Do the RCMP in Your Area Know What a SPOT is?

[BC Sno-Ghost]

Do the RCMP in your area know what a SPOT device is and do they know what to do should they receive a call from a SPOT dispatcher stating that a 911 signal has been sent out in their region?
I decided to check this out with our local authorities and have yet to speak with their Dispatch/Communications expert as he is on holidays but the officer I spoke with said he had heard of the SPOT but didn't have a clue how it works.
This is a point that was brought up by Trax 2 Treadz on another section of this forum. This is actually pretty important for all SPOT users to follow up on as it could make a huge difference in the efficiency of help being disptached to you in the case you send a 911 signal. What good is sending a distress signal if your supposed rescuers don't know what to do with it?

 

[tmix]

good question????

 

[arff]

Thanks. I have a spot and never thought of that.

I will contact the RCMP,the Fire/Ambulance dispatch for my area and see what they say.

 

[nutma]

Came across a guy in Gorman that figured he broke his back. Had his buddy send the 911 on the spot? I marked it on my GPS and double checked with 911 when we got back to the truck to make sure that they had sent out a chopper to pick him up. They had received the 911 call from the spot and sent a chopper out to get him. But definitely worth asking around about. Ive also heard that the signal dosen't always make it out is this true?

 

[Steve D]

Ive also heard that the signal dosen't always make it out is this true?

That's a good question. I would *never* expect a signal from any kind of hand held device to reach the satellite 100% of the time.

While I don't own one personally, I've been impressed with the ones I've seen thus far and am not knocking the product. That said, there are extenuating circumstances where RF signals would (due to those damnable laws of physics) have trouble. Eg., buried under 10 feet of snow, under a sled's aluminum tunnel, base of a north facing cliff, etc.

My thoughts aren't validated by testing though. I'm still sure, used properly, it'll give you a helluva better chance than nothing!

 

[ferniesnow]

So what we really need to know is whether or not the person answering the telephone call from Texas knows what's going on! Isn't it mostly a dispatcher or civilian staff person answering the phone call?

This is an interesting scenario and very worthwhile checking out.

 

[arff]

So what we really need to know is whether or not the person answering the telephone call from Texas knows what's going on! Isn't it mostly a dispatcher or civilian staff person answering the phone call?

This is an interesting scenario and very worthwhile checking out.

Most dispatchers take a course called EMD

It is a dispatch course using CAD or a card system that follows a flow chart.

 

[Shibby!]

Can we verify which local authorities have been called and responded to?

I purchased a spot 2 this year and mostly ride Fernie/Crowsnest, Golden, Castlegar, and sometimes Revy/Sicamous.

 

[ferniesnow]

Most dispatchers take a course called EMD

It is a dispatch course using CAD or a card system that follows a flow chart.

and what does this doo for that call from Texas? Explain a little more please.

I see two scenarios: during office hours and after office hours. The after office hours affect SPOT users later on in the spring when the days are longer and all our calls in SE BC go to Kelowna (unless that has changed recently). What is their protocol?

 

[glacier mt lodge]

The one thing I do know about the SPOT call in BC, is that the dispatchers have a hard time knowing what to send out. They have no idea if it is an Avalanche or Someone needs airlifting. Because of this it can take longer to rescue. The RCMP in Clearwater say it is very difficult for PEP to know what to call out, because of this as there is no real communication on the SPOT only help????

 

[arff]

and what does this doo for that call from Texas? Explain a little more please.

I see two scenarios: during office hours and after office hours. The after office hours affect SPOT users later on in the spring when the days are longer and all our calls in SE BC go to Kelowna (unless that has changed recently). What is their protocol?

I talked to the RCMP this morning. He explained they get a call from the spot dispatcher that contains the Lat. and Long. GPS location. From this the send out the nearest detachment. This is what he has been told.

 

[ferniesnow]

I talked to the RCMP this morning. He explained they get a call from the spot dispatcher that contains the Lat. and Long. GPS location. From this the send out the nearest detachment. This is what he has been told.

Thanks for the update. I assume they use Google for locating the lat. and long?

 

[arff]

Thanks for the update. I assume they use Google for locating the lat. and long?

Nope they use Tim Horton's..


I e mailed Fire/EMS dispatch the question about SPOT as well.

 

[farwest]

Nope they use Tim Horton's..


I e mailed Fire/EMS dispatch the question about SPOT as well.

Sounds like we are near the same RCMP detatchment

 

[teeroy]

Can we verify which local authorities have been called and responded to?

I purchased a spot 2 this year and mostly ride Fernie/Crowsnest, Golden, Castlegar, and sometimes Revy/Sicamous.

Valemount RCMP know what it's about....

 

[buck50]

i have a good friend who is RCMP in invermere/radium. he says they know what it's about in that area. so he is on my list of peeps that would get a message along with the 911 call. all my friends and family know that if they get the 911 from one of the spots in our group, it's friggin SERIOUS and we need help ASAP, and that they are to call 911 and relay our coordinates as well

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

So what we really need to know is whether or not the person answering the telephone call from Texas knows what's going on! Isn't it mostly a dispatcher or civilian staff person answering the phone call?

This is an interesting scenario and very worthwhile checking out.

My understanding is the person in Texas who receives the 911 signal is the actual SPOT dispatcher, they only deal with SPOT signals...they are not a 911 dispatcher. They know to contact the nearest detachment to the area the signal was sent from and give them the latitude and longitude of the SOS signal. From that point on it's up to that detachment to know what steps to take. Contact SAR or send a chopper if they have one. Chopper of course would be preferred but at least if SAR is responding you at least know help is on the way. I think we have to take steps to make sure our authorities know this is a "life in danger" ...SOS signal. I'm sure they want to the rescue to be as much of a success as the rescuee does.

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

The one thing I do know about the SPOT call in BC, is that the dispatchers have a hard time knowing what to send out. They have no idea if it is an Avalanche or Someone needs airlifting. Because of this it can take longer to rescue. The RCMP in Clearwater say it is very difficult for PEP to know what to call out, because of this as there is no real communication on the SPOT only help????

Again, we have to educate the local authorities that regardless of what the situation may be, the signal is a call for help in a life or death situation. Whether it be an avalanche or a crash, result is someone needs help now. If a life is in danger it shouldn't matter how or why.

 

[snowdrifter]

I can see, how only the coordinates would be probelmatic. For a avalanche you would take all the avalanche equipment, dogs and so on but for somebody in a ravine or off a cliff, you may need al the rigging to build a winch, climbing gear and such, or you need the special stretcher and so on iv you suspect a broken back. Hauling it all on sleds for every situation may take way longer.

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

I can see, how only the coordinates would be probelmatic. For a avalanche you would take all the avalanche equipment, dogs and so on but for somebody in a ravine or off a cliff, you may need al the rigging to build a winch, climbing gear and such, or you need the special stretcher and so on iv you suspect a broken back. Hauling it all on sleds for every situation may take way longer.

Good point, but if we beat it into the authorities that this is an actual distress signal. We should try to encourage them to respond with a chopper and medical personnel initially. Once they establish the nature of the situation support personnel are called for accordingly. As far as responding for an avy, no matter how quickly they respond, we have to prepared for "Self Rescue". Even if they arrive within 30 minutes, which is pretty much impossible, if we haven't dug out the victim ourselves, it's likely no longer a rescue but a recovery. They just show up with a heli to transport to transport the injured.
Every situation is going to be different. I guess what I was initially getting at with this thread was that we confirm with our local authorities that they have some sort of plan of action should the SPOT emergency dispatch center contact them.