[MFD594]

Its amazing to see how many field units continue to "go about business" without proper acknowledgement from their dispatcher....

If the dispatcher DOESNT acknowledge your message, than you should assume that they didnt hear it. Unless you're acknowledged, dont assume that your request or message was heard.

Many times, especially during 10's, dispatchers are busy alerting depts, notifying LIPA, etc. and may not be able to immediately acknowledge you...

...On that note, give your message- if NOT acknowledged, wait 30 seconds, then try it again. Calling every 5 seconds with your "21" to a wires down run while a 6 stry OMD 2 towns over is cookin doesnt make much sense, right?

We're ALL humans, 2 hands, 2 ears, and my favorite, 1 spincter. (LOL sometimes ya just "gotta go")

...And finally "URGENT" should be used for just that, an URGENT transmission.

-Working fire, members down, apparatus in MVA, NOT the fender bender with no injs that you witnessed on your way to a run...

[ESU2422]

I've referred to the name "Gene" or "God" on a few dispatching threads. If you've been around awhile you might remember when he dispatched for Levittown. He was from the real old school. He wasn't the nicest individual to deal with over the radio or in person but once he got to know you he was a truly great guy.

Gene didn't hold back, he'd blast you over the air as easy as in person.
He was especially famous for NOT acknowledging units responding to calls. He'd answer each chief accordingly and the first and 2nd units on the road , after that you gave a 21 and got dead air. If you tried a 2nd time , same result. The third time you gave a 21 Gene would let you have it. His answer was "623 you're the 3rd unit on the road, I do not have to acknowledge you"

[underthedome]

This is important for departments on their own frequencies. Sometimes it may take a second to he acknowledged (but you may still have been heard) because one dispatcher may be dispatching several calls all on different channels or making notifications. If a large department transmits a ten, there are going to be units giving 21s and 22s while mutual aid is notified. If you aren't the first or second due engine or truck, the immediate acknowledgment of your 21 is not going to be important at that moment as notifying a FAST. If its heard on the recording, your liability is taken care of. You can always repeat it when traffic clears or command can give dispatch an update of units operating on scene. Also, if your department has a bunch of wires calls during a storm, so will those around you, and each person is notifying LIPA and asking for an ETA. A little common sense and patience will go a long way. (and asking for a forthwith just to get off the scene earlier is going to take resources away from where they are needed more).

[Engineman]

MFD594, and Underthedome, speaking as one of those guys on the console, I couldn't have said it better myself.

[firstdue627]

Yea its always fun going between frequencies and everyone gets mad at you if you don;t answer. You need to realize some consoles mute ALL the frequencies when you transmit on any frequency. So I might be on my department Highband giving additional but your 21 and 22 is not even playing through the speakers. Just be polite and repeat in a few seconds and let me acknowledge. And on the individual 13 subject, My department requires each unit to do it, especially the units that are still 21 to the scene.

[Thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by underthedome

Also, if your department has a bunch of wires calls during a storm, so will those around you, and each person is notifying LIPA and asking for an ETA. A little common sense and patience will go a long way. (and asking for a forthwith just to get off the scene earlier is going to take resources away from where they are needed more).

A little FYI on that note as well, just because you ask for a forthwith does not mean you are going to get priority over anyone else. LIPA puts ALL their calls in a priority order based on WHAT it is not WHO called for it. If you have a wire that is sparking but not down and burning, you will be way down on the list. Just as an emergency room has you go through triage first and then sees you based on what the ailment is, LIPA asks those questions about is the wire down, is there power in the area, etc. for a reason.

[Blue Mule Trucking]

I've been signing on(high band only) for calls for my department, and what erks me is when someone is transmitting on low band to chief or firecom, and someone walks all over them on high band going 21, when I see them pulling out.

[Engineman]

Thunderfoot is correct about LIPA "triaging" their incoming calls. . Whatever we may think about LIPA's performance, they actually do prioritize their calls. They do give high priority to a working building fire, and wires down, especially if there is also a substantial power outage. BUT, if you just have wires sparking, but NOT down, and NO power outage, that will be a low priority in their system. BTW, you can listen to LIPA's electric division on 158.175 for the Hicksville dispatcher and the Hewlett dispatcher is possibly 158.44 (not positive about that one). If you listen to them, be aware that they dispatch a lot of incidents directly to the computers in the trucks, not always over the air.

[emcp]

"BTW, you can listen to LIPA's electric division on 158.175 for the Hicksville dispatcher and the Hewlett dispatcher is possibly 158.44 (not positive about that one). "

I think you mean 158.22 for Hewlett.

[Engineman]

You're right emcp; it is 158.22 for LIPA-Hewlett. Sorry about that, guys.........