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A crucial aspect of the drill was practicing communication support under
degraded conditions. This meant a scenario in which traditional communication
methods, such as phones and the internet, might be compromised. While the
objective was clear, the 
unexpected noise presented a unique challenge. It was so intense that we
couldn't communicate with our teammates at the same table, let alone transmit
an intelligible voice message. Despite the chaos, our team adapted to the
situation.

As a new participant, I was assigned to work with two experienced hams: Bill
Sefton, N6OWF, and Charlie Zigelman, AC6CZ. Charlie had participated in
previous drills. This was Bill's third hospital drill. He had provided
communications support for eight 
endurance running events in the San Diego County mountains and deserts. Our
team's operation built on this experience from prior drills and realâ-�world
events. Besides the rigorous voice setâ-�up, Charlie could rely on Winlink, a
digital mode that 
enables communication via email. Having multiple modes available ensured
reliable delivery.

As the drill progressed, the jackhammering continued, a constant reminder of
the realâ-�world challenges that could impact emergency response efforts.
Joining the hospital staff in the board room where they worked through the
drill, we were relieved to 
find that they were wrapping up. We had successfully navigated the noisy
environment and maintained essential communication.

"The volunteerism of San Diego ARES members was overwhelming," reported
Assistant Section Manager Rob Freeburn, K6RJF. "Sixty ARES members carved time
out of their busy schedules to support twenty medical facilities during an
exercise on a Thursday 
morning, a workday for many." Freeburn also said "we are also appreciative of
the voice repeater owners and Winlink gateway system operators who keep their
equipment in tipâ-�top operating condition 24/7/365."

While the day had been filled with unexpected challenges, it had also been a
valuable learning experience. For one, while we couldn't control the
construction noise, we could have mitigated its impact and improved our
ability to communicate by using 
noiseâ-�cancelling headphones. We are now better prepared to handle future
emergencies, no matter how noisy they might be.

Hardcore Amateur Radio Medical Communications at the Medtronic Twin Cities
Marathon

By Erik Westgard, NY9D, Medical Communications Lead, Medtronic Twin Cities
Marathon

Hams are very involved in the communications aspects of many marathon races in
the US. The exact role varies slightly with each race organizer. At our event,
we are part of the 300-person volunteer medical team, which manages medical
communications for 
the event itself. One of our Unified Command members from the Fire Department
said at the Hot Wash, "If you read after-action reports, a lot of problems at
large incidents are communications related" â-" a hint that this area needs
continued focus and 
attention.

Our medical department (a runner-facing strike team under Operations in NIMS
lingo) is stationed in the medical tent, at aid stations, finish line area and
out on the course. They are trained to perform triage, and to deliver as much
care as they feel 
qualified and equipped for. So, in EMS and CERT lingo, a primary focus for us
is on "green" or easier cases. More serious casesâ-""yellow" or "red" â-"are
referred out without delay (call 911) to our government-run EMS partners. The
idea isâ-"skinned 
knee or a blister, or a bit of overheating-we manage as directed by qualified
providers. This reduces the load and stress on the limited regional supplies
of hospital (ER) beds and EMS rigs.

In a serious, life-threatening situation such as a suspected heart attack, 911
is called instantly, and we track the progress (usually location and correct
race bib #) of dispatches with our partners. A joint response is often called
for--a police 
officer or volunteer bike medic might be first on scene, performs CPR, and
then the EMS rig rolls up and takes over. In some situations, 911 is called, a
rig is sent, but our medic says the person is up and chatting and the 911 call
can be cancelled. Two 
or three calls to the same point can be tricky--is it one or are there three
runners down? Ham reports that are live and time stamped with bib numbers help
resolve (deconflict) them.

One of the most important users of our reports database is the Family
Information Tent, where anxious families can learn where their loved one is
and their condition. Hams provide the where; the health providers privately
share the condition details. 
Years ago we built a Linux web database that lives in the cloud these days and
takes live reports from net controls, aid stations, the medical tent and other
locations. The idea is a ham with minimal training and a $20 handheld radio
can report a down 
runner or one getting on a SAG bus and we have that in front of the Medical
Director or EMS leadership or the family tent in near real time, and at scale.

We will often see 300 medical cases in a few hours. There is almost no
tactical role for traditional paper forms or email attachments at our race.
Live dashboards and query-able databases are expected. This year we again had
live plots of medical tent, 
and aid station capacity. We, and our EMS partners, do not transmit private
medical data on voice radios, ever. The location of a runner bib # is not (I
feel) protected in this context, and we work off that. So Bib #1122 needs
attention at mile 11, this 
intersection. HIPAA calls this a "facility directory"â-"location only, no
details.

Years ago, the Incident Commander, a local fire chief, was positioned directly
outside the medical tent, where six hams ran the show. Now there is an entire
floor of a building, in three sections. One is the Race Operations Center,
where logistics and 
sponsors and other details are managed on 350 rented 12-channel UHF business
radios. The EMS desk in the center of the room is staffed by hams and EMS/fire
leadership. On the far side is the Multiagency Center, with public safety and
emergency management.

For 2024, my main goal was to refine the EMS/medical/ham connection and make
it more seamless. In 2022, we had too many resources up in the race operations
building and a shortage down in the medical command in the tent across the
grounds where the 
Medical Director and actual EMS Chief resided. This we fixed. Our interaction
with EMS was in person and via our systems which also had live chat. EMS
leadership carried our rented event radios this year and were on our ham run,
business band nets. 
Organizing communications is one of our key value-adds.

We had amazing race day weather for a change. Only a small number (about 200)
of the 15,000 race starters dropped out or needed care. The event leadership
has been wanting better SAG bus visibility/staffing--we don't have spare hams,
so this is referred 
to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They stepped up and started the process of
that information gathering and reporting to our database. The event and EMS
staffs are always very happy with volunteer ham/EMS medic carts and the lovely
ham command truck 
provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff.

Lessons Learned

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