OUR MISSION:
Supporting Hospital to Hospital communications that are critical to patient care
HDCS is a specialized ARES group that consist of volunteer amateur radio operators of the North Brevard ARC who dedicate their time and equipment to provide communications for local hospitals in time of disaster or a communication failure.
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) is the nationwide public service and emergency communications arm of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which is the largest national association of Amateur Radio enthusiasts
"ARES" Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a registered trade mark of the American radio Relay League, Incorporated and are used by permission.
HDCS volunteers are certified for hospital to hospital communications.
HDCS stands ready, around the clock, to provide supplemental communications, internal or hospital to hospital in times of disaster or emergencies. Such situations include:
In a widespread disaster such as a major hurricane, Tornadoes, mass casualties incident, or a terrorist attack, when hospitals need to communicate with each other and outside agencies and when the commercial phone system is unavailable or unreliable.
Backup communications are vital, whether the disaster is an wide-area event or a failure in the hospital's own telephone switchboard. Patients can be at risk in either case.
HDCS will pass traffic to participating hospitals on the Brevard D-STAR KJ4OXT repeater located at N4LEM EmComm facilities on SR 520 in Cocoa, FL. The antenna is approximately 190 ft. This will be the central hub for communications to the surrounding hospitals being supported by HDCS.
D-RATS multi-platform EmComm software will be use for emergency communications. The software provides the ARRL Radio-Grams, ICS 213 forms, Word Documents, and Excel Files for the Hospital Incident Command System to use.
D-Rats is a multi-platform integrated tool for emergency communications. Thanks to KK7DS for the development of this emergency communications software.
Developed for 1st Responders
Initially developed for the Washington County ARES/RACES group in Oregon, D-Rats quickly evolved into a full blown Multi-Platform EmComm software suite for Data Communications using D-Star radios.
Communications with outside agencies are also vital in a disaster. The Parris Emergency Communications Center (PECC) located at Parrish Medical Center will handle traffic though the Brevard D-Star repeater KJ4OXT directly to the Titusville Fire Dept; the American Red Cross and the Brevard County Emergency Operation Center (EOC).
Members of HDCS will attend meetings to learn about, hospital procedures and disaster plans. They will practice regularly with the Hospital Incident Command System during both individual facility and county-wide drills. All hospitals in Brevard County will be having a disaster drills..
FIRST CALL-UP RESPONDER:
First Call-Up responders are individuals whom hospitals will contact when there is a mass casualty incident or disaster or a internal phone outage. The first HDCS responder that is contacted activates the additional members needed to provide an effective response to the affected hospital's.
Certification:
HDCS members must be an ARES member, have a Brevard County background check, ARECC level 1 accreditation and the FEMA IS 100 and 200, attend the training seminars and hospital safety drills.
We're Looking Volunteers
HDCS, is looking for volunteer Amateur Radio operators who wish to make a unique contribution to their communities in time of crisis.Prospective members should be interested in public service and be willing to make a commitment to the support of hospitals. They should have the necessary mobility to respond to an emergency situation whenever and wherever it might occur in Brevard County. Members must be resourceful at getting to hospitals rapidly.
Our professional certified team are:
If you are interested in becoming part of this team of outstanding, "professional" communicators, contact Bob HDCS coordinator @ N6USP or PH 321-264-2622 for more information.
We encourage other club's to participative and help contribute to your communities.
When disaster strikes, be ready to be part of the solution.
Created and Maintain by: N6USP.
Copyright © 2003 [Bobby D Jones] All rights reserved.
Revised:August 05, 2010
NBARC Emergency Communications Logo ©2009. All rights reserved.
Hospital Disaster Communication Logo ©2009. All rights reserved.