Amateur Radio as a Emergency Communication in a Disaster

Kim,  Chol; Jung,  Yoon Seok

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 9(3); 1998 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 1998;9(3): 389-400.

Amateur Radio as a Emergency Communication in a Disaster

ABSTRACT

Mass casualty disasters have complex communication requirement. The involvement of many different communication systems and agencies and the difficulty of exchanging information between them is a perplexing problem. This may be compounded by telecommunication systems overload or failure, and electric service disruptions in the disaster area. In addition, emergencies are characterized by a sudden need for an increased information flow, an explosion in the topographical complexity of the information network, and a feeling of intense psychological pressure among the participants. The rescue, treatment, evacuation of a lot of patients from a natural disaster or mass casualties must be performed in accordance to several national agencies. Without an effective communication system, morbidity and mortality will needlessly rise. The stabilization and evacuation off lot of patients in a disaster is a serious and complex medical problem that must be resolved expeditiously. The potential far maximizing care depends on an well-organized rescue. However, without adequate communications, the patient may experience needless delays into the health care system an6 thus compromise prognosis. Established communication systems in most communities consist of private services, provincial and national agencies, and military and amateur radio operator. A disaster situation can severely disrupt routine telephone and radio communication. Customary frequencies may be incompatible with military and emergency civilian frequencies or become overloaded and useless because of intense activity. In a disaster, local telephone communication resources may be destroyed: qualified staffing of communications networks may be inadequate or unavailable to cope with the demands of the emergency. So, we recommend, that Amateur Radio should be provide as a effective emergency communication in a disaster.