Who initiates a MAYDAY procedure?

Who initiates a MAYDAY procedure?

• A. The firefighter in distress
• B. The Incident Commander
• C. A safety officer
• D. A bystander

Answer: (A)

A Mayday is a direct emergency call from the person in danger. When a firefighter can’t safely continue—whether trapped, low on air, injured, or otherwise unable to operate—the person in distress immediately transmits the Mayday on the radio, identifying their unit and location and briefly describing the problem. This immediate, first-hand alert is what starts the rescue response and prompts the Incident Command to shift into immediate rescue mode and deploy the needed resources. While the Incident Commander or a safety officer can declare a Mayday if they observe danger or if communications fail, the initiating action comes from the firefighter who is in trouble.

A Mayday is a direct emergency call from the person in danger. When a firefighter can’t safely continue—whether trapped, low on air, injured, or otherwise unable to operate—the person in distress immediately transmits the Mayday on the radio, identifying their unit and location and briefly describing the problem. This immediate, first-hand alert is what starts the rescue response and prompts the Incident Command to shift into immediate rescue mode and deploy the needed resources. While the Incident Commander or a safety officer can declare a Mayday if they observe danger or if communications fail, the initiating action comes from the firefighter who is in trouble.