Mounted search and rescue

[Trails End Farm <trailsendfarm@erols.com>]

Debbie;

In Maryland, not only our team but several other teams, who together make 
up a Search Team Task Force, have agreed to NOT USE ANY CODE in radio 
communication language, with this one exception:  the status of a 
find.  Status 1, alive, well, and walking out on his/her own power.  Status 
2, alive, but in need of medical attention and evacuation.  Status 3, dead.

We do use 24 hour time references. But:  No 10-codes. No other specialized 
jargon.

As for chattiness . . . That takes practice.  Go over principles of 
communication in a classroom setting. Stress brevity, enunciation, and 
proper use of the radio (antenna held vertical, mouth 2-3 inches away from 
the microphone, don't shout, etc.)  Discuss how to interrupt an exercise if 
a true emergency occurs. A phrase everyone knows will be used to indicate 
the exercise is suspended while team resources deal with the real emergency.

Then, put one member in charge of communications at an exercise (probably 
the same person in charge of the exercise for the day). Yes, that means one 
person has to dismount and stay at base to coordinate things.  This person 
should have the authority to make occasional general reminder announcements 
to keep messages brief and to the point.

This person could make a few private notes and later undertake some 
one-on-one training with individuals who are having trouble keeping it brief.

With one central person taking all radio messages, teach your members that 
anyone in the field MUST ask permission from the com person to speak 
directly with another field member. Having to ask permission makes it more 
formal than just gabbing with your buddies. When you need to carry on a 
more lengthy conversation, SWITCH Frequencies to an agreed upon 
alternate.  This is also useful when you have someone out in the field 
playing victim for your team.  You want to check on their welfare during 
the course of the exercise, so leave them with a radio tuned to the 
alternate (perhaps an additional undisclosed alternate) frequency.

A central communications person can also tell one caller to "please stand 
by" while finishing business with another field caller. This type of 
organization will enforce the concept of having to take turns.

Consider this advice:  plan "exactly" what you need to say and how best to 
say it BEFORE pressing the microphone key. This can help reduce the   um . 
. . ah . . . and . . . you know . . . er . . . syndrome.

And all the while you don't want to squash enthusiasm.  Just discipline it 
a bit.

Good luck!

Suzanne Anderson
TROT Search Team, Maryland

> ------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 11:06:01 -0400
> From: Deb8562@aol.com
> Subject: [MSAR] Radio Communications
> To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
> Message-ID: <68A73960.4E7D8B01.00161854@aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hello all,
> What type of verbal radio communications do you all use? As far as codes 
> or lingo to keep it clear, brief and to the point? We are having some 
> problems in practice/training with folks taking to long to get their point 
> accross, or running over each other on the air, in their eagerness to 
> report back what is going on.
> Thanks
> Debbie
> CTSARCAM