[Oremem/Idamem] Fw: Emergency Communications ETC

[GEORGE MORTON]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "GEORGE MORTON" <n7hr at teleport.com>
To: "Wayne Jack" <KK7TT at direcway.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:21 PM
Subject: Fw: Emergency Communications ETC


>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "GEORGE MORTON" <n7hr at teleport.com>
> To: "Hal Lock" <n7hl at bendbroadband.com>
> Cc: "Wayne Jack" <KK7TT at earthlink.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:19 PM
> Subject: Emergency Communications ETC
>
>
> > Just a few notes you may find germane:
> >
> > Back in the old days, law enforcement dispatchers had a transmitter on
> their
> > desk with a microphone used a push to talk switch to transmit and
changed
> > channels by switching the channel selector.  Today's dispatcher uses a
> > computer to control the transmitter.  Mobiles show up on the display
> > showing where they are and what their status is.  The concept of "radio
> > channel"
> > is foreign to the dispatchers.  They have no idea of what a transmitter
> is,
> > or even where the antenna is located.  If the computer quits, they
re-boot
> > while another console takes over.  In a large scale failure, the backup
is
> > usually just a walkie talkie sitting in a charger on another desk.
> Battery
> > status
> > unknown - or even if the rig worked or not!  Ham Radio?  No doubt the
> > dispatch supervisor thinks we can just call them by phone if needed.
> > Most dispatchers aren't techies and even supervisors are out of the loop
> > with regard to backup systems.  It is just a job and when I go home,
> someone
> > else will take care of it.  I just hope it won't happen on my watch.
This
> > isn't
> > a yearning for return "to the good old days".  Those days weren't really
> any
> > better,
> > just different.  But the understanding of the system was there and
because
> > it was understood, there was a vision of how to operate if the system
> failed
> >  or developed problems.
> >
> > During a recent requalification as incident commander, the individual
was
> > assigned to brief SAR air crews.  The trainer had no maps, no
checklists,
> > no copy of the comm plan, mission objectives, etc.  One of the important
> > things learned years ago is the all-important safety issues list.  One
> item
> > was to let air crews know of adjacent aircraft and emergency procedures.
> > In this requal, it was learned that two aircrews had been assigned the
> same
> > search area - and at the same altitude!  Since a status map was not
being
> > used, no one noticed the duplicate assignments.  In years past, radio
> people
> > would always keep a status board and ensure each air and ground team was
> > regularly contacted for safety reasons. A half hourly "code four" report
> > from each team is just good sense.
> >
> > The net control station (NCS) sets the tone for the whole net.  If one
has
> > to be "right" all the time, he has no business being NCS.  If one hasn't
> the
> > ability to listen and understand what is going on in the filed, he has
no
> > business
> > being NCS.  NCS isn't about knowing the rules better than anyone else.
It
> > is
> > about being able to help those in the field and facilitating
> > communications.
> > It is a team effort.  When an operator on the front lines needs help,
the
> > NCS is
> > the point of contact and errors should always be made in favor of the
> > operator
> > on the front lines.  They are the one having to make crucial decisions.
> > Second guessing and belittling are no help!  Arguments and corrections
> > should be saved for the after action evaluations.  That is how we learn,
> by
> > doing
> > the best we can with consideration for each other.
> >
> > Vybrgds, Geo
> >
>