BASIC Search and Rescue Communications

1
BASICSearch and Rescue Communications
Presented by Sgt. Tygh Thompson Washington
County Sheriffs Office
2
AGENDA

• A. Using the Equipment
• B. Radio Codes
• C. Unit Numbers
• D. Radio Operations
• E. Radio Frequencies
• F. Terrain and How Relays Work
• G. Operational Hints
• H. Description Standards

3
SAR Communications Overview

• The glue of an operation
• Information exchange (clues, tracks) influences
  search effectiveness
• Accuracy about locations searched influences
  search effectiveness
• Effective patient evacuation depends upon
  continuing information
• Protect the searcher
• Continuous contact with all units required for
  safety of searchers

4
Using the Equipment

• Every Radio Is Different
• Follow the guidelines in this section whenever
  you are issued or use another radio (common!)
• Questions? Ask the person who gave you the radio

5
Antenna

• Antenna Connected?
• Radios operated without antennas will be
  permanently damaged.
• Check for firm connection.
• Do not test by transmitting.
• Stop if in doubt.

6
Batteries

• Different
• All radios use different batteries so they cant
  be shared (of course)
• Learn how to recharge and replace the batteries
  on your particular radio
• We use several different types of batteries for
  our SAR radios
• Check batteries condition and antenna connection
  every time you respond.

7
Changing Batteries

• MT-1000, HT-600, P-200
• Push the battery switch up and slide the battery
  off to the side

8
Changing Batteries

• MT-500
• Insert a coin into the battery panel to open and
  remove the panel
• Lift the battery out
• When replacing, make sure the metal contacts in
  the radio are touching the battery contacts

9
Squelch

• Turn the radio on.
• Adjust the squelch
• Open all the way until you hear static
• Turn the squelch knob back until the static is
  silenced
• Dont turn the squelch knob all the way, or
  youll be unable to hear distant units
• Some newer radios dont have squelch - it is
  automatic. Such as the MT-1000
• Cant figure it out? Ask before you leave Base

10
Tone Squelch

• Turn off Tone -- We dont use it
• This will prevent you from hearing transmissions
• Also known as Tone Squelch and PL
• Cant figure it out? Ask before you leave Base

11
Channels

• Select the correct channel
• Channels are not frequencies
• The frequency (i.e. 155.805 MHz) can be assigned
  to different channels on different radios.
• For instance, one radio may use Channel 3 for
  155.805 but another radio may use Channel 4 for
  155.805.
• What are the frequencies in your radio?

12
Using a Radio

• THINK about what youre going to say
• LISTEN to the radio
• to verify the frequency is clear of other
  transmissions
• THEN talk when the frequency is clear
• Position the radio so your mouth is 1-2 inches
  from the microphone

13
Using a Radio

• Press down firmly on the Push To Talk button
• on the left side of the radio
• hesitate just for a moment before you talk
• Speak in a plain tone of voice
• Dont yell even in a noisy area (it will distort)
  
• Dont whisper (they cant hear you)
• Different than a typical repeater in a city

14

• Using a Radio
• Let go of the Push To Talk button
• after youre done talking
• hesitate a moment after you talk
• It is not a phone
• Only one person can talk at a time
• You cant listen when youre pushing the Push To
  Talk button

15

• Using a Radio
• SAR radio protocols are different than law
  enforcement radio protocols
• If you use law enforcement frequencies... change
  your style when youre on a search mission.
• To Call Base
• You Base from Unit Five
• Base Go ahead Unit Five, this is Base
• You We need .....................

16
Using a Radio

• When Base Calls You
• Base Unit Five from Base
• You Base, this is Unit Five
• Base Can you move to ..............

17
Talking Style

• Do Not Say...
• Unit Five (law enforcement style)
• Go Ahead (without unit number)
• Base (without saying who you are)
• WHY?
  SAR is different than law
  enforcement radios...
• No repeaters / poor transmission quality
• Unfamiliar voices / Mix of volunteer paid
  personnel
• So every transmission must be explicit to
  minimize confusion

18
Radio Codes

• 10 Codes, 11 Codes and 12 Codesare used to
  make transmissions shorter and keep the air clear
• Unfortunately not all agencies or states use the
  same codes
• If someone else uses them, and you dont
  understand
• Ask for it in plain language

19
Radio Codes

• In SAR, use plain language and do not use codes
• One exception Deceased Code
• Useful to handle families and the media
• But different in many agencies and counties (and
  well-known to the media)
• Ask your Comm Officer before going into the field
  -- what will be the deceased code for this
  mission?

20
Unit Numbers

• Get One
• Personally check in with the Operations staff (or
  Communications Officer) and get a UNIT NUMBER
  before using your radio Example Team-1,
  Team-2... etc.
• Different Each Time
• This number will be different for every search,
  and may change during the search as you are
  assigned to different teams

21
Unit Numbers

• Do not invent a unit number
• Organizations may have similar-sounding names
  Ex PMR versus PNW simply too confusing

22
Radio Operations

• BEFORE LEAVING BASE
• When your group/unit leaves on an assignment,
  tell Base on the radio that you are on the
  airor 10-8 before leaving the base camp area.
• Use this as an opportunity to test the radio,
  rather than clogging the frequency with radio
  testing while youre getting ready to leave.

23
Radio Operations

• Ask for a copy of the Communications Plan, or if
  unavailable, ask for protocol on deceased code
  and frequency use.
• Before you leave Base is the best time to find
  out your radio is malfunctioning.

24
Radio Operations

• WHILE IN THE FIELD Always monitor the radio
  after you are logged on the air
• Remember your Unit Number and listen for it.
• Keep paper/pen handy for jotting down radio
  messages
• Periodically turn your squelch down to verify
  youre still receiving and the radio is on.
• Make regular check-ins every 45-60 minutes

25
When you get back...

• RETURNING TO BASE
• When your group/unit returns from an assignment,
  tell Base on the radio that you have returned
  and are off the air.
• Make sure Base verifies this before turning off
  the radio.
• Telling your debriefer from Operations is not
  sufficient. Radio/Comm tracks status, so be sure
  that they know that you have returned.

Individuals who cause a second search operation
are often unpopular later.
26
Subject Found!

• Subject Found
• When you hear a message from another field team
  that the subject is found... you should
• STAY OFF THE AIR even if you think you can help
• HOLD YOUR POSITION
• DO NOT BEGIN RETURNING TO BASE
• WAIT for SAR Base to call you

27
Subject Found!

• Why?
• Subject ID has to be verified... this may not be
  the correct subject.
• SAR Base may need you for an assignment that you
  couldnt know about.

28
Recalled to Base

• Recalled to Base
• When asked by SAR Base to return to the base
  area... you should
• Estimate a time of arrival (ETA)
• Stay on the air in case of a searcher emergency
• Give your regular updates every 45-60 min
• When you have returned
• Use your radio to call the SAR Base dispatcher
  and tell them you have returned.

29
Aircraft Operations

• Aircraft Operations
• When you hear air operations on your
  frequency...
• Request permission to talk directly to air units
  from SAR Base first.
• The air resources need one point of coordination,
  and that is SAR Base.

30
Aircraft Operations

• Aircraft Operations
• Limit conversations with air units to essential
  operations communications (LZ locations, hoist
  coordination, etc.).
• Radio silence when helicopters are on final
  approach.

31
Yada yada yada

• The biggest problem in SAR Comm is unnecessary
  and lengthy radio traffic
• Why?
• Assume for a moment that 30 people have radios on
  a mission... and each talks once per hour... if
  they talk for 2 minutes each time... ...there
  will be no air time left.
• Think about it.

32
Yada yada yada

• Plan
• For a critical injury or emergency at least once
  in every SAR mission... which will require clear
  airtime
• And... Assume that the press and the family can
  hear everything you say
• Use common sense
• Make sure your transmission is essential
• Keep it short

33
Radio Frequencies

• Multiple frequencies in a SAR mission
• Command/Control
• usually the State SAR freq.
• Air Operations
• usually the National Air SAR freq.
• Team Operations
• usually each group has one
• Law Enforcement
• usually the sheriffs dispatch freq.
• Others
• US Forest Service, Civil Air Patrol, Amateur,
  Marine, CB, etc.

34
Radio Frequencies

• Multiple frequencies in a SAR mission
• Understand which frequencies you should use and
  more importantly, which not to use.
• Sometimes documented in a Comm Plan, which you
  can ask for before heading into the field.

35
State SAR Frequency

• Oregon State SAR frequency 155.805 MHz FM
• All organizations should have this frequency
• All field teams should keep at least one radio on
  this frequency at all times
• Used for dispatching, coordination and
  emergencies. Emergencies have priority.

36
State SAR Frequency

• SAR Base controls this frequency -- Follow
  their directions
• Licensed to the sheriff in each county by the FCC
• SAR Base operates under the sheriffs license
• You will hear the sheriffs FCC callsign

37
WCSO SAR Radios

• UHF Radios
• Can be identified by a skinny antenna
• Used for inter-team communications
• Used for security and special events
• Operate in simplex mode
• Unit to unit
• Operate in Duplex mode
• Through a repeater

38
WCSO SAR Radios

• VHF radios
• Can be identified by a fat antenna
• Used primarily for SAR operations
• Operate most of the time
• in the simplex mode
• Some radios can operate
• in the duplex mode

39
WCSO SAR Radios

• Motorola brand radios
• MT-1000, family of radios UHF and VHF
• MT-1000
• HT-600
• P-200
• MT-500
• VHF and UHF

40
WCSO SAR Radios

• VHF SAR Motorola P-200, HT-600 radios
• Ch-1 155.805 State SAR
• Ch-2 155.010 City law
• Ch-3 155.160 National SAR
• Ch-4 155.475 National law enforcement
• Ch-5 151.055 LUT Repeater
• Ch-6 151.055 LUT Simplex

41
WCSO SAR Radios

• Motorola MT-500 VHF SAR radios
• Ch-1 155.805 State SAR
• Ch-2 155.010 City Law
• These radios are seldom used

42
WCSO SAR Radios

• MT-500 UHF Radios
• Ch-1 F-1 Repeater
• Ch-2 F-1 Simplex
• Ch-3 F-2 Repeater
• Ch-4 F-2 Simplex
• Ch-5 DO NOT USE
• Ch-6 DO NOT USE
• These radios are seldom used

43
WCSO SAR Radios
MT-1000 UHF RADIOS

• Ch-1, F-1 Repeater
• Ch-2, F-1 Simplex
• Ch-3, F-2 Repeater
• Ch-4, F-2 Simplex
• Ch-5 DO NOT USE
• Ch-6 DO NOT USE
• Ch-7 DO NOT USE DO NOT USE

• Ch-8 DO NOT USE
• Ch-9 STATE S.O. NET
• Ch-10 COLUMBIA S.O.
• Ch-11 DO NOT USE
• Ch-12 LG-1 PARKS
• Ch-13 LG-2 U.S.A.

44
Air SAR Frequency

• National Air SAR frequency 123.100 MHz AM
• SAR Base, Field Air Ops officer, and Aircraft
  only.
• Generally, field SAR teams should not use this.
• Requires a special radio... typical FM radios on
  State SAR will not work.

45
Air SAR Frequency

• SAR Base controls use of the frequency --
  Follow their directions
• You will hear the sheriffs or the states FCC
  callsign for this frequency

46
Team Frequencies

• Use other frequencies to keep State SAR clear
• Good for coordination on grid search, technical
  rescue, lowering systems, etc.
• To minimize radio traffic, usually not allowed on
  State SAR
• WCSO uses UHF radios for inter-team
  communications

47
Team Frequencies

• What You Should Do
• Tell the Comm Officer the frequency before
  leaving Base... ...so they can find you.
• Tell base when you are switching frequencies from
  State SAR for more than 2 minutes
• Keep one radio on State SAR at all times

48
Terrain

• The Problem
• Radios usually dont work over ridges and into
  canyons
• Trees and snow also absorb radio waves
• The Solutions
• Ask for relay
• Go up higher on a ridge
• Caution
• If you know you have to descend into a canyon or
  other location where radios may not work, check
  in with Base before you leave radio range

49
How Relays Work
Containment 1
Relay
BASE
S6
S1
S2
S5
S3
S4
Transport 2
Transport 1
You may not hear the relay-to-Base
communications (on another channel)
There may be multiple relays -- ask for them by
name
50
How Repeaters Work
Mobile A transmits on frequency 1. The
repeater receives on frequency 1 and transmits
on frequency 2. Mobile B receives on
frequency 2 and transmits back to the repeater
on frequency 1
51
Operational Hints

• Typical Battery life
• Less than 1 hour of transmitting
• About 6 hours of receiving
• This means you get to talk for only 5 minutes in
  each hour of a 12 hour operational period before
  your battery dies
• Do the math

52
The Evac Pack

• One hint about batteries...
• In addition to your regular radio use, consider
• If your field team finds the subject (or does the
  technical rescue)... your radio will get
  intensive use
• lift/lowering
• air evac coordination
• coordination with SAR Base for resources

53
The Evac Pack

• Consider an Evac pack battery -- in addition to
  your usual 2nd battery -- saved just for use when
  youre coordinating a patient evacuation

54
Antenna Hints

• Effective antenna position
• Vertical (horizontal cant be heard as well).
• Chest height or above (your body will absorb the
  150 MHz signal better if radio on your hip).
• Face the base/unit youre talking to (your body
  will absorb the signal).

55
Antenna Hints

• Wont work well inside a metal vehicle (get an
  external antenna).
• Hold radio high above your head and use a
  speaker/mic to talk.

56
More Hints

• Protect the radio
• Physical damage from falling rocks or falling
  searcher.
• From freezing temperatures and high heat.
• From rain (in Oregon?).
• Chest or backpack is best (hip is poor).
• Speaker Mics
• Help keep the radio protected from damage.
• But may lead to poor transmissions (antenna too
  low or horizontal)... be careful about radio
  position if using the spkr/mic

57
More Hints

• Squelch Intermittent in an on/off pattern?
• Your battery is probably about to die... get a
  new battery
• Others can hear you, but you cant hear them?
• Check the squelch setting... it may be too high
• Trouble reaching base, even though youre on a
  ridge?
• Get out of the trees
• Change position... even a few feet can matter.

58
Description Standards

• In this section, you will learn how to
• Describe a missing (or found!) subject
• Describe a missing (or found!) vehicle
• You will also review
• the Phonetic Alphabet
• Military time

59
Describing Subjects

• For vital stats, think of your own drivers
  license
• John Henry is a Male subject with DOB 6/20/72,
  blond hair, blue eyes, 510, 165 lbs and wears
  eyeglasses
• Develop a consistent pattern for clothes
• Head to toes (wearing a red hat, blue jacket,
  blue jeans and black boots...)
• Outside to inside (...under the blue jacket
  should be wearing a red shirt, open to the
  waist)

60
Describing Subjects

• Remember anything that will distinguish the
  subject in a crowd
• Articles of clothing missing or torn
• No jacket, despite temperature
• Body markings
• Large tattoo on right arm
• Hair length
• Long hair in pony tail
• Carrying anything
• carrying a battered suitcase

61
Describing Subjects

• The foot print!
• The are standard protocols you can follow to
  describe foot prints and shoe treads...
• If your team doesnt use these, follow common
  sense
• Black boots with vibram sole, size 10,
  well-worn, probably bought at REI

62
Describing Subjects

• Dont forget Safety Issues
• Outstanding warrants, history of violence, mental
  illness, drugs, etc
• Current mental status
• Searcher safety always comes first
• PRACTICE
• Before you go on missions
• Glance at someone, then write it down
• Describe what you wrote to someone else

63
Describing Vehicles

• Again, think of your own cars registration
• 91 Chevy, Truck, Black in color, Oregon License
  plate ABC 123, Adam Boy Charlie 123
• Describe anything distinctive
• Additions
• Canopy shell, red in color
• Changes
• Cab painted red
• Extras

64
Phonetic Alphabet

• Adam for A, Boy for B, ...
• Makes the spelling clear and distinct
• For any critical information
• License plates, subject names, etc.
• Which phonetic alphabet?
• Best to use law enforcement alphabets rather than
  ham radio or military alphabets (see handout)
• If you have to, invent a term on the spot Apple
  for A... as that is better than nothing.

65
Military Time

• Always use 2400 time standard
• Easy to use... just add 12 hours to the time
  after 12noon
• 11am 1100... 1130am 1130... 130pm
  1330
• Dispatchers will probably acknowledge all of your
  radio transmissions with the military time in SAR
  Base
• (e.g. at 2052 means they have copied your radio
  traffic and logged it at 852pm)

66
Additional Material

• Attached are additional documents
• Phonetic Alphabet
• Military Time
• Communication Log

67
Questions?

• During a mission
• Talk to the Communications Officer
• They cant help with the problem (or prevent it
  next time) unless they know about it

68
The following pages do not conform to the current
OSSA requirements. A quiz is being developed
and Will be published here ASAP.
69
The is not the Test
1. Whats the correct procedure for calling
Base? 2. If you talk a total of 10 min in each
hour, how many hours will your battery typically
last? 3.Why should you hold the radio vertical
instead of horizontal? 4. Will you get better
radio range if you are on a ridge with trees or a
bare ridge of rock? 5. When is it okay to talk
directly to another unit? 6. In every mission you
will talk to Base at least twice... when will
that be? 7. What does 12-2 mean? 8. Which message
has priority? We have a solid track or One of
our searchers has a possible leg fracture 9.
Your unit and the Base have the same right to
use the channel as you want -- true or false? 10.
Which is correct? Base, this is Unit Five or
Unit 5 to Base
70
These are not the Answers
1. Base, this is Unit Five 2. Less than 6
hours 3.Because the range will be better if the
antenna is vertical 4. On a bare ridge because
trees absorb radio waves 5. Never -- always ask
Base for permission first 6. Before leaving Base
and after returning to Base 7. It doesnt
matter. 8. One of our searchers has a possible
leg fracture -- emergencies always have
priority 9. False -- by federal law, Base
controls the frequency under the FCC license of
the sheriff 10. Base, this is Unit Five is
correct