TN to use plain speech on radio

[y10kiscoming]

A recent tone-out mentioned something about using plain speech on the radio now instead of the codes. It appears they are beginning to follow this. Some dispatchers seem to use the code numbers still, though. Any idea why they are doing this after so long? I know the "generic" response is about interoperability and understanding whats going on... but why is TN specifically doing it?

-Mark

 

[ems170]

It probobly has something to do with NIMS standards (National Incident Management Standards). Basicly the govt says if you want federal money you need to follow these standards. They dictate all aspects of multi agency and normal day to day command. One aspect of NIMS is plain english . It recomends plain english for day to day ops but requires its use during multi-agency incidents. So they may have just made a blanket rule because of the prevelence of mutual aid responses in smaller towns. The NIMS standard is required to be in place 10/06. I will almost gaurentee you begin to see more and more plain english in the near future.

 

[rdale]

To make sure your post is clear - NIMS does not require agencies to drop 10-codes in operational, day-to-day use and/or for comms within their department.

 

[dittrimd]

As of May 1st TN is currently using plain language for all dispatching. There is a two month transition phase for all users since they have been using these codes for many years. QV, WW and the Norwich Dispatch centers have all gone to plain language and have made the change fairly seamlessly. I have not heard about KX as of yet.

As for NIMS they only mandate the use of plain language during incidents where it involved agencies outside of you normal jurisdiction. So day to day operations with the existing agencies could remain on codes for dispatch centers like TN and they could still receive federal money so long as when an incident involved multiple agencies from outside their area the would use plain language.

It did not make sense to have two protocols for communications and could become confusing if suddenly you were on an incident using codes and then had to go to plain language. It was just easier to have one protocol and have people make the change. There was little protest from the departments.

I am sure that for a while you will still hear the codes pop up especially from the dispatchers. They are so used to using them that they will have the hardest time with the switch.

 

[ems170]

It probobly has something to do with NIMS standards (National Incident Management Standards). Basicly the govt says if you want federal money you need to follow these standards. They dictate all aspects of multi agency and normal day to day command. One aspect of NIMS is plain english . It recomends plain english for day to day ops but requires its use during multi-agency incidents. So they may have just made a blanket rule because of the prevelence of mutual aid responses in smaller towns. The NIMS standard is required to be in place 10/06. I will almost gaurentee you begin to see more and more plain english in the near future.

Sorry I thought I was clear. NIMS only recomends plain english during day to day comms. When multiple agencies operate together in unified command structure with interop communications plain english is the requirement. Again in the smaller municipalities mutual aid is common for even the most basic auto alarm. Because of this common practice it is just much easier to switch all comms to plain english than try to figure out what departments are responding or if there is an auto-aid policy established for a particular call.

 

[CT22]

The only KX town to go plain english so far is East Hampton. Soon the other towns will follow.

There was also some discussion (doesnt mean its gonna happen) brought up about changing the way some apparatus are named. For example Colchester was talking about getting rid of the R-528 and R-628 (since they are not rescue trucks)- and changing it to Ambulance 128 and 228. Also, making it clear whether a piece of apparatus is a tanker or an engine.. no more ET. This is supposed to help with multiagency responses just like the plain english.

 

[PJH]

NIMS recommends plain speak at multi-agency incidents. If everything in on your home turf, you get to set the rules. Its when you invite others to play that its strongly recommended. Heck, if everyone uses the same codes - thats ok too.

The move to plain english in the fire service has been happening for at least the last 10 years. Some places are faster than others. Nothing new. Anyone who has listened to TN knows they have had their ****e together for some time. Most - if anything - most codes were EMS related more than fire calls as most dispatchers stated the call in junction to the 50's, 23's etc on inital dispatch.

 

[Southtown800]

so if they move to plain speech will that only be for Mutual Aid ops?

 

[PJH]

Nooooo, if they move to plain speech, it will be for everything.

There is a false impression that the goverment requires it (which was the case for about a week) but its something that make sense. If you speak english and commuicate in english then everyone (hopefully) understands what you want.

A 10-31 may be a mayday in one town while it may be a lunch break in another. Plain speak elimates any confusion when you have mulitple agencies operating at one incident.

The NIMS program recommends that at such an incident that you use plain speak, but does not require you to use it if its just your dept on a scene (but NIMS states you should use it daily as a good practice).

 

[lynskey85]

As of May 1st TN is currently using plain language for all dispatching. There is a two month transition phase for all users since they have been using these codes for many years. QV, WW and the Norwich Dispatch centers have all gone to plain language and have made the change fairly seamlessly. I have not heard about KX as of yet.

As for NIMS they only mandate the use of plain language during incidents where it involved agencies outside of you normal jurisdiction. So day to day operations with the existing agencies could remain on codes for dispatch centers like TN and they could still receive federal money so long as when an incident involved multiple agencies from outside their area the would use plain language.

It did not make sense to have two protocols for communications and could become confusing if suddenly you were on an incident using codes and then had to go to plain language. It was just easier to have one protocol and have people make the change. There was little protest from the departments.

I am sure that for a while you will still hear the codes pop up especially from the dispatchers. They are so used to using them that they will have the hardest time with the switch.

This could be implied as saying that they must use plain english all the time as, at least all of their dispatch operatons are on a shared channel with multiple other dispatch centers.

Also, QV has been switched over for well over 6 months if not closer to a year and as you said, very seemlessly. WW changed over in February/March and same thing as TN, still getting the occasional slips but also sounds like the changeover went pretty well.

The only KX town to go plain english so far is East Hampton. Soon the other towns will follow.

There was also some discussion (doesnt mean its gonna happen) brought up about changing the way some apparatus are named. For example Colchester was talking about getting rid of the R-528 and R-628 (since they are not rescue trucks)- and changing it to Ambulance 128 and 228. Also, making it clear whether a piece of apparatus is a tanker or an engine.. no more ET. This is supposed to help with multiagency responses just like the plain english.

I know that apparatus designations have become a policy in QV. The policy is if you go outside of QV you use plain english on the apparatus. In other words, Rescue 581 would become Community Ambulance 1...Engine 183 becomes Quinebaug Engine 7 (note, Quinebaug Engine 1 is normally known as ET183)...etc. I have not heard this as planned to become a policy while inside of QV, however I have heard on multiple occasions that an Ambulance has regerred to itself as an Ambulance rather than a Rescue and still used the 3 digit number (i.e. Ambulance 562) while on a call in QV.