PROCEDURE
Land mobile radio communications
M3-2 SOP
Introduction
1982
When to use
Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel wil use this procedure when
communicating via the LMR radio network.
Purpose
This document describes the procedures to follow when communicating either verbal y,
or using the Message Signalling Unit (MSU) via the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network.
Act
Procedure
Mobile
Mobile signal ing units (MSUs) are the units on appliances that are used for sending
signalling units automated status messages, to minimise radio transmission time.
and status
messages
Personnel attempting to contact the ComCen wil do so by using either the Routine or
Priority button, then wil wait for a response from ComCen before passing their
message.
If automated status messaging is unavailable, status messages must be transmitted
verbal y on the LMR.
Verbal
Verbal messages passed by LMR shal : Information
messages
start with the call sign of the party being cal ed
include full call signs at all times
use the appropriate K code whenever possible
be clear, accurate, relevant and timely
use the phonetic alphabet when clarity is required, in particular when spelling
names of hazardous substances.
Alternative
The use of a cellular or landline is appropriate for:
Official
forms of
communications with ambulance clinical support
communication
transmission of hazardous materials names and hazardous action guide (HAG)
codes
messages of a sensitive nature that should not be transmitted over the air.
the
Message types
Arrival
The Officer in Charge (OIC) of the first arriving appliance wil pass an arrival message
message
for other responding appliances (sent by LMR and MSU) that wil :
verify the address of the call, AND
under
describe the situation and type of incident through the use of the appropriate K
code.
ComCen operators wil acknowledge verbal arrival messages.
Priority
A Priority message indicates that urgency is required and requests radio channel
message
priority.
Priority messages wil be used in the following circumstances:
persons reported
greater alarms or the make-up of individual appliances
urgent response of other services
Released running cal to appliance or station.
Pressing ‘Priority’ on the MSU will access priority for this message with the ComCen.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Operations
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M3-2 SOP LMR communications procedure 15 January 2018
PROCEDURE – Land mobile radio communications
Situation
A situation report (SitRep) provides a description of the incident and the measures
report
being taken to manage that incident.
SitReps are to be transmitted in the following circumstances:
within five minutes of arrival at an incident, and subsequently at intervals of 30
minutes or less
when a major change in the incident situation occurs
to request non-urgent assistance
1982
when all persons are accounted for
a change of command
a command or control point is established
a Fire Service vehicle is unable to proceed
injuries or fatalities, using the appropriate patient status or K code.
Act
Stop message
A Stop message (‘Stop mobilising’) means that the currently assigned resources are
sufficient and further resources are not required at the incident.
A Stop message may contain details of a SitRep.
K codes
To ensure radio congestion is kept to a minimum, Fire Service personnel must transmit
the appropriate K code message where possible.
Status
K0 not available
K1 proceeding to incident
K2 in attendance at incident
Information
K3 on RT outside normal turnout area
K4 on RT inside normal turnout area
K5 on RT available at incident
K6 on telepager
K7 at normal station
Official
K8 at residence (on phone)
K9 off RT - state location
K10 re-commissioning appliance
the
KE unable to proceed (state reason) (spoken as Kay echo).
Support services
K11 (state service required, and if necessary, the reason)
K11-1 police required – confidential.
under
Intelligence
K12 suspicious nature (deliberate with intent to cause damage).
Released
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Operations
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M3-2 SOP LMR communications procedure 15 January 2018
PROCEDURE – Land mobile radio communications
K codes
Appliance movement
continued
K22 is your appliance available for a further call?
K22-1 appliance available to respond to a further cal
K22-2 have you any appliances that can be released?
K25 proceed to, and stand-by at (location)
K25-1 appliance standing by awaiting instructions at (location)
1982
K26 appliance wil be engaged at incident for (time)
K26-1 appliance stil engaged, no additional developments
K28 appliance is to return to station (only to be used by mobilising centre)
Act
K28-1 return other or specific responding appliances.
Radio procedure
K31 request permission to go off RT (fires and standbys)
K32 on radio test – how do you receive?
K33(1-5) radio test received satisfactorily (readability 1 to 5)
K34 repeat your message
K35 verify address of call
K35-1 request map reference
Information
K36 contact communication centre by telephone
K38 associate this officer to incident (state incident address)
K39 re-transmit your current status (MSU or verbal).
Incident ground command
K41 fatality (indicate number with suffix)
K42 fire suppressed, commencing overhaul
Official
K43 all available manpower fully utilised
K44 command or control point established (OIC and location)
K45 command responsibility change (state name).
the
Stop messages
K46-1 stop message – false alarm – good intent
K46-2 stop message – false alarm – accidental
K46-3 stop message – false alarm – defective apparatus
under
K46-4 stop message – false alarm – malicious
K46-5 stop message – alarm agent in attendance
K46-6 stop message – nothing showing on indicator panel
K47 stop message – message unchanged from SitRep
K48 stop message – details to follow.
Trial evacuation
K51 trial evacuation to be carried out at (state location)
K52 (location) was a 111 call received from the premises
Released
K53 (location) evacuation successful.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Operations
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M3-2 SOP LMR communications procedure 15 January 2018
PROCEDURE – Land mobile radio communications
K codes
Arrival message
continued
K55 first appliance in attendance – special service incident
K66 first appliance in attendance – non property fire
K77 first appliance in attendance – nothing showing investigating further
K88 first appliance in attendance – property fire apparently small
K99 first appliance in attendance – property fire wel involved.
Patient
SitRep messages about patients are to contain the following on each patient:
messages
age
sex
status
chief complaint
treatment (e.g. CPR, First response duties).
Fire and Emergency personnel wil use the following patient status codes to
communicate the status of casualties at incidents.
Status
Patient
Stability
Potential to Special criteria
condition
deteriorate
zero
deceased
one
critical,
unstable obvious
under active resuscitation to maintain
extreme
airway, breathing, or circulation (e.g.
airway obstruction)
uncontrol ed haemorrhage
needs definitive medical intervention
on arrival at hospital
two
serious
unstable probable
not under active resuscitation, but
airway, breathing, or circulation at
risk
needs definitive medical intervention
within 10 minutes of arrival at hospital
three
moderate stable
unlikely
four
minor
stable
none
Phonetic
A Alpha
J Juliet
S Sierra
alphabet
B Bravo
K Kilo
T Tango
under the Official Information Act 1982
C Charlie
L Lima
U Uniform
D Delta
M Mike
V Victor
E Echo
N November
W Whiskey
F Foxtrot
O Oscar
X X-ray
G Golf
P Papa
Y Yankee
H Hotel
Q Quebec
Z Zulu
Released
I India
R Romeo
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Operations
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M3-2 SOP LMR communications procedure 15 January 2018
PROCEDURE – Land mobile radio communications
Related information
The following documents provide information relevant to this procedure:
Land mobile radio communications policy (M3-2 POP)
Command and control technical manual (M1 TM)
Document information
Owner
National Operations Manager, National Manager Rural Operations
Last reviewed
15 January 2018
Review period
Every second year
Record of amendments
Date
Brief description of amendment
15 Jan 2018
‘include full cal signs at all times’ added to Verbal messages list.
Rebranded for Fire and Emergency
Links updated to published documents.
under the Official Information Act 1982
Released
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Operations
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M3-2 SOP LMR communications procedure 15 January 2018
