Communication is important to fire services. If a fellow firefighter is trapped or injured, he or she must use a two-way radio to reach fellow firefighters. Firefighters also transmit important information about hot spots, fire location and the location of potential victims on their radios.
Many fire departments have purchased digital two-way radios. Even though analog radios seem to last longer and have fewer problems, departments across the nation are embracing new digital technology. One advantage of digital systems is their ability to transmit text as well as audio.
In March 2007, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) reported that many firefighters were experiencing problems with their digital two-way radios. Since digital technology is still relatively new, these problems are somewhat baffling. The audio appears to be affected when it is close to the self-contained breathing apparatus. The audio is also affected by PASS devices, power tools and other devices. Even common fire noise appears to muffle audio.
According to the IAFC, these problems seem to have no rhyme or reason. All types of digital radios, regardless of the manufacturer, are reporting problems. At this point, the IAFC is not sure if the problem is because of a specific communication standard or is tied to a particular frequency.
The IAFC has formed a committee to address these problems. The group will try to identify the problem and any solutions. They will also meet with manufacturers to ask if they have any clues as to why this problem is occurring.
Departments who are experiencing problems should do several test exercises to make sure their radios are working properly. These tests should be conducted in several areas of the community to see if problems are more prevalent in a certain spot. Any problems should be reported to the IAFC. If the problems with the radios persist, department should consider using another type of radio. Poor communication can result in death if someone becomes trapped and cannot call for help.
For more information on the problem, contact the IAFC at www.iafc.org/digitalproblem.
Article provided by Kim Berly