What is the protocol for a unit initiating a 'signal'?

• A. Activate the emergency button and state 'signal' followed by their unit number at least twice
• B. Send a covert signal to the IC
• C. Broadcast a signal once with location
• D. Use a text message to announce a signal

Answer: (A)

The immediate way to alert is to use the emergency button and verbally declare the signal with your unit number, and you should repeat it at least twice. This creates a loud, unambiguous alert that the incident commander and dispatch hear right away, while also confirming who is signaling. Repetition helps ensure the message isn’t missed in a noisy environment and provides redundancy if one channel is hard to hear.

Covert signaling or sending a single broadcast with location can fail to reach the right people quickly or may not be noticed in the heat of the moment. Text messages depend on network availability and don’t provide the same rapid, audible priority as the emergency alert.