HFD Acronyms:

ALS	-	Advanced Life Support. Refers to the Paramedic level of care.
ARFF	-	Airport Rescue Firefighter
BLS	-	Basic Life Support. Refers to the EMT-B level of care.
BP	-	Blood Pressure.
DOA	-	Dead on Arrival.
DTO	-	District Training Officer. There is one per district, per shift.
EAS	-	Emergency Alerting System. Used to alert fire stations & dispatch calls.
EO	-	Engineer Operator. Modern term for the Firefighter that drives an apparatus. Was originally referred to as Chauffeur.
EMS	-	Emergency Medical Services. The emergency medical field care & transport provided by HFD.
FTA	-	Fire Training Academy. Where all HFD Firefighter Trainees recieve their fire & most EMS training. See also (VJTF) Val Jahnke Training Facility..
FTO	-	Field Training Officer. Either a Jr. or Sr. Captain responsible for training a new Probationary Firefighter assigned to him/her.
GOA	-	Gone On Arrival. Refers to patients who leave the scene before HFD arrives.
GSW	-	Gun Shot Wound
HEC	-	Houston Emergency Communications center. Where HFD dispatch is located, along with HPD dispatch, & 911 intake call center. See also: OEC
IAH	-	Houston Intercontinental Airport
IC	-	Incident Command(er). Typically a District Chief at most working incidents. Sr. Captains sometimes have to assume I.C. until a chief can arrive. At larger multiple-alarm incidents a Deputy Chief may assume command.
IRIT	-	Interim Rapid Intervention Team. Refers to only two firefighters of a crew (usually one Firefighter & the E/O) temporarily in a standby position at the front door, while the other Firefighter and Captain make an offensive, interior attack on a structure fire.
MVA/MVI	-	Motor Vehicle Accident or Incident.
NIMS	-	National Incident Management System. The set of protocols used by HFD, and most emergency response agencies to uniformly command and mitigate incidents.
OEC	-	Office of Emergency Communications. Where HFD receives 911 calls and dispatches all emergencies. Located inside the HEC Center.
PAR	-	Personnel Accountability Report. Used at incidents to gain accountability of all personnel on scene. Required every 30 minutes, after maydays, defensive calls, evacuations, alarm level increase, or catastrophic event.
PIO	-	Public Information Office.
PM	-	Preventive Maintenance. Performed on all HFD apparatus every 3000 to 5000 miles.
RIT	-	Rapid Intervention Team. Refers to the proper staging of an Engine Company's crew near the entrance of a working structure fire, who are geared up and prepared to make entry if there is a mayday call from another firefighter from inside the structure.
TIC	-	Thermal Imaging Camera.
T-PASS	-	Transmitting - Personal Alert Safety System. This device is worn by every firefighter who enters the "hot zone" which transits their status to a manned monitoring station, usually found set up at the command post.
VJTF	-	Val Jahnke Training Facility.

HFD Fire/EMS Terminology:

Apparatus	-	Any type of emergency response vehicle used by HFD. See also: Heavy Apparatus
A-Unit	-	Slang for portable radio. In context: "Montior your A-Unit for any calls.."
Box	-	1. Slang term for ambulance. Refers to box shape of back of ambulance. 2. Slang term for "Box Alarm". In context: "We caught a box last night.."
Box Alarm	-	Standard alarm for single-family dwelling structure (house) on fire. Includes 3 Engines, 2 Ladders, & 1 Chief. See also: Heavy Box
Cadet	-	Title of Firefighter Trainees before graduation.
Car	-	Slang term referring to the District Chief's unit. In context: "He's on the car with Chief today.."
Chauffeur	-	See also: Engineer/Operator
Cross-Lay	-	See also: Inch & Three-Quarter
Debit Day	-	A 24 hour shift owed by each firefighter to the city that comes around approximately once every month.
Defensive	-	A more careful exterior attack of a structure on fire. This call is made once an IC determines that a structure is no longer safe to work inside of, a mayday is called, or a catastrophic event like a collapse occurs.
Ears	-	Slang for stethoscope. In context: "Someone grab some ears and check for breath sounds.."
Four Inch	-	Four inch supply hose used to connect Fire Engines to hydrants, other Fire Engines, or Ladder Trucks depending on need. HFD Engines carry 1000 feet each in their back beds.
Heavy Apparatus	-	Any fire truck used by HFD.
Heavy Box	-	Standard alarm for multi-family, commercial, or industrial fires. Includes 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, & 2 Chiefs.
Hook	-	Old term for pike-pole.
Hot Zone	-	Hazardous area around and containing an incident.
Inch & Three-Quarter	-	Inch & Three-Quarter fire hose used for making offensive attacks on fires.
Irons	-	Slang term for the Halligan Bar & Flathead Axe, usually carried together.
O's	-	Slang for medical treatment Oxygen. In context: "Put her on some O's until we get to the hospital.."
Offensive	-	An aggressive interior attack of a structure on fire. This is the primary mode of operation for HFD Firefighters when arriving on scene of an incident. See also: Defensive
Old Head	-	Slang term for an old Firefighter. In context: "The old-head said its been like this for 20 years.."
Pipe	-	Slang for piped hose waterway laid in the bed of a Ladder Truck's aerial ladder.
P&L	-	Pipe & Ladderman. What Firefighters were referred to before women entered the fire department. P&L's are now simply referred to as Firefighters.
Plan A	-	EMS code for BLS/ALS CPR protocol.
Plug	-	Slang term for Fire Hydrant. To "catch the plug" is to hook up a four inch supply hose to the hydrant. Refers to old wooden water mains of the 1700's.
Probie	-	Slang for Probational Firefighter. In context: "Go tell the probie he's got some dishes to wash.."
Public Service	-	Old term still used when asking some to call you via telephone, over the radio.
Pump Can	-	Old term still used to describe a silver, re-fillable, pressurized water extinguisher. The original pump-cans were powered by a hand pump built-in to the extinguisher.
Quick Hitches	-	Slang term for bunker-pants. Original meaning referred to the harness assembly horse wore when pulling steamers.
Rabbit Tool	-	Hydraulically powered forcible entry tool.
Red Line	-	200 foot, stiff-jacket, red hose on reel on most HFD Engine Pumpers.
Rook	-	Slang for Rookie, or what Probationary & young Firefighters are often referred to by old Firefighters. In context: "Hey rook, this floor needs mopping.."
Seat	-	Slang term referring to an E/O riding-up in the position of Captain. In context: "I'm riding the seat tomorrow.."
Scuttle	-	Slang term for scuttle-hole or folding attic ladder.
Skull-Drag	-	Slang term for pulling four inch supply line from a pumper to a water supply by hand. In context: "Engine 68 skull-drug 200 feet of 4 inch from their pumper back to the plug.."
Stick Wagon	-	Slang for a Ladder truck with an aerial ladder that won't raise, or has been deemed too dangerous to climb on. In context: "Our reserve Ladder Truck is just a stick wagon.."
Stage (Level 1)	-	The process of a fire company staging 1 to 2 blocks away from the incident, uncommitted, and awaiting orders.
Stage (Level 2)	-	The process of a fire company reporting to a predetermined off-site location, checking in with a Staging Officer, and awaiting assignment.
Syncope	-	Medical term meaning to pass-out, faint, or lose consciousness.
Tacky	-	Slang for the medical term Tachycardia. In context: "Her blood pressure was fine, but she was a little tacky.."
Tour	-	One shift rotation of of 2 working days. (24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 5 days off.).
Truck	-	Slang for Ladder Truck. In context: "I'm on the truck tomorrow.."
Tube	-	Slang for medical treatment of inserting a endo-tracheal tube down a patient's airway to help them breath. In context: "We had to tube this guy because he wasn't  breathing when we got there.."

HFD Number Codes Still Used:

1-11	-	Heavy Box Alarm
2-11, 3-11, 4-11, etc..	-	Multiple Alarm Upgrade
7-1	-	Incident Tap Out
10-50	-	Dead on Arrival
1 to 4 Taps	-	Refers to the number of additional Engine Pumpers needed at an incident
5 Taps	-	Request of one additional Ladder Truck to incident
Pager 549	-	Hazardous materials, HAZ-MAT team needed
Pager 710	-	Cardiac arrest, EMS Supervisor needed
Pager 746	-	Suspicious fire, Arson Investigator needed

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