Mayday

What Is Mayday?

Mayday is the universal verbal distress declaration used by a firefighter who is lost, trapped, injured, or experiencing an SCBA/air emergency, transmitted by radio as "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" to immediately signal an emergency requiring priority radio traffic and activation of the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT/RIC). The standard follow-up report uses the LUNAR format: Location, Unit/company, Name, Assignment, and Resources needed, giving Incident Command and RIT the minimum information needed to begin a targeted rescue rather than a blind search.

Why Mayday Matters on the Fireground

A delayed or garbled Mayday call, or a firefighter who hesitates to call one out of concern about appearing to have failed, directly extends the time before RIT deployment begins, and firefighter air supply during a Mayday event is typically far more limited than the time a full search-and-rescue effort takes. Training crews to call Mayday immediately and to use LUNAR without hesitation is a documented factor in improving trapped-firefighter survival outcomes.

Relevant NFPA Standards

• NFPA 1550: Standard for Emergency Responder Health and Safety

Field Procedures & Tactical Steps

1. Transmit "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" immediately upon recognizing a lost, trapped, injured, or air-emergency situation.
2. Follow with a LUNAR report as soon as possible: Location, Unit, Name, Assignment, Resources needed.
3. Activate a personal alert device (PASS) if not already sounding, and conserve remaining air while awaiting RIT.
4. Incident Command clears non-essential radio traffic immediately upon a Mayday declaration and confirms RIT deployment.

Common Context & Application

Declared by any firefighter in a lost, trapped, injured, or SCBA-emergency situation; triggers immediate RIT/RIC activation and priority radio traffic clearance from Incident Command.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mayday