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The identifying call words "Bucks County" will be used by the communications center when communicating with mobile and portable units and by all mobile and portable units when calling the county with the exception of going "responding" and "on scene".

Under normal conditions it is not necessary for mobile units to call and await acknowledgment before transmitting routine messages. However, when radio traffic is heavy, or in advance of sending a lengthy message, it is preferable to make a preliminary call and await instructions before proceeding.

The phrase "OK" will be used to signify acknowledgment, i.e., that a message has been received, understood and will be complied with. The code signal "10-4" will not be used.

Mobile radio units will use complete identification for all transmissions by that unit. For example: "Engine 19-1," "Rescue 90," "Car 32." The use of only numerals to identify a mobile unit is an unauthorized procedure. Such transmissions as "19-1 available," or "90 Ok" are incomplete, incorrect and will not be used.

When responding to alarms, all units must make sure that Bucks County acknowledges appropriate units as responding. Each and every unit should be placed on the air.

1. All chief officers will be acknowledged.
2. The chief will always be acknowledged when responding, even if he is not the first officer.
3. All officers (except the chief) responding to station will not be acknowledged.
4. Captains and lieutenants will not be acknowledged unless officer-in-charge.
5. All responding apparatus will be acknowledged.
6. The first officer arriving "on scene" will be acknowledged.
7. The chief arriving on scene will be acknowledged.
8. All apparatus arriving on scene will be acknowledged.
9. The placement of fire under control will be acknowledged as follows: "OK Chief 42, fire under control on (tactical box or box # and address), 1850." Local alarms will not be acknowledged under control.
10. Apparatus returning to station or making itself available will be acknowledged. Once apparatus is made available it is not necessary to sign "off radio" at the station.
11. With the exception of the chief, company officers returning to station or making themselves available will not be acknowledged unless they are making the entire company available.
12. The company chief will be acknowledged at all times when returning or making himself available.

Officer Call Signs - When responding on apparatus all officers except the chief of the department will identify with the apparatus to which assigned when operating from the mobile unit. If the officer becomes the officer-in-charge, he will assume the "command" designation.

Any unit or individual making a reply for a chief officer should make that fact clear.

Example: "Engine 13 answering for Chief 13."

Reporting an Incident via Radio - When fire department personnel report an incident (accident, fire, etc.) via the mobile or portable radio, it should be done on the zone frequency or the emergency band. The communications system has been established to provide for better coverage and reception on zone frequencies as opposed to the dispatch band, which is made up of mostly transmitters with a minimum amount of receivers.

All requests received for fire, police, and EMS services will be complied with when requested by any fire department official or apparatus. If there is a discrepancy with what was requested, it should be addressed with the requesting individual and the fire department involved.

EMS Units on Fire Frequencies - No basic or advanced life support units shall operate on any fire zone frequency. The communication center dispatcher shall assign the talk group (TAC channel) when communications is necessary. When responding to fire related emergencies, all basic and advanced life support units should operate on their primary unless requested by the incident commander or the dispatcher.

Radio operators are reminded to wait for the audible signal to stop before beginning their transmission.

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