Claiborne Co.
Hospital "Gets" Amateur Radio
Claiborne Progress
August 30, 2006
Claiborne County Hospital understands the need for
emergency communications in case of a disaster. This is evident by the recent
addition of an Amateur Radio or Ham Radio station at the hospital.
Ham radio operators are called upon in many cases
when normal communications such as cell phones or other two-way radio services
have failed. Ham radio has been called upon in recent disasters such as
Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New
York City. They have assisted authorities with communications when it was
otherwise impossible for them to talk to each other. Ham operators take and pass
a test to have access to frequencies set aside for Amateur Radio by the Federal
Communications Commission. They have in common knowledge of radio and are
trained in emergency communications in many instances.
The hospital, through a grant funded by the Health
Resources and Service administration, recently purchased two amateur radios
consisting of a VHF\UHF unit and a HF (or shortwave) unit. They also placed
antennas on top of the hospital.
Now, if a disaster strikes and there is the need
local Ham Radio operators can be called upon to provide communications and fill
the gap.
Mike Campbell, Safety Director, at the hospital and
Richard Havens, amateur call sign WB4BMI and chaplain at the hospital as well as
Bruce McDowell, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, have been instrumental
in securing the funding, as well as setting up the radio station and securing
the radios.
On a great side note, McDowell recently tested for
and passed his entry level Ham Radio test and is now a Technician with the call
sign of KI4QIS. He is very excited and enthusiastic about radio and learning
more about it. When asked about how he felt about passing the test Bruce beamed
and said "It feels great." Indeed Claiborne County Hospital and especially some
of its employees "get" Amateur Radio.
If anyone is interested in becoming one of the 600
thousand plus Amateur Radio operators in the U.S. they may find more information
at www.arrl.org or attend the Mountain Amateur
Radio Club meetings in Middlesboro, Ky. on the first Tuesday of every month.
Please call (606) 248-3013 for more information on the meetings. If you are a
police scanner listener you may listen to local amateurs on 146.775, 146.835,
and 147.555 megahertz.
