Like most of us, I see fires up close and personal on a regular basis. Additionally, I often get the chance to watch videos of other fire departments in action. In both scenarios, I frequently notice one thing: the sound of a personal alert safety system, or PASS device, and no one responding to it.

So why do firefighters ignore the sound of a PASS device? It's simple—because PASS devices alarm all the time. They're like annoying car alarms about which we often think things like, "I wish that idiot would turn that alarm off!" (Of course, if we turn the alarm off, then it won't be able to do its job if someone tries to steal the car.)

We tell ourselves that we would react differently if we heard the alarm coming from inside the structure, but really, what difference does it make? A friend of mine told me a story about one incident where some firefighters heard a PASS device shortly after they got off the truck and before anyone had time to pull the hose and mask up. The alarm continued to sound as the engine company waited for water. When the firefighters finally went to investigate, they found the man tapping the hydrant was down—he had suffered a heart attack.

If your department has PASS problems like this, make them stop. Look around at your next fire. If Joe goes to get the fan off of the engine (where no one else can see him), he goes down and his PASS alarms, how long would it take for someone to decide, "Geez, that alarm is getting on my nerves—I guess I'll have to find it and turn it off myself"?

All personnel who can hear a PASS alarm must respond every time. Company officers: If you hear a PASS alarm, you should immediately direct someone to investigate, if you are not able to do so yourself. Eventually, your PASS problems will stop, even if this happens because of peer pressure alone (the least preferred method). But instead, be proactive—train your people and hold them accountable (the preferred method).

FireRescue Technical Editor Scott Cook welcomes reader feedback, and invites you to contribute your notes to his column on firefighter ingenuity and street wisdom. You can reach Scott by e-mail at scott.cook1@sbcglobal.net.