Radio communication systems play a key role in improving emergency medical services. They allow dispatchers, mobile units, and hospitals to stay connected. Base stations at fixed locations like hospitals and dispatch centers transmit at high power. Mobile radios in vehicles and portable radios for crews transmit at lower power. Other components include repeaters to transmit signals over long distances, cellular phones, GPS, vehicle tracking systems, computer-aided dispatch, and integrated radio dispatch systems. Proper radio protocol is important and includes listening first, identifying yourself, speaking clearly, and allowing time between transmissions.

2. COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS & RADIO COMMUNICATION:
Radio equipment is often taken for granted since it is now so
common. However, the development of radio links between
dispatcher, mobile units, and hospitals has been one of the
key contributors to improvement in EMS over the year.
Imagine if you had to call the dispatcher by phone every few
minute to see if there is a call, hospitals would be unable to
prepare for the arrival of patients, as they do now.

3. COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM:
There are several components to any radio or communications
system.
BASE STATIONS are two way radios that are at a fixed site such as
hospital or dispatch center.

4. MOBILE RADIOS are two way radios that are used or affixed in a
vehicle. Most units are actually mounted inside the vehicle. These
devices have lower transmitting power than the base.

5. PORTABLE RADIOS are hand held two way radios. This type of
radio is important because it will allow you to be in touch with
the dispatcher, medical director, and with other member of the
EMS system while you’re away from the ambulance.

6. COMMUNICATION SYSTEM OTHER COMPONENTS:
• LANDLINE conventional telephone that utilize telephone wire as
means for travel of signal.

7. • REPEATERS are devices that are used when transmissions must be
carried over a long distance. Repeaters may be in
ambulance/mobile or placed in various areas around EMS system.
The repeater pick up signals from lower power unit, such as mobile
and portable radios and retransmits them at a higher power. The
retransmission is done on another frequency.

8. • CELLULAR PHONE are phones that transmit through the air
instead of over wire so that the phone can be transported and
used over a wide area. These devices are becoming more widely
available and popular around the country. In many areas where
the distance of expense is too great to set a conventional EMS
communications through already establish commercial system.

9. OTHER DEVICES
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Automated Vehicle Locator System (AVLS)
Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
Intergraded Radio Dispatch System (IRDS)
Global Positioning System (GPS)

10. Automated Vehicle Locator System (AVLS)
Automatic vehicle location (AVL or ~locating; telelocating in EU) is
a means for automatically determining and transmitting the geographic
location of a vehicle. This data, from one or more vehicles, may then be
collected by a vehicle tracking system for a picture of vehicle travel.
Most commonly, the location is determined using GPS, and the
transmission mechanism is SMS, GPRS, a satellite or terrestrial radio
from the vehicle to a radio receiver. GSM and EVDO are the most
common services applied, because of the low data rate needed for AVL,
and the low cost and near-ubiquitous nature of these public networks.
The low bandwidth requirements also allow for satellite technology to
receive telemetry data at a moderately higher cost, but across a global
coverage area and into very remote locations not covered well by
terrestrial radio or public carriers. Other options for determining actual
location, for example in environments where GPS illumination is poor,
are dead reckoning, i.e. inertial navigation, or active RFID systems or
cooperative RTLS systems. With advantage, combinations of these
systems may be applied. In addition, terrestrial radio positioning systems
utilizing an LF (Low Frequency) switched packet radio network were also
used as an alternative to GPS based systems.

11. Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
Computer-assisted dispatch, also called Computer Aided
Dispatch (CAD), is a method of dispatching taxicabs, couriers, field
service technicians, mass transit vehicles or emergency services assisted by
computer. It can either be used to send messages to the dispatchee via
a mobile data terminal (MDT) and/or used to store and retrieve data (i.e.
radio logs, field interviews, client information, schedules, etc.). A
dispatcher may announce the call details to field units over a two-way
radio. Some systems communicate using a two-way radio system's selective
calling features. CAD systems may send text messages with call-for-service
details to alphanumeric pagers or wireless telephony text services like SMS.
The central idea is that persons in a dispatch center are able to easily view
and understand the status of all units being dispatched. CAD provides
displays and tools so that the dispatcher has an opportunity to handle
calls-for-service as efficiently as possible.

12. Intergraded Radio Dispatch System (IRDS)

13. RADIO RULES:
The very first thing, which a radio operator does before transmitting, is to
monitor.
It is important that all operators should enter into any channel or
frequency properly.
A radio user should strictly follow these procedures:
• Make sure that your radio is on and the volume is adjusted
properly.
• Listen first & get a good idea of what is going on in the
frequency.
• If there’s a modulator or a modulation going on, wait until it
ends before entering in the frequency. SHOW SOME
ETHICS- If you have some comment or you have an idea
regarding the topic being aired, enter properly you may
PATCH UP or SHORT BRAKE ENTERAPT.

14. • PRESS FIRST BEFORE TALKING Press the “press to talk”
(PTT) button on the radio, then wait 1-2 second before
speaking. This prevents cutting of the first few words of your
massage.
• Speak slowly and clearly
• In a controlled frequency: Do not go on automatic, look for the
control and ask permission. Shout for the control for three
times (3X) follow by your call sign, if no contact you can go on
automatic.
- Shout for the unit identification then follow by your
call sign for 3x only, if no response! The other party may be
busy or not on monitor, try again later, to give way to other
radio user.
NO NEED TO BREAK, IF THERES NOTHING TO
BREAK

15. • After every modulation, clear the frequency by saying “air clear”
or “frequency clear”, for a control channel turn the channel
back to the control or say “control, back to you” or “control, take
it back”
• In case of emergency ”break-break” or “double Break” follow by
your call sign if modulation is going on, if not direct your
emergency situation to the control.

16. PROPER MODULATION
• Avoid unnecessary modulation, only official message or report shall
be transmitted, to give way for more important one
• Greet every one “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good
Evening” if its there time to drop by for the day.
• Address everyone mam/sir, regardless of gender not of rank to
show courtesy.
• Think first of the message before transmitting, to avoid the use of
“aaaaaah”.
• Be brief with your massage.

17. • Give at least 2-3 second gap or pause after every transmission. This
will allow emergency breaker & or weak signal breaker to enter the
channel or frequency.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Speak with your lips about two 2-3 inches from the microphone.
• When transmitting a number that might be unclear (15 may sound
like 16 or 50). Give the number, and then repeat the individual
digits. Say “15, one-five”.
• Affirmative & negative are preferred over “yes & no”.
• After transmitting say “over”.
• Avoid codes, slang or abbreviations that are not authorized.

18. and