Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:52:42.699Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Keeping Communications Flowing During Large-scale Disasters: Leveraging Amateur Radio Innovations for Disaster Medicine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2017

Victor H. Cid ,
Andrew R. Mitz  and
Stacey J. Arnesen
Victor H. Cid*
Affiliation:
Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
Andrew R. Mitz
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Stacey J. Arnesen
Affiliation:
Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Victor H. Cid, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 440, Bethesda, MD 20892 (email: [email protected]).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Medical facilities may struggle to maintain effective communications during a major disaster. Natural and man-made disasters threaten connectivity by degrading or crippling Internet, cellular/mobile, and landline telephone services across wide areas. Communications among staff, between facilities, and to resources outside the disaster area may be lost for an extended time. A prototype communications system created by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides basic communication services that ensure essential connectivity in the face of widespread infrastructure loss. It leverages amateur radio to provide resilient email service to local users, enabling them to reach intact communications networks outside the disaster zone. Because amateur radio is inexpensive, always available, and sufficiently independent of terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure, it has often augmented telecommunications capabilities of medical facilities. NLM’s solution is unique in that it provides end-user to end-user direct email communications, without requiring the intervention of a radio operator in the handling of the messages. Medical staff can exchange email among themselves and with others outside the communications blackout zone. The technology is portable, is deployable on short notice, and can be powered in a variety of ways to adapt to the circumstances of each crisis. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:257–264)

Keywords

amateur radiocommunicationsemergency managementmobile command postInternet
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , April 2018 , pp. 257 - 264
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Townsend, AM, Moss, ML. Telecommunications Infrastructure in Disasters. Preparing Cities for Crisis Communications: New York University Centre for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response http://www.nyu.edu/ccpr/pubs/NYU-DisasterCommunications1-Final.pdf. Published April 1, 2005. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
2. US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. 2017-2022 Healthcare Preparedness and Response Capabilities. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/hpp/reports/Documents/2017-2022-healthcare-pr-capablities.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
3. Richards, C. When Communications Infrastructure Fails During a Disaster. DRJ. http://www.drj.com/articles/online-exclusive/when-communications-infrastructure-fails-during-a-disaster.html. Published November 12, 2015. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
4. Tran, NH, Pedler, D. The impact of extensive loss of telecommunications on general practice: A case study in rural Victoria. Aust J Rural Health. 2016 May 25.Google Scholar
5. WS, Hooke, PG, Rogers, eds. Public Health Risks of Disasters: Communication, Infrastructure, and Preparedness. Workshop Summary. National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/login.php?record_id=11201. Published January 25, 2005. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
6. Chaffee, M. Willingness of health care personnel to work in a disaster: an integrative review of the literature. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2009;3(1):42-56.Google Scholar
7. Stergachis, A, Garberson, L, Lien, O, et al. Health care workers’ ability and willingness to report to work during public health emergencies. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011;5(4):300-308.Google Scholar
8. Wohlstetter, J. KATRINA: The Sound of Communications Silence. On Bandwidth: An Online Newsletter of the Discovery Institute, September 2005. http://www.discovery.org/f/540. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
9. Carter, C. :45 Seconds in Joplin. State Magazine. http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/news/email/2011/Joplin.pdf. Published Spring 2011. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
10. McKay, J. Sandy Created a Black Hole of Communication. Emergency Management. http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/Sandy-Black-Hole-of-Communication.html. Published January 28, 2013. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
11. Cid, V, Mitz, A. Optimizing Amateur Radio Resources for Major Disasters. QST. 2011;95(9):30-34. http://www.bethesdahospitalsemergencypartnership.org/documents/BMERS_article.doc. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
12. Conuel, T. Emergency Backup Communications: The Old Meets the New. NLM In Focus. http://infocus.nlm.nih.gov/2013/01/10/emergency_backup_communication/. Published January 10, 2013. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
13. Bethesda Hospitals’ Emergency Preparedness Partnership (BHEPP) website. http://www.bhepp.org/. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
14. Zuetell, M. Amateur radio support for hospitals. NcUsaac JH ed. In: Hospital Preparation for Bioterror: A Medical and Biomedical Systems Approach. Burlington, MA: Academic Press; 2006:2019-2227.Google Scholar
15. Kutzko, J. Backgrounder: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication. ARRL. http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Media%20&%20PR/backgrounders/Backgrounder-EmComm.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
16. Farnham, JW. Disaster and emergency communications prior to computer/Internet: a review. Crit Care. 2005;10:207. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1550843/pdf/cc3944.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
17. Keane, SK. Radio amateurs in Japan keep providing communications support in earthquake’s aftermath. QST. 2011;95(6):77.Google Scholar
18. Keane, SK. Radio amateurs assist American Red Cross, served agencies during Joplin storm. QST. 2011;95(8):66-67.Google Scholar
19. Myers, B. Disaster on Long Island. QST. 2013;97(2):78-79.Google Scholar
20. Nollet, KE, Ohto, H. When all else fails: 21st century Amateur Radio as an emergency communications medium. Transfus Apher Sci. 2013;49(3):422-427.Google Scholar
21. Palm, R. Hurricane Sandy debriefing. QST. 2013;97(2):86-87.Google Scholar
22. Bowman, M, Graham, JH, Gantt, J. Robust and affordable mobile communications for emergency management. Int J Emerg Manage. 2007;4(4):649-669.Google Scholar
23. Nagami, K, Nakajima, I, Juzoji, H, et al. Satellite communications for supporting medical care in the aftermath of disasters. J Telemed Telecare. 2006;12(6):274-275.Google Scholar
24. Petrescu, M, Toth, V. AX.25 amateur packet radio as a possible emergency network. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2000;77:1020-1022.Google Scholar
25. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-07 State Operations Provider Certification. https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/downloads/R46SOMA.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
26. US Army Military Auxiliary Radio System website. http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/. Accessed December 5, 2016.Google Scholar
27. The ARRL website. http://www.arrl.org. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
28. MacDonnell, R. Squeezing more from Winlink 2000. QST. Published June 2006. 28-31.Google Scholar
29. Amateur Radio Safety Foundation website. http://www.winlink.org. Accessed December 5, 2016.Google Scholar
30. ARRL. Articles and Applications Stories. http://winlink.org/content/articles_and_application_stories. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
31. National Institutes of Health Radio Amateur Club website. http://www.nihrac.org. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
32. ARRL. The ARRL Antenna Book. 43th ed. Newington, CT: ARRL; 2016.Google Scholar
33. Rauch, C. Jr. Short dipoles and problems website. https://www.w8ji.com/short_dipoles_and_problems.htm. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
34. The short dipole antenna. Antenna Theory website. http://www.antenna-theory.com/antennas/shortdipole.php. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
35. Current Rules Holding Hams Back from Adopting State-of-the-Art Technology, ARRL says. ARRL website. http://www.arrl.org/news/current-rules-holding-hams-back-from-adopting-state-of-the-art-technology-arrl-says. Accessed April 11, 2016.Google Scholar
36. Taylor, J. Open source WSJT: Status, Capabilities, and Future Evolution. 12th International EME Conference, Wurzburg, August 25-27, 2006. http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/K1JT_eme2006.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
37. Ford, S. Chapter 5 – PACTOR. In: ARRL’s HF Digital Handbook. Newington, CT: The American Radio Relay League, Inc; 2007.Google Scholar
38. Digital Data Modes. ARRL website. http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes. Accessed April 11, 2017.Google Scholar
39. Shannon, CE. A mathematical theory of communication. The Bell System Technical Journal. 1948;27:379-423, 623-656.Google Scholar
40. Nyquist, H. Certain topics in telegraph transmission theory. A.I.E.E. Trans. 1928;47:617.Google Scholar
41. Ford, S. The ARRL Field Day Handbook for Radio Amateurs. Newington, CT: ARRL; 2010.Google Scholar
42. Mid-Atlantic, IP. Network website. http://maipn.org. Accessed February 10, 2017.Google Scholar