Kent Radio Amateurs assist ambulance service

The Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network has published this report on the recent call out of RAYNET groups to provide communications on behalf of South East Coast Ambulance.

Kent groups called out to assist ambulance service

Operators from South Kent, Thanet and Medway RAYNET groups were called in on Thursday evening (2nd October) to provide communications on behalf of South East Coast Ambulance.

SECAMB were undergoing routine power maintenance at their HQ when failure of their UPS and generator occurred. This in turn took out all telephones lines and the analogue radio system.

As stated in the SECAMB emergency plans, Airwave provided 90 Airwave handsets and some 200+ batteries but these took some hours to arrive.

Kent Raynet provided operators at all East Kent and South Kent Ambulance Stations as well as the three A&E Hospitals in those areas.

Routine traffic facilities between HQ and the outstations was provided, reducing the load on the Airwave system which was being used for all priority traffic.

Additional operators travelled from South Sussex to provide assistance overnight, and further help from Essex was "in transit" on Friday morning as the call to stand down was received.

The telephone system and radios were restored by 9am Friday (3rd October), with Airwave continuing to be used as a contingency measure.

Richard Mason 2E0RAM, on behalf of Kent Raynet, has expressed his thanks to everyone who assisted by putting their zones, groups and operators on standby.

News Report from:
http://www.raynet-uk.net/news/
show.asp?n=404&t=816#open

Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network
http://www.raynet-uk.net/