The Use of Walkie Talkie Installations for Emergency Response in Hospitals

The use of effective communication equipment is of crucial importance in any Company Emergency Response (BHV) organisation, and particularly in the dynamic environment of a hospital. In this article we will discuss the role of walkie-talkie installations in a hospital emergency response organization and how they improve communication between different roles, such as the first point of contact, the evacuator, the emergency response team leader, and the emergency response team leader.

Emergency Response and Communication Equipment

Company emergency response is an organizational measure that ensures that, in the event of an incident, the consequences are limited and safety is guaranteed. An essential part of this measure is the communication equipment. Especially in a hospital, where situations can change quickly, the use of reliable communication equipment is essential.

Walkie-talkies are a core part of this communication equipment. They offer direct and clear communication between members of the emergency response organization. In the event of an emergency, the first point of contact can communicate quickly and efficiently with other team members via the walkie-talkie to assess the situation and initiate an appropriate response.

Roles within the Emergency Response Organization

In an emergency response organization, each member fulfills a specific role, depending on their training and skills. The first point of contact is often the person who first responds to an incident. This person is responsible for assessing the situation and relaying information to the rest of the team.

The evacuator is responsible for the safe and orderly evacuation of people from an area. In the event of a fire or other emergency, efficient evacuation is vital. The walkie-talkie enables the evacuator to communicate with the first point of contact and other team members, and to provide updates on the progress of the evacuation.

The emergency response team leader coordinates the activities of the emergency response team and communicates with management and the head of the emergency response team. The team leader must be able to collect and disseminate information quickly and accurately, and the walkie-talkie is an important tool in achieving this.

The Chief Emergency Response Officer is responsible for the policies and procedures of the emergency response organization and works closely with management to ensure that emergency response activities are aligned with the hospital's overall safety objectives.

Walkie-talkie Protocol in the emergency response organization

The correct use of a walkie-talkie is essential for smooth and effective communication within the emergency response organization. There are a number of rules that must be observed to ensure that communication is clear and smooth¹:

• Send only when necessary.
• Listen to see if it's just clear before speaking.
• Wait 2 seconds before speaking after pressing the transmit button.
• Press and hold the transmit button while speaking. Release only after “over” or “out”.
• Messages should be as short as possible.
• Repeat the message you receive. This is to check whether it came across correctly.
• Speak calmly and clearly.
• Wait until the sender has said the word “OVER” before replying.
• Only a member of the command team ends a conversation with the word “OFF”.¹.

To illustrate this in practice, here is a conversation between the HBHV (Head of the Emergency Response Team) and an Emergency Response Officer who arrives at the incident:

1. The emergency response team member is postage 1 and the emergency response officer is postage 2.
2. Postage 2 starts the conversation as follows: “postage 1 here postage 2 over”.
3. Postage 1 replies: “postage 2 here postage 1 over”.
4. Postage 2 continues: “postage 1 here postage 2” (gives the message briefly and clearly) and ends with “over”.
5. Postage 1 continues: “posto 2 here postage 1” (repeats the message) and ends with “over”.
6. Postage 2 confirms the answer: “postage 1 here postage 2 that is correct about”.
7. Porto 1 confirms and closes the conversation with the word “out”​¹.

This protocol guarantees efficient and effective communication between the various members of the emergency response organization. It enables them to quickly and accurately share information and take action in emergency situations. In a hospital context, where conditions often change rapidly, this is vital for ensuring the safety of both patients and staff.

This piece was written using ChatGPT.