Essentials of Fire Fighting - Communications

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to communications in fire fighting.

Nonemergency calls

Calls received at fire department facilities that range from requests for assistance to personal calls from family or friends.

Guideline for receiving nonemergency calls

Answer calls promptly.

Dispatch center

A separate center operated by a fire department for managing emergency calls.

Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)

A central location that takes all emergency calls and routes them to appropriate dispatchers.

Modern 9-1-1 system capabilities

Include text messaging and smartphone apps.

Two-way radio system

Equipment used for communications at an emergency scene.

Teletype (TTY)

Equipment used to receive calls from individuals with hearing impairments.

Emergency calls handling

Must be quick in order to ensure the safety of the community.

Telecommunicators

Trained individuals who answer emergency calls and gather correct information.

Dispatcher's information gathering

Should include the number and location of people involved in an emergency.

Information transmission after emergency report

Must be transmitted to the responding units or personnel.

Visual alarm

An alarm that consists of scrolling message boards and pagers.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The federal agency that regulates all radio communication in the United States.

Communications equipment for flammable atmospheres

Must be intrinsically safe.

Direct communication

The straight line travel of radio signals between transmitting and receiving radios.

Tactical channel

A channel assigned specifically for fireground operations.

Dead zones

Remote areas or locations inside structures where cellular phone service or radio signals can be lost.

Physical barriers

Obstacles that can affect radio communication.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Law that allows public access to recorded transmissions related to incidents.

Communications rules at emergency scenes

Units or individuals must identify themselves in every transmission.

Background noise

Can significantly affect the ability to hear and understand radio transmissions during emergencies.

Radio communications best practice

Do not transmit until the frequency is clear.

Improve hearing during emergency incident

Place the microphone against your throat if you cannot be understood through your SCBA facepiece.