A common problem in fire service is fire communication. Whether it is the infrastructure of the system, the type of portable radio we use, or other aspects, communication problems always seem to arise.

In any firefighter's line of death (LODD) report issued by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the common advice listed to avoid LODD again is to fix, repair or modify the communication system in use. Sometimes, the system is overburdened for the department—too many radios are used to make multiple calls at the same time, and there are too few channels for scheduling. Sometimes the system is outdated and needs to be overhauled from top to bottom.

A major component of the entire communication system is the communication with the end user, which can be easily corrected through proper training and practice. These problems caused a systematic interruption of communications on the fire scene.

As far as the normalization of deviations is concerned, after firefighters are exposed to more than a given number of such "normal" behaviors and actions, firefighters become insensitive to the "correct" way of communication. Then, the firefighters insisted on the widespread bad habits and caused systemic failures on the fire scene.

A key area is our listening skills. When using any type or brand of portable radio, active listening is a skill that needs to be exercised. There is so much chatter on portable radios that sometimes firefighters miss key messages or miss other people's calls. There is definitely a distraction on the fire, which makes it difficult for you to actively listen.

When the accident commander is bombarded by radio calls and the firefighters want to communicate face to face, it is easy to miss some of the conversations on the radio. On the other hand, when firefighters or military officers are fully focused on a task or problem, they will block or hear the radio, and will miss key information or miss the opportunity to be called.

Active listening requires attentive listening to the radio-it is to focus all your attention on listening to the content transmitted by the radio waves. Officials assigned to crew members must actively listen to the radio, as do accountable officials. The rapid intervention team also needs to actively listen to the radio to get notifications about firefighters falling to the ground. Pump operators/drivers also need to actively listen so that they can provide insiders with what they need before receiving orders.

Another key issue is the lack of information. This is where the user sends the message but does not include all the information. This may be because there was no consideration of what needs to be said before the transmission, or because of improper radio keying, which cut off part of the message. The latter is the most common mistake most users make; they start talking too fast before pressing the microphone button, or they cut off their voice quickly before the end.

A good rule to remember is to key 1-2-3: press the microphone key, then count 1-2-3, then start talking. This will ensure that the entire message will be captured and transmitted.  

Another key area is excessive chatter in the radio. Some people like to speak on a portable radio; they will press the microphone button and send a message whenever they have a chance. Sometimes, the information they send is not so urgent or important. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the situation, but it will be transmitted anyway, thus occupying the radio of others who may need to send urgent or important messages or requests.

Fire fighters must exercise restraint when using portable radios. Members and officials must understand that portable radios are not personal DJ radio microphones, but the lifeline of everyone who carries them with them.

For those who are prone to abuse of portable radios, removing the portable radio from them may be the best solution. This will show them that they need to exercise restraint when using the radio, while freeing up airtime for the rest of the department members who need it.

The last problem is the lack of control when using the portable radio. This is related to the actual operation of the portable radio, not the point above. Firefighters need to hold and use portable radios and microphones in certain ways to transmit properly. By doing this, the information can be communicated clearly so that everyone can understand it.

As long as the radio and microphone are not placed in the correct position, the information will be distorted. This can happen when the microphone is placed in front of the regulator on a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); when it is placed directly in front of a person’s mouth and their lips touch the microphone; or when the person is facing the microphone When yelling.

The correct way to use a portable radio microphone is to maintain a certain angle to the mouth, about two inches away; this will allow clear and concise communication. If you wear an SCBA mask, place the radio microphone directly on the SCBA lens and transmit your information in this way. It will be very clear on the other end. Some SCBA manufacturers have integrated communication systems for portable radios, but when they fail, your firefighter must be able to return to the basics by default.

Mark van der Feyst has been working in the fire department since 1999 as a firefighter at the Fort Gratiot (MI) fire station. He is an international lecturer and teaches in Canada, the United States and India, as well as the FDIC. He is also the main author of "House Fire and Rescue" (fire engineering books and videos). You can contact him at Mark@FireStarTraining.com.