The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Cell Phone Use
We are having an issue with personnel using their cell phones will operating emergency vehicles and while at incident scenes (in the back of the squads or in a house). We are in the process of writing a SOG to address this problem. My belief is that they should not be used while on an incident scene for personal use. I am looking for some help on how to properly address these issues. We want to state that both hands have to be available to operate the apparatus. The only down side to that is that how do you use the radio? We are also looking at addressing all portable devices while operating apparatus and while on scene or in the public. Any thoughts, recommendations, and ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Derek J Sinesi on
-
You have a problem. In New York it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving a vehicle. So we don't have that problem but i do tell are guys to put their phones a way on the scene. I have not had to due so in awhile. I try not to be to big of a prick on scene to our firefighters but when we get back to the station we will have a one on one chat. Most have decided that its not a good practice to have. As far as the operator of the Emergency vehicle using the radio he shouldn't be. His main goal should be to get the truck and everyone in it on the scene safely and in one piece. The guy in the officers seat should be doing all the talking on the radio. Not sure that you need a SOG on this but to make them all realize how unprofessional it makes them look to Joe and Jane public.
-
Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on
-
Cell phone use while driving should absolutely be prohibited.
But if you are going to eliminate all cell phone use that may be a problem. Suppose I come to a call and we are there for several hours and I look at the time and little Bobbi Sue needs to get picked up from the baby sitter. How do I make arrangements for that if I can't use my cell phone? What if I am due to go to work? Will you deny my calling in to say I will be late because I am at a fire? The downside to not allowing me to use my cell may be me not coming to the call in the first place due to time, or leaving before the call is over to get my kid, or go to work.
It isn't the technology that is the problem, it is how you regulate its use that becomes the problem.
-
-
Why is the driver operating the radio? Where is the officer?
-
Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
-
First, I agree with Don's question as to why are these folks allowed to use their phones while operating emergency vehicles? That is just utterly plain stupid and can affect the dept's insurance......not to mention response crashes to and from calls is the biggest reason for LODDs.....and most for the volunteer community.
There should be no reason that anyone should be on the phone while driving an emergency vehicle. The officer should be saying something, but then such a rule should be clearly defined by the depts leadership as a whole.
As for using a phone while on a call, I disagree with that on scene of a medical call or while there is a patient being transported.....unless one is calling the hospital. Making personal phone calls means one's mind is not on providing care, thus not into doing their job, and is just unprofessional.
Using a phone on a fire scene, I think there were a couple valid points made such as calling work, etc. However, I would say only if a crew is in rehab or a little downtime while changing bottles, etc. Also keep the chatter to a bare minimum. If there are other pressing issues, then I would question as to why one went on the call in the first place then?
There have been a few times where crews have been held over on a fire scene at shift change and were late getting home, finding sitters, etc. However, this is the nature of the job too, a quick call to say you are stuck on a scene is one thing, yapping away to pass the time or whatever, is another.
-
Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
-
Add to your SOG's that a front seat passenger OTHER than the driver must operate the radios and any other device that requires hands (GPS, siren, etc.). I recall a recent rollover accident involving a tanker in which the driver died after simply reaching for a microphone.
-
Permalink Reply by Brett Heidecker on
-
Let me descibe my department. We just started to cover our station 24/7/365 with 2 firefighters/EMT's earlier this year. The only time that they are both in the same apparatus is for EMS calls. We respond 1 in the squad and the other in the engine for all MVA's and 1 in the engine and 1 in the tanke/tender for all fire calls. We only have a few officers that pick up station hours. If someone is at the station with the on duty personnel is the only time that we would have another person in the apparatus to operate the radio other than EMS calls.
I heard a rumor that the State of Ohio has a law that deals with vehicles that require a CDL. Supposedly it states that any vehicle that requires a CDL to operate, you have to have both hands available to operate the vehicle. Now the State of Ohio does not require us to have a CDL to drive our apparatus, but I thought it would be good place to start.
We do have a state law that prohibits texting while driving. I just can't believe that we have to put something in writing of what not to do. My parents raised me to know listen to them when I did something wrong and I didn't do it again. Now we get the response from personnel that "it's not in writing so I don't have to listen to you". With that attitude, SOG's will be 12 inches thick.
-
-
You mean to tell me you have nobody responding to the station when you get a call? What is the driver going to do when he gets on the scene of a working fire?
-
Permalink Reply by Nathan Dollinger on
-
Our policy is no cell phone use during training except for emergency. And no cell phone use while on scenes until scene is stabilized with the exception of contacting EOC or making public service!
-
Permalink Reply by Vinny Lazzara on
-
Absolutely no reason for a driver to be on a phone while responding to a call. Totally inexcusable.
-
Permalink Reply by Robert Bates on
-
I am trying right now to get my department to adopt a "no personal electronics" while on duty - including but not limited to cellular devices, ipods, ipads, personal computers, etc. while outside of the station. Argument against has been for GPS use (finding addresses and streets with GPS maps) and I am advocating for the installation of large screen GPS devices in all apparatus - which will eliminate the need for any personal electronics
-
Permalink Reply by Eric Smith on
-
First let me state that the apparatus operator should never be on a device while responding.this in fact only creates a dangerous response and multiplys the risk of a accident substantially. with this being said,The dept.I work for has never had this issue. We respond from home and dial a pre set number in which marks us responding and provides a list of whoever is coming onto a screen in station. when marking into route,our phones automatically take the runs address and coordinates as a gps.Our officer is the only one allowed to use his phone unless one of the backsteppers has a better route.Although far fetched..i personally have come to the point in where my radio became useless and my cell phone had to be used to allow command i was coming out and i needed a new radio.
A cell phone is yet another device used for safety or emergency be it the radio goes down. I feel as if you should utilize a probation program,If a phone is being used during operations in anyway not appropriate or used by the driver,Talk to them,express concern and let it be a warning. Second time around enforce the rule and take them out of the drivers seat or put them on station duty.It ,ay sound like babysitting but if your men/women cannot use the devices properly ,then stoop to such level and be the parent to call them out and deal with accordingly
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
