MSDeltaFlt
RRT/NRP
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Yeah, those who try to sound important on the radio...don't.
Pointless Radio Terms
- Thread starter AJ Hidell
- Start date
PapaBear434
Forum Asst. Chief
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I'll agree, but I think certain things have entered our pop-culture lexicon to the point where we know what it means. 10-4, copy that, over and out... People know what these mean.
JPINFV
Gadfly
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Actually, they just think they know what "over and out" means.
Over: "I'm done transmitting and expect a response."
Out: "I'm done transmitting and don't expect a response."
fma08
Forum Asst. Chief
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Roger Rodger, what's your vector Victor? Watch your clearance Clarence! 
BossyCow
Forum Deputy Chief
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I have to nominate "Um" "Er" and "Well" as candidates for permanent removal from the airways. Think before you push the button.
Buzz
Forum Captain
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We've recently started having to give our actual odometer mileages (rather than just the total trip mileages) when we call back to the station on a call... My partner insists on using the word "niner" for nine. That always seemed like a pointless pronunciation to me as there's nothing really that sounds like "nine" number-wise.
Though funny story... One of our bosses was standing in the dispatch office and overheard my partner say something.niner. He was like "....Did he just say niner?" The dispatcher looked at him and was like "He's talking on a walkie talkie." ^_^
Though funny story... One of our bosses was standing in the dispatch office and overheard my partner say something.niner. He was like "....Did he just say niner?" The dispatcher looked at him and was like "He's talking on a walkie talkie." ^_^
benkfd
Forum Crew Member
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so you mean i shouldn't respond like this?
dispatch: dispatch to medic 1 respond to 99 center street for an unknown medic, priority 1
me: 10-4 responding to niner niner charlie echo november tango echo romeo street, over
-_-
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reaper
Working Bum
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Roger Rodger, what's your vector Victor? Watch your clearance Clarence!
I was waiting for the Airplane reference!!
benkfd
Forum Crew Member
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PapaBear434
Forum Asst. Chief
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True enough. Let's go with "common usage." I usually say stuff like "Copy that" just talking to people, and did so long before I got into EMS or the police department.
Yes, I'm that big of a dork.
Aidey
Community Leader Emeritus
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A couple of shifts ago one of the other crews responded to a man with chest pain. They got on scene, were evaluating the patient, when the wife started having chest pain too. Turns out they were both having MIs, go figure.
So yeah, I get your point that by default, we are usually transporting 1 patient, but not always. Plus if you don't document it, it didn't happen.
My personal pet peeve are people who don't know the difference between copy and affirmative.
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Actually, five and nine sound very similar on the radio, which is why they started the "niner" to differentiate between the two.
medic417
The Truth Provider
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10-4 unit fiver niner
Actually the use of niner came from international travel because in German nein (sp?) means no.
JonTullos
Forum Captain
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I'm not a big fan of 10 codes except in emergencies. As someone else pointed out, if I need assistance I'd like to let dispatch know without alerting whomever is there that the cops will be there soon. When I dispatched I'd always say "affirmative," "copy" and things like that. The fire departments were a bit upset with me at first but eventually they were even doing it when I was on duty.
Hal9000
Forum Captain
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I've always been a fan of Roger Wilco. From my aviation days... (Which is not pointless.)
From my aviation days... (Which is not pointless.)
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I'm all for 10-codes. Keeps the conversations shorter.
When I was first working dispatch we were taught to use 10-codes when possible, but if you had to use plain english then use it. Don't delay a transmission just to figure out how to put it all in 10 codes.
Finally, IMO, there is no need to stop using 10-codes in every day work just because of NIMS. If there is an emergency where you're involving outside agencies just start talking in plain english.
When I was first working dispatch we were taught to use 10-codes when possible, but if you had to use plain english then use it. Don't delay a transmission just to figure out how to put it all in 10 codes.
Finally, IMO, there is no need to stop using 10-codes in every day work just because of NIMS. If there is an emergency where you're involving outside agencies just start talking in plain english.
JPINFV
Gadfly
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Ah, if only it was as simple as throwing a switch. I left my first company [moved for school] about a year after we switched from 10-codes to plain English and there was still the occasional use of 10 codes. It was rare and everyone knew what the person transmitting meant, but it was happening.
Now the problem with 10 codes is that they become second nature. It would be like trying to get someone to stop using pronouns. Sure, pronouns could be eliminated, but it would take a while and isn't something that's going to change overnight. Heck, I remember having conversations about calls where I would just use the 10 code to make it shorter ("So we're 97 and...). It isn't something that is just going to be shut off because of a unique situation.