A lesson about how to maintain a communications log for the Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue organization, British Columbia, Canada.

1. RADIO LOG PROCEDURES
J. Marshall, 2009

2. Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Intro
Abbreviations
Examples
Practice scenarios
Debrief

3. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Intro
• Reducing operator stress increases efficiency in
busy times
• Effective recording reduces “say again”
• Gives accurate on-going operational info for
managers
• Record for after-action debrief/lessons learned
• Legal record

4. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Abbreviations
• Increase your notation speed
• Use a legend if abbreviating
(MAKE SURE A COPY IS ATTACHED TO THE
LOG SO OTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND)
• Don’t over-use them
• Unique tasks will require special
abbreviations
(MAKE SURE YOU RECORD THEM)

5. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Legend
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SC
SC8
SM
TL
RTL
RT
S
S1 S2
____
GR
R/C
veh
RV
FA
loc
tpt
____
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Sunshine Command
Sunshine 08
Search Manager
Team Leader
Rope Team Leader
Rope Team
Subject (if single subject search)
Subject 1, Subject 2
______________________
grid reference
radio check (✔ = 5/5; or, describe)
vehicle
rendezvous
first aid
location
transport
______________________
P
E
O
P
L
E
T
E
R
M
S

6. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Example 1: Sheet Titles/Radio Checks
LOG
TASK #
RECORD COMMS & MAJOR EVENTS
FOR OP.
PERIOD #
RADIO OP. (OPERATIONS):
FOR PERIOD: ______________
TO:
TASK NAME:
LOG KEEPER:
CALLSIGN:
STATION
TIME
STN.
CALLED
THIS IS
08:00
SC 2
SC
R/C ✔
“
SC 5
SC
R/C loud/broken; SC 5 moving to high ground
“
SC
SC RT
R/C ✔
08:04
SC
SC 5
R/C ✔
Page _____ of ______
SUBJECT
ICS 309

7. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Example 2: Sheet Titles/Sit Rep
LOG
TASK #
RECORD COMMS & MAJOR EVENTS
FOR OP.
PERIOD #
RADIO OP. (OPERATIONS):
FOR PERIOD: ______________
TO:
TASK NAME:
LOG KEEPER:
CALLSIGN:
STATION
TIME
STN.
CALLED
THIS IS
SUBJECT
09:10
SC 2
SC
“
SC
SC 14
09:11
SC 2
SC
Confirmed they have O2
“
SC 14
SC
Passed info re O2
09:21
SC
SC 2
Sit Rep: moving to trailhead; ETA 10 min
Does SC 2 have O2 in their heavy FA?
SC 2 met SC 14 at trailhead; both continuing
together.
Page _____ of ______
ICS 309

8. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Example 3: Instructions to team
TIME
STN.
CALLED
THIS IS
15:42
SC 11
SC
Move to GR123456 to RV with SC RopeTm
“
SC 8
SC
Move “
“
SC
SC RT
15:43
SC 08
SC
“
SC
SC 11
Have SC 8 bring water – SC 11 is low
“
SC 8
SC
Confirm’d SC 8 heard req from Sc 11
15:52
SC
SC 8
Have water and gear and moving to RT site
SC 8
SC
Confirm’d SC 08 had blue and red rope bag
15:55
SC
SC 11
Arr at RT site – assisting with set-up
16:04
SC
SC 08
Arr at RT site – request instructions
Page _____ of ______
SUBJECT
“
“
“
Req more rope – suggest SC 8 bring it.
Rtn to SC to get gear for RT
ICS 309

9. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Example 4: Team asks for info
TIME
STN.
CALLED
THIS IS
SUBJECT
02:32
SC
SC 14
02:33
RCMP
SC
telecon – helicopter avail at first light
“
SC 14
SC
Heli avail at first light
02:34
SC
SC 14
“
RCMP
SC
Is helicopter avail to extract S
out
Req info on heli specs/rig
=
=
Standby,
Standby, out
telecon - info on heli: Talon - AStar 350 B with long
line/net
02:36
SC 14
“
SC
Page _____ of ______
SC
SC 14
Passed specs on heli; told first light approx 05:30
Standing by until first light – tm in good shape
ICS 309

10. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Practice Scenario 1
Practice Scenario 2
Create a scenario similar to the
training day at Frenchman’s Cove.
After a short fall, a hiker is injured
on the rocks near the beach. Unit
12 of RCMSAR will assist. You
must deploy teams to find subject
and his friend who is above subject
and has cell phone comms.
Sunshine Command is located in
the parking lot at the park
trailhead.
A father has a suspected leg
fracture after falling on slippery
rock on a family walk in Cliff Gilker
Park. His wife has called 911, but
is unsure of her location. The
RCMP has requested assistance.
BC Ambulance and RCMP are
standing by at the parking lot with
Sunshine Command.

11. 1. Intro 2. Abbreviations 3. Examples 4. Practice 5. Debrief
Debrief/Review