standard operating procedure college station fire department

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
COLLEGE STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: Radio Emergency Button SOP: 300.1.60
CATEGORY: Operations PAGE: 1 of 1
APPROVED BY:
Chief, Fire Department DATE: 11/02
EMERGENCY BUTTON
The emergency button on fire department radios will set off an alert tone and indicate the radio ID on the
dispatch console when pushed.
On portable radios the emergency button is ORANGE and is located on the top of the radio. On mobile
units the button is RED and is located next to the volume knob, labeled "EMER".
To activate the emergency button, push and hold for 2 seconds or longer. To clear the emergency button,
turn the radio off and wait 5 seconds and turn the radio back on. When activated the radio will continue to
operate.
Procedures for using the Fire Department emergency button:
1. Major incidents: Incidents where multiple units are committed to a location and command has been
established.
Dispatch will contact command and give the radio ID number. Command will be responsible for clearing
the emergency button and reporting back to dispatch.
2. Minor calls where only one unit is on location.
Dispatch will make 2 attempts to contact radio that was activated, if no contact can be made dispatch
will respond Police to location and notify shift commander.
3. Minor calls where a fire and EMS unit is on location.
Dispatch will make 2 attempts to contact radio that was activated, if no contact dispatch will make 2
attempts to contact another fire unit on location. If no contact, Police will be dispatched to the location.
4. Fire or EMS unit out-of-station, not on a call, location unknown.
Dispatch will make several attempts to contact radio that was activated, if no contact is made dispatch
will contact shift commander to assist with location of unit.
5. Fire station radio or fire unit at fire station.
Dispatch will make 2 attempts to contact radio, if no contact is made dispatch will call the fire station by
phone. If no answer, Police will be dispatched to fire station.
6. Individual fire radios that are assigned to fire administration or shift commanders.
Dispatch will try to call the residence and page the person to whom the radio is assigned. If no contact
is made dispatch will contact the shift commander to assist with the location of the radio and dispatch
Police to the location.