 size-full\" title=\"National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/12\/NIOSH.jpg\" alt=\"National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health\" width=\"300\" height=\"264\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1986\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Poor incident communications are frequently cited as a significant factor in many of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program reports, commonly known as LODD reports issued by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (Photo\/Flickr)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ContentAside ContentAside--mobileXXXL\"><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"ContentAside u-hiddenMobileXXXL u-hiddenPrint\">\n<div class=\"Section Section--gapVertM\">\n<div class=\"Box Box--s\">\n<section class=\"Section Section--gapVertM\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-546180090590731748-10\" class=\"Banner Banner--withHeading\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-546180090590731748-10'); });\n            window.lazyAds.renderItemUsingLytcs(10);\n        <\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/55877742\/FireRescue1_8__container__\" style=\"border: 0pt none; width: 275px; height: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><b>1. Get out of the front yard<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Many fire officers are comfortable with operating outside of the command vehicle or command post because they have high confidence developed from experience. This comfort level can easily be challenged when faced with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firerescue1.com\/fire-products\/communications\/radios\/articles\/383468018-Training-Day-Fireground-communications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unexpected fireground conditions<\/a> such as a structural collapse, rapid-fire growth or a firefighter mayday transmission.<\/p>\n<p>Fire departments should train their command officers to establish a stationary command post and effectively communicate with the command team members. It may be easy for an officer to command a small residential fire from the front yard when everything is going well. However, when critical communications or significant events occur, it\u2019s very easy to miss those communications with all the noise and confusion that occurs on many firegrounds.<\/p>\n<p><b>2. Make sure you can hear and be heard<\/b><\/p>\n<p>First responders typically rely on their ability to communicate with one another via radio communications. It\u2019s critical for the incident commander to use their radio in an environment (e.g., their vehicle or command post) where they can hear well as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<p>Mobile radios should be used by command whenever possible as they provide a stronger signal than portable radios. A typical VHF mobile radio\u2019s power output is 40-50 watts, compared to a portable radio\u2019s 5-8 watt output. An 800\/700 MHz mobile radio typically has an output of 20-25 watts, while its portable radio counterpart provides only 3-5 watts of output.<\/p>\n<p>A combination of good foundational training, equipment familiarization, standard operating procedures, common language, benchmarking, practice and an understanding of how to maximize the use of both mobile and portable radios will help set your team up for communications success on any fireground.<\/p>\n<p>Follow these basic recommendations to ensure communications success with your portable radios:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure that installed and backup batteries are fully charged.<\/li>\n<li>Practice using radio features with gloves on, in limited visibility.<\/li>\n<li>Keep radios clean, especially at the contact points for the remote microphone.<\/li>\n<li>Consider what you are about to say before you key up.<\/li>\n<li>Speak clearly and directly into the microphone.<\/li>\n<li>Use your hand to shield the microphone from background noise.<\/li>\n<li>Sit up, stand up (based on conditions) or move to position the radio antenna as high as practical.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>3. Get everyone on the same frequency ASAP<\/b><\/p>\n<p>In many communities, it doesn\u2019t take much of an incident to exceed the home department\u2019s staffing capabilities considering career staff reductions and declining numbers of volunteer firefighters. The result is more frequent response of mutual aid resources, which may bring into play communication interoperability issues as well, such as the use of different radio systems and operating frequencies.<\/p>\n<p>In the U.S., the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apcointl.org\/spectrum-management\/resources\/interoperability\/p25.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">APCO Project 25<\/a> has been working with public safety agencies and land mobile radio manufacturers with the goal of improving LMR interoperability through common manufacturing standards.<\/p>\n<p>But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/fire\/pdfs\/face201418.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">communication problems do arise<\/a>, and the incident commander needs to adjust and correct communication gaps. That can be accomplished by sending members of the IC\u2019s department to the other mutual aid divisions to \u201cbuddy up.\u201d For example, a member of the IC\u2019s department with a radio is sent to work with the water supply officer, an ICS position being staffed by an officer from a mutual aid company.<\/p>\n<p><b>4. Make sure everyone speaks the same language<\/b><\/p>\n<p>One of the original and primary purposes of the NIMS Incident Command System was to provide a common set of terminology and functional positions so that anyone working on the emergency scene would be on the same page.<\/p>\n<p>The incident commander is the only \u201ccommand\u201d on the scene, and others should not refer to themselves with a designation command after a function (e.g., \u201cwater command\u201d or \u201cstaging command\u201d). This can cause confusion on the fireground, especially when multiple radio transmissions are occurring.<\/p>\n<p>When assigning subordinate ICS positions, incident commanders must ensure that they provide each person with their functional position and radio call sign from NIMS. For example; \u201cWaterford Chief 1 (a mutual aid company) from Command. Take a position on side Charley with your resources and protect exposure Charley. You will be division Charley.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Taken together, using these four strategies should have a positive influence on your command post communications at your next emergency event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Effective communication is a critical element of incident command in today\u2019s rapidly changing, multi-unit world of emergency response if a successful outcome is to be reached. Poor incident communications are frequently cited as a significant factor in many of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program reports, commonly known as LODD reports issued by&#8230; <a class=\"btn-featured test\" href=\"https:\/\/blog-test.motorolasolutions.com\/en_us\/4-strategies-for-improved-incident-command-post-communications\/\" data-uet=\"{&#39;event_category&#39;:&#39;blog featured post interaction&#39;,&#39;event_action&#39;:&#39;blog read more button click&#39;,&#39;event_label&#39;:&#39;4 Strategies for Improved Incident Command Post Communications&#39;,&#39;event_page_area&#39;:&#39;body&#39;,&#39;restriction_status&#39;:&#39;public&#39;,&#39;link_text&#39;:&#39;4 Strategies for Improved Incident Command Post Communications&#39;,&#39;link_url&#39;:&#39;https:\/\/blog-test.motorolasolutions.com\/en_us\/4-strategies-for-improved-incident-command-post-communications\/&#39;,&#39;tealium_event&#39;:&#39;link_click&#39;,&#39;page_type&#39;:&#39;&#39;}\" >Read More<\/a>","protected":false},"author":261,"featured_media":1935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-1934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fire-and-emergency-medical-services","tag-apx-two-way-radios-accessories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - 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