Public safety professionals, such as police, firefighters, and EMTs, rely on two-way radio to communicate in emergencies. Compared to mobile phones, radios offer instant push-to-talk communication and other advanced features that can be useful in an emergency.
Some two-way radios can add a man-down alarm that will enable other radio users to hear an audible alert when someone goes horizontal for a predetermined amount of time. This feature reduces response times in emergencies.
Emergency Alerts
Many businesses and organizations have emergency procedures for ‘what to do in an emergency’ situations – committees are formed, muster stations are chosen, and staff are trained to use radio communication to communicate quickly. Two-way radios are key to those processes and can be used even in remote locations with dead zones where cellular signal isn’t available.
Cellular networks aren’t designed to handle the kind of traffic that accompanies natural disasters, school shootings, and other incidents that require immediate response. Cellular systems become overburdened in these circumstances, and callouts are often dropped or delayed. Two-way radios are designed to operate on private networks or dedicated frequencies and allow teams to communicate instantly with one another regardless of location.
Radios are also more durable than mobile phones and can withstand harsh conditions such as rain, snow, or even being dropped in water. Additionally, radios are built to work inside and outside buildings so you can continue working without losing a connection. Many two-way radios also feature location tracking through GPS, making it easier for public safety professionals to locate members of their team in the event of a natural disaster.
Most radios have a ‘Man Down’ or ‘Trouble’ button that can be activated by pressing the programmable emergency key. This allows users to contact a dispatcher who can check their condition and send assistance if necessary. The radio can also notify the user’s manager or supervisor that they have pressed the Man Down or Trouble buttons so they can be located and sent help. This dramatically reduces response times and contributes to a safer environment for employees.
Interoperability
When working in the field, being able to talk with your team members instantly is key for safety. Two-way radios offer more functionality than a cell phone in emergency situations. They can be used to communicate with everyone on the team or a smaller group of people. Two-way radios are also built with durability in mind and can withstand harsh environments like dirt, moisture, and dust.
Public safety professionals the world over rely on two-way radios to stay connected in emergencies. Communication via landlines or cell phones may be cut off when the power goes out due to a storm, earthquake, or hurricane. A well-planned radio system will use licensed radio frequencies and will continue to work when other methods of communication fail.
A centralized two-way radio system can help a business remain operational during a pandemic or in any other disaster. Two-way radios provide a seamless connection between different departments and locations to ensure that operations are running smoothly and without interruption. Whether it is the fire department, police, sheriff’s office, or medical or hazmat personnel, interoperability will enable you to communicate in a coordinated manner with all the necessary parties for a safe and efficient response.
Some modern two-way radios feature GROUP CALL and INDIVIDUAL CALL calling options, which allow the user to call specific individuals on their team or in another department. This will allow the person to talk to their supervisor or a certain security staff or maintenance crew member. If you’re unsure what to say, try repeating any significant details to your contacts so they know you heard them correctly. Also, remember to be brief in your transmissions, as it’s important not to tie up the channel while you’re thinking about what to say next.
Range
Public safety professionals like police, fire, and EMTs rely on two-way radios to stay connected in an emergency. These communication tools are used to share important information quickly, especially when a power line could be cut or bad weather hinders cell phone signals. They’re also essential during disasters and civil emergencies that affect communities, like floods and earthquakes. Fortunately, these types of emergencies rarely happen, but when they do, it’s critical to have a reliable line of communication in place.
With Two-way radios, users can communicate much wider distances than with cellular phones. This is because these devices use dedicated frequencies and private networks, allowing users to speak to one another even when there’s no cellular signal. Many of these systems are designed to work in challenging environments and harsh conditions, making them a perfect choice for remote areas or in the event of a natural disaster.
Depending on the type and power of the radio, users can expect to have a range of up to two miles when communicating with other two-way radios. For the most part, however, this range is usually less than half that distance, which is still more than enough to handle most emergency situations.
Many professional-grade two-way radios have a programmable “emergency alert” button that can send an audible alert over the radio network, letting everyone know there’s an urgent situation. This is great if someone is hurt at work, for example, and the staff need to find them as soon as possible. The push of a button can immediately notify others, and the alert will continue to go out until the radio user who activated it disables it.
Durability
In an emergency situation, you don’t want to waste time worrying about how to protect your equipment. You need to focus on getting the information to your team members quickly. With this in mind, many teams choose to utilize two-way radios over mobile phones in a crisis because they’re more rugged and durable than cell phones. Most of the time, cell phone screens get scratched or broken when they’re dropped, and if you drop them in water, they’ll sink to the bottom and be destroyed completely. In comparison, most radios can withstand these kinds of conditions without any issues.
In addition, some two-way radios are designed to be dust, rain, and waterjet proof – which makes them an ideal option for hazardous environments where cell phone signals might not penetrate through the debris. Some even have explosion-proof designs, making them a great choice for companies that work with volatile materials.
It’s also important to note that a lot of the higher-grade two-way radios today offer features like an emergency alert button, which can be pressed to send out an audible alarm on a predetermined radio channel letting your team know that someone is injured or missing. This could be a huge benefit in an emergency scenario if one of your team members is stranded at a remote site and needs to be rescued. Then, you can simply send out an alert to your team, and they can locate the person quickly.
Battery Life
In emergencies, two-way radio battery life is critical. Without it, you can’t communicate with your team and other responders, putting everyone at risk. That’s why it is important to know the limitations of your radio’s battery and how to maximize its lifespan.
Two-way radio batteries work on a line-of-sight basis, meaning they can only transmit as far as you have a direct view of the receiver. However, a well-positioned repeater or telescoping antenna can increase the range of your radio.
One of the biggest advantages a two-way radio has over a cell phone is that it doesn’t drain battery life quickly. Cell phones will often require re-charging after a few calls or text messages, but two-way radios have longer battery lives and can be used continuously during an emergency.
Many two-way radios have a lone-worker feature that allows users to press a button to alert other radios that they are in a potentially unsafe or isolated area. When paired with an Intrinsically Safe transmitter, this can help keep workers safer in hazardous environments where even the slightest spark could cause an explosion.
It is also important to avoid overcharging your two-way radio batteries. This can result in a condition known as “memory effect.” If your battery suffers from memory effect, it will only hold a charge up to a certain point and will not recharge back to full capacity. To prevent this, you should use a battery conditioning charger that will reset your batteries and remove the memory effect.
Storing your two-way radios in a cool, dry environment is also helpful. This will minimize the effects of extreme temperatures, which can reduce battery life. You should also be sure that your storage area is free of any flammable materials, as this can cause damage to the batteries.
