A fireground mayday is a critical, stressful event. When it happens, the firefighter must rely on simple, shared language, practiced muscle memory and a calm, decisive command structure.
This shared language is best imparted during recruit training that sets a calm communication tone from the outset. Instructors should underscore the danger without scaring members so much that they freeze during an actual mayday (or even training), and build the best communication habits for radio reports, self-rescue techniques and crew accountability that their firefighters will need under stress.
Many departments train their members to use mnemonics to remember what to say during a mayday. No matter which you prefer, what matters most is department-wide consistency and relentless practice so members default to one clear format under stress.
Mayday acronyms
The following are the most common mnemonics used by fire departments:
- LUNAR: Location, Unit, Name, Assignment/Air, Resources needed. LUNAR is a long-standing mayday format to deliver the who/where/what and what you need.
- WWW: Who–What–Where. WWW is a simple option that is easy to recall when your heart rate is spiking. Many instructors recommend using WWW for the initial transmission, followed by a more detailed report.
- LIPS: Location, Identification, Problem, Survival (air/status). LIPS emphasizes stating the problem and survivability issues.
- UCAN: Unit, Conditions, Actions, Needs. UCAN serves for both routine progress reports and firefighter maydays, quickly informing the incident commander of conditions and immediate resource needs. Variants include CAN (Conditions, Actions Needs) and NUCAN (Name, Unit, Conditions, Actions, Needs).
Which mayday acronym does your department use? Take our poll:
Which mayday acronym do you prefer and why?
Simple firefighter mayday training
There are many mayday resources available, but these options are a great place to start:
- Follow your department’s mnemonic (e.g., WWW for initial call, LUNAR for follow-up) and print wallet cards/posters. Include a dispatch/IC checklist.
- Run varied scenarios: Have a simulated downed firefighter transmit the mayday; require IC to work a checklist.
- Tabletop radio use: Have new firefighters identify mayday triggers and practice breathing control before transmitting the mayday.
- Paper and pavement: Review your mayday policy across shifts with your RIT and command SOPs, then conduct hands-on training.
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