Plain talk for palmetto 800

[IPD845]

Starting Aug. 1st Lexington County Fire, EMS, and SO will no longer ten codes or signals. Several other agencies on homeland security grants for equipment will have to do the same. This seems to effecting every one on the palmetto 800. I know of two other agencies that will be changing to plain talk Irmo PD and Columbia PD.

 

[jpm]

Her in Illinois we have been practicing the plain talk on our communications. Moreso on my fire department radios.

 

[jeffmulter]

A post on the Palmetto 800 list on Yahoogroups on Tuesday provided URLs for updated information about the system from the S.C. Budget and Control Board.

One of the stipulations for agencies using the mutual aid talkgroups on the Palmetto 800 system is stated in the BCB information as follows:

" Plain ENGLISH will be used at all times on all Mutual Aid Channels. The use of unfamiliar terms, codes or signals is not allowed. "

Since readers on this forum might benefit from the wealth of information on the BCB, and the URLs, here's the post from "eding 10:"


" Check it out:
http://www.cio.sc.gov/cioContent.asp?pageID=756&menuID=411

" The updates include new coverage maps for Palmetto 800 voice, Palmetto 800 mobile data coverage, and SCTAC/ITAC repeaters. The web site also says that Motorola will add 5 new cells by October 2005. There are also interesting statistics showing users of the system.

" I found this page of particular interest:
http://www.cio.sc.gov/cioContent.asp?pageID=780

 

[Grog]

You're right Jeff, that link has lots of new info. It's also on the RR [age for the Palmetto 800 system. I'm about ha;fway through it

 

[Caesar]

This is interesting, i work ing columbia 911/dispatch (CFD,CPD,RCEMS,RCSD), and have not heard anything yet, will have to check more into when i get back to work...

 

[gpsblake]

I just got back from a meeting at the Batesburg-Leesville rescue squad and it was mentioned that on Aug 1st, Plain English was to begin on all Lex Co transmissions. Will probably make for interesting listening on the scanner on that day to see how many slip up and refer to signals and codes.

Cheers

 

[gpsblake]

Update: Lexington County will go to Plain English on Aug 1st. However, there will be a uniform set of confidentiality codes to be used to maintain some degree of confidentiality and provide unit safety. Sheriff, EMS, Fire will use these codes on the Palmetto 800.

Signal 1 - Danger, use caution
Signal 2 - Clear to copy (visitors/victims/suspects are present)
Signal 3 - Records indicate suspended license or plate.
Signal 4 - Records indicate item is stolen
Signal 5 - Records indicate subject is wanted
Signal 6 - Homicide/Murder
Signal 7 - Bomb threat
Signal 8 - Arson / Suspecious Fire
Signal 9 - Deceased Subject / Notify Coroner
Signal 10 - Drug related
Signal 11 - Rape / Sexual Assault
Signal 12 - Behavioral Emgergency
Signal 13 - Alcohol Impairment

This comes directly from the county: Lexington County Public Safety Radio Communications Common Terminology / Clear Text Usage - which is about 30 pages long. We just got our copy.

 

[jbstahr]

Nims

Something I came across on the SLED website.

http://www.sled.state.sc.us/CISystem/Images//Grants/NIMSCompLtr.DOC

 

[gpsblake]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3752049 - WIS has an article about this.

 

[firefighter2186]

Everyone is going to eventually have to go to plain text to comply with NIMS. I just recently went through the mandatory IS-700 NIMS class and that was a big part of it. Basically meaning, I can talk my lingo (10 codes, signals, etc...) as long as I'm communicating within my group...if there is another agency involved that I have to communicate with then it has to be plain text no matter what the communication might be. This has been mandatory on HAZ-MAT scenes for a while due to the numerous agencies involved.

I'm guessing to keep people from slipping up agencies are going to plain text all the time.....which in my opinion is a good idea