Communications Interoperability (CI)

Strategic Function: To ensure real-time communication across all disciplines (voice, data, video) among first responders and health care facilities in times of medical surge and disruption of normal means of communication.

Why: First responders must have timely communications with each other to response effectiveness and public safety.

Who: Local Emergency Managers, First Responders including firefighters, police, EMS agencies, 911 call center staff and local health care facilities.

When: Each community will decide through ongoing assessment, plan development and exercises, the trigger or threshold for the activation of the CI.  

Where: In planning, Communication Interoperability must be part of each responder’s operations plan.  In response, CI must be maintained by all first responders.

How: Planning for communications interoperability is based on an assessment of the existing communications infrastructure between first responders and health care facilities. Planning assumptions for CI include:

• There are already established UHF and VHF frequencies used under
  normal circumstances by Dispatch, EMS, Law Enforcement and Health
  Care Facilities.
  
• Primary communication systems, such as land-lines and cell phones will become
  overloaded very quickly and alternate means of communications are essential
  for continued operation.
  
• Back up or redundancy in communication plans should include Very High Frequency(VHF) and Ultra High Frequency(UHF) in both the government band
  and the Amateur Radio band.  These frequencies will be compatible with the
  New Mexico Public Safety Communication Plan.
  
• Trained communication operators are a vital component for Communication Interoperability.
  There should be a minimum of three operators trained ready to work and a dedicated location for each peri-operational period.
  
• Personnel will be trained and equipped as communicators for every response location. These individuals should be trained and able to communicate by any means necessary.
  

• What frequencies - both VHF, UHF (800MHz) do your First Responders communicate on?  Is there the ability for EMS, Law Enforcement, Fire, and hospital to communicate with each other, easily, within these frequencies?*
• Does your communication system have back-up systems (redundancy) in place in the event of a land-line, cell-phone overload?  Note: Redundancy refers to back up 2-way radio system.
• Is there a network of amateur ham operators readily available to assume essential communication between above entities if there is a mass failure in the traditional means of communication?  If so, what are the triggers in your community that would mobilize these resources?
• Does your communication plan include communication with NM DOH, DOH access, EMS communications (UHF Med Radio System)?
• How will you train and exercise the communication operators – both paid and volunteer?
  

 

A sample tool to identify current means of communication:

 

 

 

 

 

Agency	Frequency	Ability to Inter-communicate	Compatible with New Mexico Public Service Plan (NMPSP)	Cell Phone
Dispatch
Law Enforcement
EMS
Fire
Hospital
Amateur Radio Operator

Summary
NM MEMS communication and information management related needs will be addressed through the NIMS communication and information management system established by the State of New Mexico.

Process To Assure Redundant Communication
Identify how communication will occur among the hospital (if there is one), primary care centers, local emergency operations center and patient transportation personnel.
(available links will be added here)

Identification of Local Communicators
Develop the list of individuals who are trained and able to communicate via radios and any other means.
(available links will be added here)

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