Exercise 2

Read the text below and complete the SOP template based on the text.

Mr. Paul Smithson is the Chief Officer in Central Jackson County Fire Protection District. An update of the
mandatory use of Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS alarms) is due soon. He requested Mr. Jack
Sullivan, Senior Officer to produce the newly version of the Standard Operating Procedures to ensure
clear instruction to members of the firefighting department on their responsibilities of using their PASS
alarms. This document must be submitted to Samuel Thynker, Chief Officer of the Chicago Fire
Department for his approval. The document is relevant to all personnel working within the Central
Jackson County Fire Protection District. All staff will adhere to the details of the policy and SOP at all
times.

Personal alert safety system (PASS) devices were developed to protect firefighters, from a wide
range of potentially life-threatening events that can occur on the fireground, including becoming lost or
disoriented, becoming incapacitated and running out of air. Apart from the PASS alarm, firefighters must
equip themselves with protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus, and other personal
safety devices such as infectious control materials, hearing and eye protection. Only after wearing
complete gear and retrieving their PASS alarm can firefighters can be on emergency cases or even
training.

Firefighters must first retrieve the PASS alarm affixed to the utility belt or alarm device holder at
the inventory. All retrievals must be logged on the individual record card for the PASS alarm device,
indicating who performed the activity and the name of the supervised officer who supervised such
activity. The PASS alarms must be inspected by all members before duty. If there are any defects,
requirements of battery replacement or servicing, it shall be immediately reported through channels to
district headquarters. Until the problem is resolved, firefighter must request a spare PASS alarm from
the Breathing Apparatus Service Department. All members equipped with PASS alarms shall wear and
activate their device once reaching the fire ground or emergency scenes. However, do not activate at
fire assists incidents or F.O.C inspections. At the end of duty, the PASS alarm must be returned to the
company officer. Record the PASS alarm unit identification number alongside the name of member using
the unit. Shall there be major damage (unserviceable) not due to a member’s negligence, a separate
report of the incident must be made on the same day and record of return must still be made to the
company officer.
 Ref No
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Page No.

TITLE: Standard Operating Procedure for Using the PASS Alarm

This SOP is written for the Central Jackson County Fire Protection
Department/Unit:
District.

The purpose of this SOP is to provide clear instructions to members of

Purpose:
the firefighting department on how to use their PASS alarms.

Who can perform this All Central Jackson County Fire Protection District personnel.
SOP?

Equipment/Tools Needed:

Protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus, infectious

Personal Protective
Equipment: control materials, hearing protection and eye protection

PASS alarm, individual record card

Tools:

Reference Materials: None

 Ref No
Date
Page No.

Procedure
Refer to page below.

Prepared by: Jack Sullivan

(Jack Sullivan, Senior Officer)

Reviewed by: Paul Smithson

(Paul Smithson, Chief Officer, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District)

Approved by: Samuel Thynker

(Samuel Thnyker, Chief Officer, Chicago Fire Department)
Standard Operating Procedures of Using the PASS alarm Ref No
Date
Page No.

Start

Retrieve PASS alarm affixed to utility

belt or alarm device holder at
inventory.

Log/record retrieval by writing name

and supervising officer for the activity
on the individual record card.

Inspect PASS alarm.

Are there any Report through Request a spare PASS alarm from the
issues with the channels to district Breathing Apparatus Service
alarm?
Yes headquarters. Department.

Wear device once

reaching scene.

Is the scene a Yes

fire assist
Do not activate
incident or an the alarm.
FOC
inspection?

No

Activate the alarm.

Return alarm to
company officer at the
end of duty.
3
 Ref No
Date
Page No.

Is there major
Yes Make a separate
damage
(unserviceable) report of the
not due to incident.
negligence to the
alarm?

No

Record PASS alarm unit

identification number
and name.

End