Largest Deployment of Responders at any time

[Jamie Owens]

Hi Guys

Tonight I had a desperate call from one of our responders wife's at 8:20pm stating that she had not heard from him and she was getting worried, his mobile phone was not responding and no-one had seen him since about 3pm this afternoon!

His last known location was the William Harvey Hospital in Ahsford and he was on route to Folkestone!

I had only just taken over control and tried contacting the member through various methods without any success!

I put out an emergency call to our members in the Kent area and 90% of them responded and hit the road, this was approx 40 vehicles going out to search for our member all at once.

Luckily he was found to be safe and sound in Rochester dropping a passenger off!

His mobile phone had died and his car charger was broken.

I think this highlights 2 things;

1, all responders should carry a mobile phone charge and a second cheap PAYG phone that can be used in case of emergenices.
2, the use of tracking and or Twitter can be invaluable for checking on members status as long as they posy regular updates.

[David Sparkes]

The cheapest, and in some ways nastiest, tracking system is Google Latitude. Once switched on at the phone it takes no further action on behalf of the responder, but it does take phone battery power and phone data allowance, so it's best to get a 'data unlimited' agreement if you can, or learn how to monitor your data usage online. This does add to your workload, but if you have a house centred partner it's support they can provide.
Phones don't have to have GPS built in, because in the absence of GPS your position is tracked by mobile phone cell location. This can put you more than 2 kms away from your true location, but if you are moving about this lack of accuracy may not be a problem.

This all counts for nothing if the phone isn't working.
If you are visiting places, use their phone, or use a public phone box, they are still around, and they do work. Or pause at a pub, most will have a payphone facility.

And don't go out again until your phone is operational - you are supposed to be part of the solution, don't become an additional problem!

HTH

[Jamie Owens]

I quite agree with your comments, I did say to the member in question that we was not going to send him out again until he had sorted his phone out!

[BobWessex]

Hi all,

Glad that he was safe and well.

Well worth remembering the concept of "WELFARE CHECKS".

If we haven't heard from a member for an hour (give or take) or (s)he hasn't heard from control a call should be made. After two hours we start taking proactive measures to locate the member.

The only exception is that if we know that a member is "resting" i.e. dozing in an ambulance station or similar -- in those circumstances the member should tell us when he leaves and returns to his 'rest'.

[Jamie Owens]

Hi Bob

That is also our policy but things went so mad over here yesterday that we actually had 3 controllers working from 3 different locations all day and the phones did not stop ringing.

It was only when I took over last night and got the call from his wife that we realised he was the 1 person who had not checked in!

Hence the callout to find him.

[Alan B Wessex]

As a backup, it's worth getting your hands on an energizer xp1000 or similar. Essentially a universal Li-Ion battery that doubles as a remote mobile phone charger. They cost about £20 and come with leads to charge 90% of phones on sale today. Means that even if your vehicle dies or you are away from your vehicle for some reason, you still have a means of charging your phone.

And yes, a backup PAYG on another network is always worth having too if your budget will stretch to it.

[Darmain]

Glad all turned out okay and an excellent team response to the problem. Well done.

I'm sure I speak for the majority of the Wessex team when I say that we feel for all you guys and girls that are working so very hard, where we have had one call out so far.

I doff my hat to you all. Keep safe.

[Jamie Owens]

I would like to thank everyone for their positive and kind comments regarding this issue as I was very wary about posting this in the first place for fear of negative comments.

Thank you guys, it is much appreciated.

[BobWessex]

Hi Bob

That is also our policy but things went so mad over here yesterday that we actually had 3 controllers working from 3 different locations all day and the phones did not stop ringing.

It was only when I took over last night and got the call from his wife that we realised he was the 1 person who had not checked in!

Hence the callout to find him.

Hi Jamie that can happen to the best of us when busy even in the statutory agencies.

It is a salutory reminder of what could have been and hopefully will remind all members that communications go both ways. I would strongly suggest to all members that if they're on a shout they should contact the control if the control hasn't contacted them

[WarrenWE02]

I would echo Bob's comments and add (as I am one of the few who is known to forget when on a shout...), if you get a welfare check request, please do try to respond as soon as possible so you don't forget to do it. If you are driving, then try to pull over at some convenient point, or dictate a message to a passenger if you have one able to do so.

Most importantly, we are rendering assistance to others; please guys and gals, do not become a casualty of the conditions yourself. We, as a national organisation are pretty busy right now, both on the ground and in the various control positions around the bazaars. We really don't want to have to rescue one of our own if we can help it.

Sorry to sound like an old grump, but these weather conditions can and have killed people in the last 48 hours. It doesn't get more serious than that.

[Tony Ferrari]

Warren

Very well said!

[WarrenWE02]

Warren

Very well said!
You're too kind Sir!

[TomHayden]

The cheapest, and in some ways nastiest, tracking system is Google Latitude. Once switched on at the phone it takes no further action on behalf of the responder ......
HTH

Would like to second the Google Latitiude point. It could be a very valuable tool for controllers to see where units are too... With the latest handsets they can do real time GPS fix too...

-Tom

[DaveRoberts]

I have a Woolworths wind up lantern and AM/FM radio. In addition it has a compartment for normal batteries supply, an input for 12V adaptor, an output for charging mobile phones, a nightlight, compass, siren and 'buzzing' mosquito repellent :D

[TimChilde]

Would like to second the Google Latitiude point. It could be a very valuable tool for controllers to see where units are too... With the latest handsets they can do real time GPS fix too...

-Tom

There's also Glympse - similar but with different features, particularly that you can send your location to anyone without them having to sign up and become your friend.

I use both ;)