Radio Etiquette

Have you ever stopped and listened and/or reviewed your department's radio traffic? In the recent weeks, I have noticed increased radio traffic on our system due to adding an air medical base in our area and the annual traffic accidents due to weather conditions. Depending on the size or your counties' or municipalities' dispatch area, everyone has to remember that you're not the only user agency on the airwaves. If your using your main dispatch system for all traffic, you have to stop and think hard what impact you have on the entire 911 radio system. Many dispatch centers can still page out tones over your talking but when the voice isn't always going to be heard. Many counties have developed tactical channels for EMS and fire departments to talk on as to alleviate the main dispatch channel, especially those that don't have a city tactical channel. If you know the call you're going on is going to last awhile, someone should take charge, hopefully the IC, and switch all radio traffic to a tactical channel. Notify dispatch to have all responding units to switch to the designated working channel for the incident. Typically the incident commander has his radio scanning and listening for radio traffic for the department. Please remember these simple hints when using a radio:

* Speak clearly and concise.

* Use plain English.

* Press the Push-To-Talk (PTT) for 2 seconds then begin speaking.

* Hold the microphone 2 to 4 inches away from your mouth.

* Don't yell into the mic! It doesn't make the transmission go any faster.

* Try not to transmit with the sirens on.

* To avoid feedback and squealing on the radio, turn down volumes on other portable radios and pagers before transmitting.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me!

Geoff Galaski
GalaskiG@co.st-louis.mn.us