Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

Chris, I must confess I just had a big chuckle. Your description gave me a
wild mental image series of Morse Code-like messages being honked out on an
air horn while people at both ends scrambled to read the cheat sheet cards
to translate the code. In confusion and frustration all reference cards were
then used for fire starter and the communication method switched to puffs of
smoke that drifted in the wind so nobody understood. The method then
switched to drumming on logs. But nobody could translate the drum code
because all the air horn code cheat sheets had been used for fire starter.
;)

I'm told I was born with a mind that works in mysterious ways ... LOL!

Consider trying to set up people in radio relay positions when you know
you'll have people down in canyons where they won't be able to get out with
radios. This is something to be discussed in advance with the IC during
mission assignments when you see the topo map indicating radio dead zones.
;)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co, CA
SAR, MSAR, Swiftwater Rescue, US&R,
Hasty Team, ICP
www.CEOates.com/sar



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <pennbo@bbv.net>
> Um- guess I should have clarified that one! <G> Yes, other things would
work
> better in general. However we are just now getting the repeater situation
under
> control. And we've been on many missions where the radios were worthless.
We've
> discussed options and potential situations. I was thinking in terms of if
you
> found the MP in less than ideal condition and had no radio contact an
airhorn
> would be faster than a rider. If each team had a predesignated sequence
(team 2-
> two blasts, etc) then hopefully a team with radio contact would hear the
noise
> and radio the sequence in so that CP could locate the approx area. Just
trying
> to think outside the box here until our communications problems are
resolved!
> <G> I know that your territory is much like ours with many valleys,
canyons, and
> peaks. Presents some tough challenges to communications! Might not be
feasible
> after all......<G>
>
> Chris Pennington
> Big Bear MSAR

[...]
Chris wrote:
> > > 2. What are everyone's thoughts on using an airhorn (small aerosol
can)
> > > in the field? Since noise is a potential way to scare off predators as
> > > well as a valuable way to alert others on the team in non-radio op
areas
> > > I'm interested in brain storming the pros and cons.

Jorene Downs wrote:
> > While useful as a noisemaker, I think I'd prefer to carry Family Radio
or
> > GMRS for team chatter communication. Easier to translate what the person
is
> > trying to communicate. ;)