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200-003 Title- STATUS DEK HEAD PROGRAMMING AND USE Effective Date April 24th, 2008 References – This policy is replacing the Low Band Radio Programming Matrix as a result of switching to the UHF Digital Trunked Radio System Next Scheduled Review Modified Date December 11th, 2013 CLASSIFICATION – STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Approved By - PREFACE: This policy was adopted December 11, 2013 by the Cortland County Fire Chiefs Association. The Policy is to be adhered to by all Fire Departments operating on the Cortland County UHF Radio Network. OBJECTIVE: This policy establishes the layout, emergency use and non-emergency use parameters of all Status Dek heads used in conjunction with the Cortland County UHF Radio Network. The intent of this policy is to ensure that the Status Dek Heads are programmed identically throughout the County to ensure continuity and eliminate any confusion in Unit Status' whether the radios are owned by Cortland County or by the fire department, fire company or fire district. POLICY: A. The programming matrix of the Status Dek Heads shall be as follows: STATUS 1 - Available * Status 1 indicates that a unit is available to respond to an emergency call STATUS 2 - Awaiting Crew * Status 2 indicates that a driver or crew member is at the station awaiting further personnel. If this status is used, the dispatcher will not automatically re-tone at the 5 minute mark. The unit that is status 2 has taken Department of Emergency Response And Communications Cortland County 911 Public Safety Building; Suite 201 54 Greenbush Street Cortland, New York 13045 ---PAGE BREAK--- responsibility for the call and if a further activation is needed, said unit must request it. STATUS 3 - Enroute * Status 3 is to be used when a unit goes Enroute to an alarm. If there are multiple alarms for one agency you will have to advise Fire Control via the Fire Dispatch talk group which call the apparatus is responding to. * For multiple calls in one department, it is more efficient to let the units contact Fire Control, than for the Incident Commander to. STATUS 4 - On Location * Status 4 is to be used when a unit arrives on scene STATUS 5 - Enroute to the Hospital * Status 5 is to be used by ambulances when they leave the scene of the incident and respond to the hospital. STATUS 6 - At Hospital * Status 6 is to be used by ambulances when they arrive at the hospital. * When ambulances are complete at the hospital they can either remain STATUS 6 until they are in a position to go STATUS 1 or they can use STATUS’ 7 or 8 as well. STATUS 7 - Out of Service * Status 7 is to be used when apparatus is not able to respond to an alarm. This should be used when apparatus is broke down, out of service, or out of district and unable to respond. ---PAGE BREAK--- STATUS 8 - On Air * Status 8 is to be used when apparatus is on the road, available to respond to calls. An example would be a local parade, a pool fill in district, or department training where units are available to respond. B. Emergency Incidents 1. Upon receipt of alarm, all responding apparatus and Chiefs shall utilize the appropriate statuses. 2. If the Acknowledged Crew, Status 2, is used, the Dispatcher will not re-tone unless the apparatus or officer requests him/ her to do so. 3. At the completion of an alarm, units and Chiefs shall utilize Status 1 to show they are back in service; no radio transmission to Fire Control is needed to be done by ANY unit. C. Non-Emergency Situations If apparatus is going out on a detail or training and the apparatus is available to respond to an emergency incident the apparatus may use the appropriate status, on air, status 8, to notify fire control that they are out of quarters. Upon completion of the detail or training and if the apparatus is available to respond, the status of In Service, Status 1, shall be used. On Air, Status 8 is to be used so that Dispatchers know if apparatus is on the road and may give them the ability to contact a unit sooner should an emergency come in or should there be a problem. D. Out of Service The term and Status of "Out of Service," Status 7, shall be used for apparatus that is not available to respond to alarms. This status should be used for apparatus that is out for repairs, out of area for training (at the Ithaca Burn Tower), returning from an Incident not available for Emergency Response, or on a detail that makes them not able to respond. Dispatchers will announce the apparatus that is "Out of Service" during the announcements. ---PAGE BREAK--- If a department wishes Fire Control to page that a unit is out of service prior to the announcements, the Department shall contact Fire Control, preferably by radio on Fire Dispatch, and ask them to tone said unit out of service along with pressing Status 7. F. Special Note This policy is intended to reduce the necessity to communicate verbally with the Dispatch Center for non-Essential Communications. By utilizing the Status Dek head system, the Dispatcher does not have to respond to each individual apparatus status thus the Dispatcher is able to monitor for essential communications and dispatch other incidents or upgrade the run card assignments. Rich Roberts- County Chiefs President Scott Roman- Director DOERC