Radio Report + Equipment

Simplex/Duplex/Multiplex Radios

Simplex - Cannot transmit and receive information at the same time

Duplex - Can receive and transmit at the same time

Multiplex - Systems w/ additional data transmission

Note: some machines can transmit their information to a hospital —> ex. EKG can transmit results of a 12-lead to the receiving hospital

Repeaters

Expand the effective range of communication

Etiquette

• Monitor radio at all times

• Treat radio channel as a finite resource

  • Don’t use it frivolously because when you are using it, others cannot

• Plan what you will say before you speak, keep message clear and concise

• Learn your system’s shorthand + channel delegation

• Ensure there isn’t already a conversation occurring on the channel (stepping on someone)

How to Initiate A Radio Call

• State designation (unit number)

• State call sign of your recipient

  • “unit 123 to dispatch” or “ dispatch, this is unit 123)

• Wait for recipient to acknowledge

• Give message

• Wait for them to receive the message (they will ask questions or repeat back to you)

Radio Report

Keep it brief

• Priority of response + ETA

• Specialty activations

• Patient demographics + chief complaint

• Brief History (notable findings)

• GCS

• Vital Signs

• Repeat of ETA

You can use ATMIST for trauma

Radio Control for Medical Control

Call medical control when you need permission to administer a medication

Ask for medical control specifically

Begin with your request

Go through with regular radio report (minus ETA)

Repeat request

After they answer, repeat their response back to them to verify that you have it correctly

Get the doctors name if needed for your report

NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Use in order to avoid confusion with spelling