Effective communication in emergency situations

Firefighters’ communication skills and equipment are extremely important elements of their work. Their task is to keep everyone as safe as possible in potentially life-threatening situations. Fires can be unpredictable, with situations that change by the second. 

In a Fire and Rescue survey by Motorola Solutions, 43% of the survey respondents felt that they don’t consistently receive operational information in a clear, concise, and timely manner from their fire control centre. Moreover, a quarter of respondents were still using older analogue technology with limited access to advanced functionality.

Underlining the importance of effective communication in the fire service, the International Fire and Safety Journal reports that communication failures are a leading cause of fatalities among firefighters. The solution, it says, is a combination of effective firefighter radio communication and training.

Communication as a daily challenge for firefighters

In firefighting, information must continually be exchanged and decisions must be made rapidly. There’s no room for confusion, but the very circumstances in which firefighters work can lead to it. It’s a highly stressful environment, frequently noisy, and the time pressure is very real. 

Through it all, firefighters must relay and receive information on potential hazards like structural instability, the location and level of danger faced by any occupants still in a building, the tactics to be employed, their location, and process a steady stream of status updates. The situation evolves and changes throughout, and responders must adapt accordingly. 

Situational awareness, a clear understanding of everything happening at the site of an emergency, allows firefighters to use their training to adapt quickly and respond appropriately. 

Any breakdown in communication can lead to loss of life or risky errors, so apart from having rugged and reliable communications systems, firefights also develop methods to communicate concisely and with absolute clarity. 

Not all communication is verbal. Nonverbal communication also helps firefighters working in close proximity to one another to coordinate their efforts. Nevertheless, verbal communication using standardised terminology is the backbone of emergency communication. 

Firefighter communication equipment deployment

Command and coordination are key to successful firefighting operations. A command centre monitors reports from fire firefighters and transmits critical information. The hardware used must be advanced – able to transmit voices clearly in noisy environments, and capable of withstanding extreme conditions. 

Since firefighters are in the thick of things, firefighter communication equipment must be able to withstand impacts and water exposure. That’s why the hardware itself must be designed with firegrounds in mind. Each component must be thoroughly tested and the completed assemblies must undergo further testing since a single equipment failure could have grave consequences. Maximum durability may come at a price, but there are returns in the form of reduced equipment replacement costs and enhanced firefighter safety. 

NFCC National Operational Guidance stipulates how radios should be set up and used, but the suppliers of two-way radios for fire services act as a key link between equipment manufacturers and users. The installation and maintenance of communication systems is as important as the equipment itself, because without these services, the system cannot function properly. 

Technological advances in firefighter communication now and in the future

In recent decades, firefighter communication has advanced considerably, and there are likely to be further advances in store. Interoperability is a necessity since it allows coordination during cross-border incidents and when major incidents require collaboration. Features like GPS tracking and man down alerts further enhance user safety, and noise cancelling ensures that messages are clear despite background noise. 

The use of 360 degree body-worn cameras is not yet widespread, but this technology is being adopted. It, and other supporting technologies that rely on broadband transmission, will increasingly come to the fore. Purpose-developed apps are already in use, allowing for easy fleet monitoring and more.

However, for personnel on the fireground, ease of use and reliability will always be key considerations. Simplicity and efficacy will remain guiding principles in the deployment of communications technology for firefighters. Fire and rescue leaders can therefore have confidence in future proof solutions they can implement now and continue to use for years to come.

Radiocoms: Partnering With Fire Services Around the UK

As specialists in radio communications, Radiocoms has undertaken decades-long partnerships with several regional fire services around the UK, and the list is growing. Beginning with consultations and trials, progressing to delivery, installation, and maintenance, we work with fire services to achieve their communications goals, and we are proud of our flawless track record in this area. 

Relationship building is essential, and we maintain continuity with a single point of specialised fire services contact. Communications equipment and accessories represent an investment in the people who place their lives on the line at firegrounds and the effectiveness of firefighting itself, and we’re proud of our contribution in this regard. 

Insufficient and inflexible communications on the fireground can create poor situational awareness and operational restrictions. Mission critical point to point communication provides visibility of the operation, mitigates risk and all without compromising on security.

DMR Two way radios from Radiocoms are crucial to operations across a wide variety of industries, but our work with fire services is the clearest demonstration of our ability to deliver mission-critical communications systems. If this is a priority for you, we have tried and tested best-fit solutions that will match your needs. Contact us to discover what Radiocoms can do for you. 

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