Mayday Checklist for Incident Commanders

High-risk, low-frequency events demand structure. The IDLH Tactical Worksheet® provides a concise Mayday checklist so ICs can manage communications, assign RIT, track air/time, and organize rescue.

Mayday checklist — structured communications, RIT, air/time tracking on the IDLH Tactical Worksheet®

Suggested Mayday flow (summarized)

Declare and control radio traffic. Confirm the Mayday channel and who controls it.
Identify the firefighter(s), location, and last known actions.
Assign/activate RIT with clear objectives. Ensure tools/ALS and water supply.
Track air/time. Establish a timer on the board; capture CAN at set intervals.
Stabilize the incident. Reinforce divisions, hazards, ventilation, and egress control.
Request resources and set rescue branch if needed.
Document benchmarks. “RIT to contact,” “Air improving,” “Rescue complete.”

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