Public Service should be part of your agenda!

Over the past few months, several Articles have appeared on eHam that dealt with the subject of ARS involvement in emergency situations. I was surprised by the magnitude of the negative response to these articles. A few selected quotes follow:

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“Maybe its time for hams to admit they are not needed. This isn't 1925. Hams for the most part have been totally passed by with professional and permanent other resources.”

“Let me see ... The First Responders have been issued 1. cellphones 2. SAT cellphones 3. VoIP systems 4. Internet access and 5. UHF/VHF Tactical radios oh but wait -- you want them to find a use for HF ... LOL “

“What has started to get onto my nerves ……… is the fact that ham radio enthusiasts are simply forgetting that this is a hobby and not a needed civil program. “

“It's a hobby - where we loose our credibility is when we tell people that we are vital to the safeguard of the country!! … the cell phone is vital - the VHF/UHF govt comms are vital - the land line is vital ---- ham radios aren't - any longer…. Sorry “

“Who cares...I don't. Yawn.”

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Personally, I find this sort of attitude embarrassing. The very first principle put forth in Part 97 reads as follows:

“Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.”

Now, I don't intend to get into a legalistic debate over whether or not Public Service is required of the ARS. I will only point out that it is, at the very least, one of the ARS's long-standing traditions. There are certainly plenty of you ready to argue that other aspects of the ARS should be maintained because they are “Traditional”; why should this admirable tradition go by the wayside, simply because some of the equipment and procedures are now obsolete?

More to the point, how do we justify the continuance of those privileges we enjoy as a group? In a “Frequency Hungry” world, how do we convince the FCC that it is in their best interests to let us keep those frequencies that we have come to regard as ours? The phrase; “Hey! It's just a fun hobby!” won't carry much weight when you have Industry ready to pay serious cash for bandwidth!

Finally, what happened to the moral side of the question? The simple desire to “Do the Right Thing”? Rather than saying “We're Obsolete!” and shrugging off the whole issue, shouldn't we be looking for other ways to serve? I begin to wonder if some in the ARS are using “perceived obsolescence” as an excuse for not making an effort. After all, going out of your way to help someone can be really inconvenient.

The “Nay-Sayers” are absolutely correct on one point: Our Professional Emergency Management People have superb communications gear at their disposal. It lets them communicate with each other, and with their support networks in ways that would have seemed like science fiction only twenty years ago.

But face reality! There's one thing all this high tech commo gear can't do: It can't locate the victims of a disaster as the event is unfolding. This critical bit of data still comes in the form of reports from the general public, and it still has to trickle in from the field in the good old-fashioned ways!

This is where “communication” is the essential commodity. This is where the plain, old, everyday “Joe Ham” can make a difference, even in the 21^st century!

Please don't think that I'm suggesting huge programs in which “Super Hams” pull together previously un-imagined technological wonders “to save the World”; far from it. I'm talking about a few really simple things that every active ARS licensee can and should do, so that if a problem occurs, they are in a position to make a positive contribution.

My proposal is very simple: All it calls for is a little bit of preparedness!

You need to have four things in your vehicle:

With these four items, and your knowledge and experience as a Ham, you are now an “asset”, instead of a mute spectator! You have the tools needed to call for help, and your GPS information lets you tell the Professionals where they are needed, with the precision they need.

I am IN NO WAY suggesting that Hams drive blindly into disaster areas, looking for opportunities to be heroes. The most likely outcome of that tactic would be the Ham becoming another victim in need of rescue. Our Professional Emergency Management People will already have their hands full--they don't need additional work!

All I am advocating is that you all be prepared, and willing to help. So that if, while pursuing your normal, everyday life, you find yourself somewhere where help is needed, you can actually do something! Please understand that the situation you find yourself responding to may have nothing to do with a Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake or Flood. It might be something as mundane as coming upon an automobile accident on a lonely stretch of road. Your help will still be important to the people involved.

No one is asking you to do CPR, or give first aid. (Although it would be great if more learned these skills!) You aren't being asked to fight fires, dig through debris, or “core punch” severe storms. All you have to do is “call it in”.

So, how about it? Is this really too much to ask? Are you really too busy to take a few preparatory steps that might, someday, allow you to help save a life? Can you do a few simple things, and adopt a positive mental attitude that will make you a real asset to your community; or will you choose to join those who use words like “obsolete” and “irrelevant” as excuses for doing nothing at all?

Kent Carroll

KB9YZL