Hi Bob and the group.  I just read through this all, and I am impressed.
I passed it a long to someone who is really involved with RACES in the
Detroit Area, particularly Macomb County.  Does anyone know where  can
look up just some refresher materials on line? I took some RACES courses a
few years ago, but never really got the chance to do anything major,
except check into the severe weather nets in the summer.





On Wed, 14 Dec 2005, Bob Tinney wrote:

> Hi,
> FYI
> 73
> Bob, [log in to unmask], K8LR
> Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Art Snapper
> To: ham radio
> Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 1:15 PM
> Subject: [kalamazoohamradio] Races info
>
>
> We will be discussing this at tonights meeting...Art Snapper NK8X
>
>
>
>
>
> "Break Tags" for emergency communications
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>     Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004
>
>     Hello Everyone,
>
>     On June 28th after one of our events, the Seaway Run, we (The Muskegon
> County Amateur Radio Emergency Service) came up with a solution for a
> problem that has plagued us for years. When communications get heavy,
> someone on the air may have a short solution to a problem that is taking up
> too much valuable air time and can't get into the net to share their
> solution. We came up with some neat little tools to address that issue. They
> are called Break Tags. When we are operating under a controlled net, we are
> trained not to break in unless there is an emergency. The only exception to
> that rule is to just throw out our call sign which usually gets us put on
> hold, sitting there in frustration with the answer to a question that is
> resulting in unnecessary chatter.
>
>     There are currently seven one word Break Tags. They are: answer,
> question, info, priority, medical, emergency and your call sign. Most of
> these tags were used with great success for the first time at the 2004
> Muskegon Air Fair.
>
>     Here is how they are used. Instead of saying 'break' in between
> transmissions during a directed net you use the a word Break Tag without
> your call sign. They are to be used only when your traffic will be
> appreciated by net control and results in more efficient communications.
> They are to be used wisely, as net control is directed to stop and turn over
> the net to the breaker. The message that follows a break should be as short
> as possible. Here are their intended uses:
>
>     Answer: To be used when you have the answer to a question currently
> being discussed on the air.
>
>     Question: To be used when the answer of a question can't wait, for
> instance when the Mayor is standing next to you and requested you to get
> some info using your radio.
>
>     Info: To be used when information needs to be transmitted rapidly but is
> not related to what is being said on the air. For instance if something that
> net control needs to know about is going to happen in the next few seconds
> or if waiting for the end of an exchange will negate the value of the
> information.
>
>     Priority: To be used to report an important but non-life threatening
> situation such as a fender-bender that just happened.
>
>     Medical: To be used to report a minor medical incident that affects the
> operator in some way, like having to leave their post for a few minutes to
> walk someone with a minor cut over to a med tent.
>
>     Emergency: Only to be used to report an ongoing life or property
> threatening or damaging incident.
>
>     Your Call Sign: An indication that you have traffic that can wait and
> does not require the stoppage of the ongoing exchange. This tag is an
> expectation to be put on hold and in queue for your transmission.
>
>     This method takes very little training. It's use is contagious and comes
> very naturally. I hope that everyone adopts it. I would like to hear if
>     other groups try it and how it works. It will be a part of our
> communications from here on in.
>
>     73,
>
>     Mark Derby, KB8UFF
>
>     Mark A. Derby, Amateur Radio Call Sign KB8UFF
>     Event Coordinator, MCARES
>     Electrician, CCST, G3 Electric
>     E-mail [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> www.kalamazoohamradio.com
>
>
>
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