Cibolo Volunteer Fire Department

Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs)

Approved by: Preliminary NOT approved

 

Fire Department Routine Communications

 

               Purpose: To establish guidelines for the efficient and effective communication between personnel.

 

Scope:    All non-emergency and non-radio communications.

 

Telephone calls:

 

· Answer all phone calls to the station phone.

· Answer with a minimum of “Cibolo Fire Department”, preferably “Cibolo Fire Department state_name_and_title speaking.

· If call is for someone currently in the firehouse, take or transfer call to them as quickly as possible. Do leave on hold long.

· I the person, or someone else who can help, is not available:

o       Get the callers name

o       Get the callers phone number

o       Get the reason for call

o       Ascertain the urgency

o       Immediately open When 2 Work and send the person called a message with the above information.

o       If it is an urgent or time sensitive call, attempt to contact the celled person with the phone numbers listed for them in When 2 Work.

o       Send the person a When 2 Work message whether you contact them or not. This gives you documentation that you got the message to them.

 

Visitors and walk ups:

· If personnel get visitors you will usually escort the visitor to the personnel. If the visitor is unfamiliar, a business or unknown contact then you should ask them to wait and promptly get the personnel’s attention and alert them that they have a visitor.

· Remember that you represent the Fire Department during this process and be professional.

· Also remember throughout your daily routines and duties that visitors may appear at anytime and conduct your selves appropriately. It makes us all look bad if someone comes into the station and observes us acting or speaking un-professionally.

 

Deliveries:

·  If a package, mail or other items are delivered to the station, the receiving personnel are responsible for delivering to or alerting the appropriate personnel.

·  If you know who the item(s) are for, send them a When 2 Work message immediately.

·  If the item was express delivery or seems urgent attempt to contact the personnel through the numbers listed for them in When 2 Work. Send a message to them as well.

·  If you are expecting an item and want to be notified when it comes in, use When 2 Work or FireHouse to post a message about it.

·  Place the item(s) in an obvious place. If you put the item up where it goes or other non obvious place the personnel needing it may be delayed in finding it.

 

General:

·        We pay for FireHouse and When 2 Work. They are great resources to use for communication with your fellows Firefighters and officers.

·        If something needs to be done on a certain day or time, put a PR or Daily order in to FireHouse for that day and time.

·        When you come on shift make sure and check FireHouse for any duties or visits scheduled for that day.

 

 

10-2-09 RG