N3PB Comms

Generic notes that apply to communications whether they are radio, field-phone, written, etc.

Key Points

• Everyone involved in a rescue has a role as a communicator.
• Use plain language. (Clear and concise.)
  • Responders may be EMS, fire, cavers, or law enforcement. Specialized terms in one of these fields may have a very different meaning in another.
• Relay messages exactly as received. (Preserve message integrity.)
  • Write down the message when you receive it.
  • Read the message back to the sender for verification.
  • If there is an "obvious" error, send a message back to the sender. Do not attempt to "fix" it yourself.
  • The only thing that can happen to a message after it is sent is the introduction of errors/noise.
• Make a record of messages relayed.
  • Sender
  • Recipient
  • Message
  • Received from
  • Sent to
  • Time should be noted with all of these.
• Tools of the trade
  • Watch
  • Comms log.

Radios

General

Channels and Zones

Field Telephones

• Notes specific to field telephones can be found at https://field-phones.n3pb.org

---

Part of N3PB.org Phil Benchoff benchoff at n3pb.org