Broken EMS Radio Frequency Set To Be Restored
 |
LENOX, Mass. — After nearly five years, ambulance companies may finally get their secondary radio frequency back.
The equipment on the 385 frequency, used as the secondary frequency for EMS and reserved for mass casualty events, is expected to be back in service by the end of February. The technology has broken down years ago, leaving the county's ambulance services with only one available frequency to communicate with the hospital.
Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee member Lucy Britton said on Wednesday that the contracts have been awarded to fix the system after EMS of Berkshire County secured some $40,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"That one hasn't been working in central and South County for a number of years," Britton said. "Whatever could go wrong, did go wrong. [But] I'm pretty confident we are close at this point."
Britton said a contractor has been hired and the work is expected to be completed by February.
In other business, Cindy Hahn of the Berkshire County Red Cross chapter said she has begun an effort to bring community organizations together to help in the wake of disasters. The Red Cross is developing a Community Organizations Active in Disasters program eyed to bring an array of agencies - from animal shelters to food banks to private businesses — together to develop a plan to contribute.
"It's still in the planning stages," Hahn said.
Hahn said a lot of agencies and businesses want to help people after a tragedy happens and this planning would make it clear who can do what services — such as donations of material or helping with cleanups. She used an example of a bedding company that would be willing to donate or sell goods at a reduced cost to fill a mass need and this process would allow the Red Cross to know where those organizations are and what they can provide.
The CBREPC has also begun a training exercise in hazardous material. The exercise will be for emergency responders to respond to a scenario in one of the central Berkshire towns.
The committee is also asking responders to review and update their emergency response plans, which will then be added to the central Berkshires plan. That update will contribute to the organization's recertification process. The committee's current certification is set to expire next October.
Tags: CBREPC, emergency preparedness, radio,
