Public Safety Professionals rely heavily on two-way radios for stay connected to one another during emergencies. Firefighters, police, EMT, and others have a duty to protect their community in the most effective way possible.
During emergencies like isolated incidents, fire, hurricanes, tornados, snowstorms, earthquakes, and more, two-way radios are depended upon when cell phone communication is not available.
Stay Connected
Earthquakes, storms, hurricanes, any natural disasters, can destroy powerlines and cell towers, leaving the public without communication for several days or weeks.
Two-way radios do not rely on cell towers or power to operate, which is why it’s the main resource of communication for law enforcement and fire departments.
If such an event should occur, two-way radios will stay powered keeping a clear line of communication open. This lets public safety professionals tend to the aftermath, help with aid, and help their communities.
Tracking
Many two-way radios today have location tracking through GPS. Natural disasters can leave many public safety unaccounted for. With location tracking, you can take the guessing out of knowing where your team is and know their exact location.
Durable
Two-way radios are more durable than a cell phone which can break easily and are not great with water protection.
Radios have IP ratings which protect it against weather, dust, and water. Floods can bring in many feet of water. If your radio does get submerged in water, it most likely won’t break. Depending on your radio, it can withstand a few feet of water for about 30 minutes before damage will occur.
Aside from floods, radios can withstand wear and tear and are designed knowing the conditions its user will face.
Accessories and Their Roles
Accessories help enhance communication and improve the functionality of the radio. There are many accessories that are necessary to help public safety stay connected during emergencies.
Non-Rechargeable Batteries
No electricity means no way to charge your radio battery if its dying. During emergencies, it’s important to keep extra batteries or use non-rechargeable batteries, so you can quickly swap out when needed.
Non-rechargeable batteries have a shelf life of up to 10 years, meaning that the battery will be good for up to 10 years if not used. These are great to have in your emergency prepare plan. These batteries have higher capacities making them run longer. But just like the name says, these batteries can not be recharged. Once they’re out of “juice”, they can’t be used again.
In-Vehicle Chargers
If in the case your radio does need recharging and you have access to a running vehicle, you can use an in-vehicle chargers. These require power from your vehicle and plug into the cigarette lighter. This will get your battery recharged and ready to use again.
In the event you don’t have access to a running vehicle, this is why having extra, and non-rechargeable batteries are important.
Antennas
Antennas can substantially improve your connections and reduce the amount of dropped signals that occur. Antennas help improve your range and how far you can communicate. Wider band antennas let you go further away and still keep you connected to the conversation.
Holsters
Losing or damaging your radio is the last thing you want to happen during an emergency. It’s your lifeline and without it, you’re left without communication. Holsters help protect your radio from accidental drops or scratches and keep your radio snug to your side and avoid it being lost.
Using a two-way radio during emergencies helps public safety professionals stay connected when it matters most. With the help of accessories, you can protect your radio and keep it powered all day long. During the next natural disaster or emergency, is your team prepared?
Let us help you improve your team’s communication. Waveband Communications is a two-way radio accessories manufacture for the largest names in radios including Motorola, Kenwood, BK Technologies, Icom, L3Harris, and more. Give us a call at 800-806-1076, email sales@wvbandcoms.com, or via live chat.
