Operational Limitations and Cultural Challenges in the Implementation of the MAYDAY Procedure. The Case of the Benemérito Fire Department of Salinas, Ecuador
Keywords:
MAYDAY, NFPA 1407, Bomberos, Limitaciones operativas, Gestión de emergencias.Abstract
The analysis of emergency management protocols, such as those established by the NFPA 1407 standard, reveals structural and operational gaps in fire departments with limited capacities. This study examines the case of the Benemérito Fire Department of Salinas (BCBS), located in the province of Santa Elena, responsible for handling complex emergencies in an expanding urban and tourist environment. The objective was to analyze the operational limitations and technical deficiencies faced by the BCBS in implementing the MAYDAY procedure in accordance with international standards.A descriptive methodology with a mixed approach was applied, using semi-structured interviews, structured surveys, and participant observation during drills. The results showed a partial implementation of the procedure, hindered by shortcomings in training, lack of written protocols, technological weaknesses, and limited capacity building.The main conclusion highlights that the effective implementation of MAYDAY does not rely solely on material resources but also on cultural, regulatory, and organizational factors that need to be aligned with high operational reliability standards. Strengthening these aspects is recommended to optimize the safety of operational personnel, improve the institutional response capacity, and consolidate an organizational culture oriented toward prevention and resilience.
References
Acuña, S., Baque, M., & Baque, E. (2025). Formación continua y su impacto en la preparación operativa del personal bomberil. Recimundo, 9(1), 956-964. https://doi.org/10.26820/recimundo/9.(1).enero.2025.956-964
Alonso, Leyva, O. y Santana, González, Y. (2023). Gestión psicosocial de riesgo sísmico en la ciudad de Santiago de Cuba. Maestro y Sociedad, (Monográfico Educación Médica), 121-131. https://maestroysociedad.uo.edu.cu
Amaya, P., Crespo, F., Quilli, C., Rodríguez, S., & Escobar, P. (2023). Análisis de las medidas de seguridad en el rescate con cuerdas para mejorar la capacidad de respuesta en emergencias, dirigido al personal del Cuerpo de Bomberos. InnDev, 2(2), 9–16. https://revistas.itecsur.edu.ec/index.php/inndev/article/view/56
Arias, J., & Covinos, M. (2021). Diseño y metodología de la investigación. Enfoques Consulting EIRL. https://gc.scalahed.com/recursos/files/r161r/w26022w/Arias_S2.pdf
Calle, M., Quinatoa, J., & Jácome, D. (2025). TIC en la gestión de la información del cuerpo de bomberos en la provincia de Cotopaxi. Alfa Publicaciones, 7(1), 125–141. https://alfapublicaciones.com/index.php/alfapublicaciones/article/view/578
Canta, J., & Quesada, J. (2021). El uso del enfoque del estudio de caso: Una revisión de la literatura. Horizontes revista de investigación en ciencias de la educación, 5(19), 775–786. https://revistahorizontes.org/index.php/revistahorizontes/article/view/257
Chica, J., Sánchez, M., Campaña, W., & Jacome, M. (2024). Análisis de la gestión de seguridad y prevención de riesgos laborales en el cuerpo de bomberos de la “agencia x-5 Luz de América” del GAD parroquial Luz de América 2024. Reincisol, 3(6), 1679-1696. https://doi.org/10.59282/reincisol.V3(6)1679-1696
Cuerpo de Bomberos de Salinas. (2024). Informe de Rendición de Cuentas. Cuerpo de Bomberos de Salinas. https://bomberossalinas.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/INFORMERENDICIONDECUENTAS2025.pdf
Dwyer, J., Karanikas, N., & Sav, A. (2023). Scoping review of peer-reviewed empirical studies on implementing high reliability organisation theory. Safety Science, 164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106178
Escobar, D., Cardona, S., & Moncada, C. (2019). Alcance Geoespacial de Atención del Cuerpo de Bomberos. El Caso del Municipio de Manizales en Colombia. Información tecnológica, 30(5), 283-290. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07642019000500283
Eugene, B., & Kwasi, D. (2022). Understanding the relationship between High Reliability Theory (HRT) of mindful organizing and Safety Management Systems (SMS) within the aerospace industry: A cross-sectional quantitative assessment. Journal of Safety Science and Resilience, 3(2), 105-114. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666449622000032
FEMA. (2023). Mayday Doctrine and Firefighter Safety Operations Guide. https://www.usfa.fema.gov
Fidalgo, A., & Sá, A. (2021). ¡Silencio! ¡Silencio! ¡Silencio! ¡Alguém está a pedir ajuda! Territorium, 28(2), 185-194. https://doi.org/10.14195/1647-7723_28-2_13
Flores, D., & Haire, E. (2022). The US Forest Service Life First safety initiative: exploring unnecessary exposure to risk. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 31(10), 927–935. https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/pdf/WF21099
Frodge, T. (29 de Marzo de 2023). Mayday prevention through simple ‘engineering controls’. FireRescue: https://www.firerescue1.com/mayday-training-evolution/articles/mayday-prevention-through-simple-engineering-controls-eGy7SJAS8SDdYXzt/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
González, S., Ramírez, R., Chávez, A., Santellano, E., & Beltrán, B. (2021). Diagnosis of health and safety at work in a Fire Station located in Chihuahua, Mexico. TECNOCIENCIA Chihuahua, 15(1), 1-15. https://revistascientificas.uach.mx/index.php/tecnociencia/article/view/754/959
Hernandez-Sampieri, R., & Mendoza, C. (2018). Metodología de la Investigación: Las Rutas Cuantitativa, Cualitativa y Mixta. Ciudad de México, México: McGRAW-HILL Interamericana Editores, S.A. https://biblioteca.ucuenca.edu.ec/digital/s/biblioteca-digital/ark:/25654/2140#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0
International Association of Fire Chiefs – IAFC. (2018). Training Officer’s Guide to Firefighter Survival and Rapid Intervention Teams. International Association of Fire Chiefs. https://www.iafc.org/
Mohammed, S. (2024). Mayday Trigger Phrases in the Fire Service. Royal Roads University. https://www.viurrspace.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/d8a9fda5-2c06-4685-8766-4366a81a5bd4/content
Neira, P., Ramos, M., Faz, Faz, J., & Cunuhay, D. (2022). Prueba de destreza bomberil en el Cuerpo de Bomberos Pujilí. InnDev, 1(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.69583/inndev.v1n1.2022.18
NFPA. (2020). NFPA 1407 Standard for Training Fire Service Rapid Intervention Crews. National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-1407-standard-development/1407
NFPA. (21 de 07 de 2025). from National Fire Protection Association – NFPA: https://www.nfpa.org/
Ramohale, M., Mokaleng, B., & Monnye, N. (2025). The impact of fire drills on firefighters’ performance. Jàmbá - Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 17(2), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v17i2.1825
Reilly, D. (15 de Mayo de 2025). Steps to Help Resolve Your Mayday. Fire Engineering: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighting/steps-to-help-resolve-your-mayday/
Secretaría Nacional de Gestión de Riesgos. (2024). Dirección de Monitoreo de Eventos Adversos. República del Ecuador. https://www.gestionderiesgos.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SitRep-No.-22-Incendios-Forestales-2308204-al-20092024.pdf
Smith, T., Mondal, K., Lemons, K., Mullins, C., Dyal, M., & Dejoy, D. (2024). Relationships between effective safety training, safety knowledge and personal protective equipment related behaviors among firefighters. Journal of Safety Research, 90, 137-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.06.010
Teneda, V., Murillo, B., Ledesma, F., & Saltos, N. (2022). Áreas de gestión del personal operativo del cuerpo de bomberos de Ambato. Revista de ciencias de seguridad y defensa, 7(1), 11-23. https://journal.espe.edu.ec/ojs/index.php/revista-seguridad-defensa/article/view/2596
Urbina, D., López, L., & Quintero, N. (2008). Modelo estratégico de gestión en la prestación de servicios públicos para el Cuerpo de Bomberos de los Municipios Cabimas y Simón Bolívar del Estado Zulia. Revista arbitrada venezolana del Núcleo LUZ-Costa Oriental del Lago, 3(1), 32-52. https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/impacto/article/view/6611
Ütük, A., & Baraçlı, H. (2024). Evaluation of the Knowledge and Awareness of Firefighters in Turkey in Disaster Risk Management. Sustainability, 16(3720), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093720
Vásquez, P. (2023). Ergonomía: factores de riesgo en bomberos. EID Ergonomía, Investigación y Desarrollo, 5(3), 76-84. https://doi.org/10.29393/EID5-21EFPV10021
Veazie, S., Peterson, K., & Bourne, D. (2019). Evidence Brief: Implementation of High Reliability Organization Principles. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542883/
Weick, K., Sutcliffe, K., & Obstfeld, D. (1999). Organizing For High Reliability: Processes Of Collective Mindfulness. Research in Organizational Behavior, 21, 81–123. https://archive.org/details/organizing-for-high-reliability/page/46/mode/2up
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Christian Daniel Ramírez Becerra, Javier Astudillo Gómez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
CC Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObrasDerivadas 4.0
.jpg)
_de_logo.jpg){kind=logo}
![](https://clustrmaps.com/site/1bhn8" title="Visit tracker"><img src="//www.clustrmaps.com/map_v2.png?d=2WTJsN7QOuRFRD2DOJOZtvZ6v94bxB6RU96I-iXx-_s&cl=ffffff"></a>)
