[continued from previous message]   
      
   A crucial aspect of the drill was practicing communication support under   
   degraded conditions. This meant a scenario in which traditional communication   
   methods, such as phones and the internet, might be compromised. While the   
   objective was clear, the    
   unexpected noise presented a unique challenge. It was so intense that we   
   couldn't communicate with our teammates at the same table, let alone transmit   
   an intelligible voice message. Despite the chaos, our team adapted to the   
   situation.   
      
   As a new participant, I was assigned to work with two experienced hams: Bill   
   Sefton, N6OWF, and Charlie Zigelman, AC6CZ. Charlie had participated in   
   previous drills. This was Bill's third hospital drill. He had provided   
   communications support for eight    
   endurance running events in the San Diego County mountains and deserts. Our   
   team's operation built on this experience from prior drills and realâ-�world   
   events. Besides the rigorous voice setâ-�up, Charlie could rely on Winlink, a   
   digital mode that    
   enables communication via email. Having multiple modes available ensured   
   reliable delivery.   
      
   As the drill progressed, the jackhammering continued, a constant reminder of   
   the realâ-�world challenges that could impact emergency response efforts.   
   Joining the hospital staff in the board room where they worked through the   
   drill, we were relieved to    
   find that they were wrapping up. We had successfully navigated the noisy   
   environment and maintained essential communication.   
      
   "The volunteerism of San Diego ARES members was overwhelming," reported   
   Assistant Section Manager Rob Freeburn, K6RJF. "Sixty ARES members carved time   
   out of their busy schedules to support twenty medical facilities during an   
   exercise on a Thursday    
   morning, a workday for many." Freeburn also said "we are also appreciative of   
   the voice repeater owners and Winlink gateway system operators who keep their   
   equipment in tipâ-�top operating condition 24/7/365."   
      
   While the day had been filled with unexpected challenges, it had also been a   
   valuable learning experience. For one, while we couldn't control the   
   construction noise, we could have mitigated its impact and improved our   
   ability to communicate by using    
   noiseâ-�cancelling headphones. We are now better prepared to handle future   
   emergencies, no matter how noisy they might be.   
      
   Hardcore Amateur Radio Medical Communications at the Medtronic Twin Cities   
   Marathon   
      
   By Erik Westgard, NY9D, Medical Communications Lead, Medtronic Twin Cities   
   Marathon   
      
   Hams are very involved in the communications aspects of many marathon races in   
   the US. The exact role varies slightly with each race organizer. At our event,   
   we are part of the 300-person volunteer medical team, which manages medical   
   communications for    
   the event itself. One of our Unified Command members from the Fire Department   
   said at the Hot Wash, "If you read after-action reports, a lot of problems at   
   large incidents are communications related" â-" a hint that this area needs   
   continued focus and    
   attention.   
      
   Our medical department (a runner-facing strike team under Operations in NIMS   
   lingo) is stationed in the medical tent, at aid stations, finish line area and   
   out on the course. They are trained to perform triage, and to deliver as much   
   care as they feel    
   qualified and equipped for. So, in EMS and CERT lingo, a primary focus for us   
   is on "green" or easier cases. More serious casesâ-""yellow" or "red" â-"are   
   referred out without delay (call 911) to our government-run EMS partners. The   
   idea isâ-"skinned    
   knee or a blister, or a bit of overheating-we manage as directed by qualified   
   providers. This reduces the load and stress on the limited regional supplies   
   of hospital (ER) beds and EMS rigs.   
      
   In a serious, life-threatening situation such as a suspected heart attack, 911   
   is called instantly, and we track the progress (usually location and correct   
   race bib #) of dispatches with our partners. A joint response is often called   
   for--a police    
   officer or volunteer bike medic might be first on scene, performs CPR, and   
   then the EMS rig rolls up and takes over. In some situations, 911 is called, a   
   rig is sent, but our medic says the person is up and chatting and the 911 call   
   can be cancelled. Two    
   or three calls to the same point can be tricky--is it one or are there three   
   runners down? Ham reports that are live and time stamped with bib numbers help   
   resolve (deconflict) them.   
      
   One of the most important users of our reports database is the Family   
   Information Tent, where anxious families can learn where their loved one is   
   and their condition. Hams provide the where; the health providers privately   
   share the condition details.    
   Years ago we built a Linux web database that lives in the cloud these days and   
   takes live reports from net controls, aid stations, the medical tent and other   
   locations. The idea is a ham with minimal training and a $20 handheld radio   
   can report a down    
   runner or one getting on a SAG bus and we have that in front of the Medical   
   Director or EMS leadership or the family tent in near real time, and at scale.   
      
   We will often see 300 medical cases in a few hours. There is almost no   
   tactical role for traditional paper forms or email attachments at our race.   
   Live dashboards and query-able databases are expected. This year we again had   
   live plots of medical tent,    
   and aid station capacity. We, and our EMS partners, do not transmit private   
   medical data on voice radios, ever. The location of a runner bib # is not (I   
   feel) protected in this context, and we work off that. So Bib #1122 needs   
   attention at mile 11, this    
   intersection. HIPAA calls this a "facility directory"â-"location only, no   
   details.   
      
   Years ago, the Incident Commander, a local fire chief, was positioned directly   
   outside the medical tent, where six hams ran the show. Now there is an entire   
   floor of a building, in three sections. One is the Race Operations Center,   
   where logistics and    
   sponsors and other details are managed on 350 rented 12-channel UHF business   
   radios. The EMS desk in the center of the room is staffed by hams and EMS/fire   
   leadership. On the far side is the Multiagency Center, with public safety and   
   emergency management.   
      
   For 2024, my main goal was to refine the EMS/medical/ham connection and make   
   it more seamless. In 2022, we had too many resources up in the race operations   
   building and a shortage down in the medical command in the tent across the   
   grounds where the    
   Medical Director and actual EMS Chief resided. This we fixed. Our interaction   
   with EMS was in person and via our systems which also had live chat. EMS   
   leadership carried our rented event radios this year and were on our ham run,   
   business band nets.    
   Organizing communications is one of our key value-adds.   
      
   We had amazing race day weather for a change. Only a small number (about 200)   
   of the 15,000 race starters dropped out or needed care. The event leadership   
   has been wanting better SAG bus visibility/staffing--we don't have spare hams,   
   so this is referred    
   to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They stepped up and started the process of   
   that information gathering and reporting to our database. The event and EMS   
   staffs are always very happy with volunteer ham/EMS medic carts and the lovely   
   ham command truck    
   provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff.   
      
   Lessons Learned   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)