Radio Procedures

Radio Procedures

1.     Remember who's the victim. Don't sound like one on the radio. In quiet and loud noise environments, keep voice at normal talking level loudness (even around helicopters). For added professional touch, lower tone of voice from normal pitch to lower octave. Even if you find the victim or Elvis, don't freak out over the radio. Family, media, brass listen to radio channels.

2.     Don't say your dog is "on" over the radio. Media and other civilians may be listening. Use 11-20 numbers to indicate dog's interest. 11 is a "1 out of 10" and 20 is a "10 out of 10".

3.     Quarter your mic. Know where the mic element is and put to side of your mouth, not directly in front of it.

4.     If you are in a scratchy area, take radio and hold in air at arms length and use speaker mic. Use your body as an antennae mast. If you are wearing a pack, think about putting radio high up on the pack when walking.

5.     Keep batteries charged. Borrow a charged battery from OPS leader if needed.

6.     Check volume level often. Hit squelch to hear white noise. If radio hasn't been chattering for a while, the volume is either low or radio is off.

7.     Get a radio check. When you leave basecamp, get a radio check to insure your radio is working, and make sure you are on the right freq. If you go into a canyon, notify basecamp before going in. Get a radio check when you are in the canyon.

8.     If you are in an area that cannot communicate with basecamp, and you haven't notified basecamp, climb to a high spot and try again. Don't stay in an area that you cannot communicate unless Base knows and gives consent.

9.    Keep transmissions short for several reasons: Greatly improves battery life. Keeps channel open for emergency traffic. If you have an important long message, say "break" and release the mic PTT button for 2-3 sec and then continue your transmission. Allows for emergent traffic to you, or to other searchers.

10.   Acknowledge all messages and assignments with your radio call sign. Say "K9-3 10-4", or "K9-3 Roger". "Wilco" means 'will comply'.

11.   Think of who may be monitoring, you never know. Don't give personal or confidential information about yourself, the victim, the family, etc. Think twice about giving phone numbers over the air. Maybe necessary however.

12.   When calling for first time of day, use full call sign. (i.e. 240Robert K9-3) After initial contact, or during a search only use short call sign (i.e. K9-3)

13.   Example of proper CLEMARS emergency use: If you are in a really bad neighborhood, someone is shooting at you, you may get on CLEMARS and say: "This is Sheriff's K9-3 on CLEMARS to any monitoring agency, request emergency assistance" Someone will probably come back to you and say: "Sheriff's K9, this is CHP Central, go ahead with emergency traffic" you reply: "This is K9-3, I'm at Florence and Normandy and I'm getting shot at, and my vehicle is disabled, please send help."

         Do not use CLEMARS to report stranded motorists on the freeway, freeway or city accidents, illegally parked cars, vehicles parked in the handicapped zone, dead animals on the roadside, or Elvis sightings, etc.

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