Seems like everybody knows about the so-called 10-codes that emergency personnel use on the radio after seeing them used in TV shows, but they may soon be a thing of the past.
Apparently, FEMA is ready to do away with the 10-codes, according to an Associated Press article.
In Virginia police-speak, a 10-50 means a motor vehicle accident. But head to Montgomery County, Md., and 10-50 becomes ''officer in trouble.''Now the Federal Emergency Management Agency is recommending police and other emergency officials nationwide give up the varying numerical codes used to communicate quickly with each other, saying the shorthand can lead to confusion when different agencies respond to a disaster.
Along with the aforementioned example of different meanings, I know of several from my own experience. Growing up, 10-19 meant returning to the station. When I moved to New York, it meant the call required only one fire engine or ladder truck. 10-8 might mean "responding" in one place and "available to respond if needed" elsewhere.
Our local fire, rescue and police departments already seem to operate without the 10-codes, and I haven't noticed any problems. I would think that smaller local departments could ditch the 10-codes pretty easily, but others, such as the FDNY would be holdouts.
The FDNY uses its own 10-code system that seems to work quite well, but on its list of nearly 100 codes, only a couple dozen (maximum) see regular usage. Of those, several have national recognition, such as 10-75 used normally to signal a real fire.
But others are confusing. Aurally, what's the difference between "10-40-1" and "10-41" or "10-40-2" and "10-42"? Granted it's often clarified as "10-40 code 1," but it's still more complicated than necessary.
FEMA, which has been--rightly or wrongly--maligned the last few days, may actually have it right on this one. Why say "10-50" in three syllables when "wreck" would suffice?
Posted by JRC at September 7, 2005 10:24 PM | TrackBack