FOCUS COVID-19 – crisis communications
In addition, they would probably use a
large ‘press to talk’ button that helps the activation of the radio, and which is easy to access while wearing protective suits. Most often the accessories used on the scene are just as important as the communication device itself. There are a number of accessories designed specifically for fireground radio communications that are tailored to their specific requirements.
Radio essentials
The radio itself needs to be hard wearing. FRSs are expected to work under extreme conditions of high and low temperatures, so it is important that any devices used are prepared for both. Along with having to be durable, another important factor that must be considered is the ingress protection (IP) rating, which relates to the sealing effectiveness of an electrical enclosure against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture. In this instance, the IP rating of the device is
at least 67, which signifies that it is fully dustproof and waterproof, and can be submerged in 1m of water for at least 30 minutes.
System improvements
There is no doubt that the current system works, but there are areas in which communication could be improved. For example, through the use of more modern technology to complement
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what is already being used, efficiency could be increased during time sensitive situations. As it stands, communication between those in the appliance and those on the ground is limited to what each person is able to portray vocally. By implementing a solution such as bodycam
radios, it would be possible to stream live video from the ground to the appliance and FRS. This would help gain a clear understanding of what they are facing and allow them to make more calculated decisions, as well as saving critical time that would otherwise have been spent describing the situation at hand. At the moment, when there is a need to
increase coverage due to the size or height of the materials used to construct the building, repeaters are deployed. If more than one repeater is needed, they are deployed and linked via cables. Not only does this risk the possibility of the cables being broken and people on the ground losing vital communication, but it is also a safety hazard, as the firefighters could easily trip over the cables while moving around the scene. A possible alternative is Hytera’s E-Pack, which
was specifically created with the emergency services in mind and for which multiple devices (up to 31) can be deployed at once. The units automatically form a wireless mesh network to extend coverage, are fully compatible with digital mobile radios and are ready to use from power up, making for a simple, rapidly deployable solution in a high pressure situation and ultimately saving valuable time on the scene.
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