According to Project Mayday, 36% of Mayday transmissions were missed on the first call by fireground personnel or dispatch. How many other important radio communications are missed or repeated before action is taken? How can we calm the chaos and get to work? Anthony Kastros shares his experience and insight into how fireground command can be optimized to ensure personnel safety, accountability, quick deployment of resources and operations, and yes, minimize radio traffic to the most essential communications.

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Engine 512 bucket, Firefighter Smith, located in the basement, trapped beneath a collapsed stairwell, low on air, pain in my leg, and need immediate assistance.” This is a call you hope to never hear in your career, but one you should be prepared for. A mayday call is made by or for a firefighter who is trapped, missing, or injured and needs help now. Project Mayday, a study of mayday incidents, responses, and prevention methods, reported that there were 18,697 mayday events in the United States Fire Service over a six-year period. Due to the nature of these calls, it is important to keep a level head as the leader of a mayday operation to approach the situation with a well-thought-out plan of action appropriately. Communication will be key when working with others to get to the fallen firefighter as quickly as possible to retrieve them from their hazardous situation.