COMMUNICATIONS

using a radio

IF YOU ARE ISSUED A RADIO IT MUST BE MONITORED AT ALL TIMES: OTHERWISE IT MAY BE PRESUMED YOU HAVE HEARD A GROUP MESSAGE

CHECK LIST

Ask for a spare battery

Ask for a headset or ear-piece (if available)

Ask for YOUR call-sign and other key call-signs

Ask how the radio is turned on/off, and the volume adjusted

Ask how the battery is removed

TO TRANSMIT

Hold the radio a few centimetres in front of your mouth.

Do NOT hold the radio like a telephone: you may be talking into the battery and will not be heard

Hold down the long button on the side of the radio (PRESS-TO-TALK switch)

Talk slowly, and for no more than 20–30 seconds before asking for acknowledgement

Release the PRESS-TO-TALK switch to receive

TO CHANGE THE BATTERY

Turn the radio OFF

Engage the battery release switch

Remove the dead battery

Replace with a fresh battery

Turn the radio ON and perform a radio check

key words

Key words are used to ensure ACCURACY and BREVITY of radio messages:

OVER	I have finished talking and I want the other call-sign to respond
OUT	I have finished talking and the communication is terminated
OK	I understand
ROGER	I understand and will comply with request
SAY AGAIN	Repeat your message [all after … / all before … / from … to …]
ACKNOWLEDGE	I need confirmation you have received important information (may reply ‘O K’, ‘ROGER’ or by repeating key information)
SPELL	Precedes important word being spelled using phonetic alphabet, for example, “I need entonox, SPELL echo-novembertango etc …”
FIGURES	Precedes long number being spoken digit by digit, for example, “one hundred, FIGURES one-zero-zero”
WRONG	I have made a mistake, for example, “there are six dead, WRONG seven dead”

phonetic alphabet

alpha	juliet	sierra
bravo	kilo	tango
charlie	lima	uniform
delta	mike	victor
echo	november	whiskey
foxtrot	oscar	x-ray
golf	papa	yankee
hotel	quebec	zulu
india	romeo	–

alternative methods

FACE-TO-FACE	Essential for commanders Briefings every 15–30mins at start
RUNNER	Send a WRITTEN message Consider volunteer personnel
MEGAPHONE	Useful for group messages Beware of overuse: less effective
WHISTLE	Generally reserved to indicate escalation of threat and need to evacuate
HAND SIGNALS	Useful to communicate over large distance when voice cannot be heard Need line of sight Must be taught to understand signals
PAGER	Useful for group messages Vibrate mode may be more effective when high background noise
MOBILE PHONE	Effective 1-to-1 communication No need for radio voice procedure Poor control of medical messages System can be overloaded

common hand signals

Hand signals are useful to communicate over a large distance when voice cannot be heard. Direct line of sight is required. Those to whom the signals are directed must be taught to understand them.