Virginia Develops Common Language Protocol

Virginia is going beyond NIMS requirements that mandate the use of common language during mutual aid incidents. The commonwealth has developed a protocol for using common language, as opposed to 10-codes, in everyday use. Government Technology reports:

The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) and Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator's Office (CICO) determined a common language protocol that allows the use of plain English for most transmissions.

While the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requires common language for mutual aid situations, the state went a step further by encouraging common language usage on a day-to-day basis for all responders.

"If responders do not use common language on a daily basis they will revert back to the codes they have always used in a crisis situation," said Charlottesville Fire Chief and SIEC Chairman Charles Werner.

The SIEC and the CICO will continue to obtain endorsements from Virginia's public safety community and work with training academies across the state to begin training on the protocol.