Communication

Dispatch. The Dispatcher is the communication hub on the mountain (e.g., medical incidents, safety issues, lost persons, lift down/lift evacuation, wind holds, cat movement, and guest requests for assistance with lost items and courtesy rides). The Dispatch position is assigned to a pro patroller, however volunteers are encouraged to learn the position to better understand mountain operations and become better patrollers. Dispatch uses phones, radios, and computer interfaces to communicate and coordinate on and off the mountain. Dispatch keeps a record and documents events throughout the day in the Dispatch binder. The following describes some of the daily duties of Dispatch and the equipment patrollers use to communicate.

Dispatch Radios and Phones

Turn on the main Dispatch radio, top and bottom.
Turn on the CMA Red Lodge and Rural Repeater radios and place them on the desk
Undock the red Dispatch cell phone from the charger and place it on the desk
Verify the Dispatch Cell Phone is on and charged

Dispatch Computer

CTRL+ALT+DEL to login from locked screen with password RLMpro2015
Click on the Daily Patrol Report on the home screen.
Go through the morning report screen and enter in all pertinent information: date, temps, new snow, closed/open runs, etc. Patrollers on the mountain will provide dispatch with snow totals as they check snow stakes during their morning opener.
To send an Instant Message to everyone, click on the yellow bubble in the bottom right of screen, right click in the white space and select “Send Broadcast Message”. This is sending a “bubble” to notify everyone of a situation such as lift down or lost person.

Dispatch Morning Announcement

The morning announcement is transmitted three times over three radio channels.
- On the main dispatch radio Repeater Channel 1 that goes out to all radios that operate on channel 1.
- The second morning announcement goes out to all radios that operate on TAC 3
- The third morning announcement goes out to all radios that operate on TAC 4
- The morning announcement follows a script in the dispatch binder

Radios. Handheld VHF radios are the primary means of communication on the mountain, keeping mountain operations informed of events to quickly coordinate and dispatch personnel.

Utilize a "hey you, it's me" technique, "Dispatch, Smith” and wait for the calling party to respond, “Go ahead Smith”
When using the Kenwood radio, also state what channel you are using, "Red Lodge EMS, Patrol Dispatch on Rural Repeater"
When keying the radio, wait a moment before speaking to allow the repeater system to connect to avoid cutting yourself off
Speak slowly and clearly
Avoid “soft talk” and mumbling, use your big boy voice
Think about what you are going to say before you key your mic
Keep communication concise
Get the point across, and minimize time you are on the radio so others can use it
Use closed loop communication to ensure the message is clearly understood

Radio dead zones and interference. The following are known dead or scratchy areas: bottom of BFA, bottom of Barriers, in the trees at Barriers snow stake, Meeteetsee, Cole Creek Load terminal, Palisades Load terminal. If you do not receive confirmation, move to another location and attempt another transmission. Radio interference is common and you may be asked to repeat your message.

On-mountain RLM channels

Ch. 1 – Mountain Ops (Ski Patrol, Lift Maintenance, Lift Foreman, Mountain Ops Director)

Ch. 2 – Mountain Ops (alternate channel)

Ch. 3 – Building Maintenance, Guest Services

Ch. 4 – Snow Sports

Off-mountain channels

Rural Repeater – RLFR EMS (ambulance) crew

CMA Red Lodge – Carbon County Dispatch

Tan – HELP Flight crew in flight

White - #2 HELP Flight

Purple - SAR #1

Violet - SAR #2

Radio Codes. Lift Ops, Mechanics, Groomers, and Dispatch typically use radio codes to describe lift status and request physical location of personnel, however patrollers should speak plainly and not use codes.

10-4 - Affirmative / Copy

10-7 - Out-of-service / Not operating

10-8 - In-service / Operating

10-9 - Say again / Repeat

10-20 - Location / Where are you? “What’s your 20?”

Telephone. There are landlines located in each patrol hut, lift shack (top and bottom), aid room, and RLM offices. Use the Dispatch cell phone for non-emergent communication that may require more of a conversation, however do not call the Dispatch cell phone for possible incidents (e.g., medical, lost persons, lift down etc.) as this information should be shared with the patrol. A complete phone roster is posted on the corkboard at Dispatch.

Dispatch cell phone 406 425-2214

RLM 406 446-2610

Dispatch ext 306

Base patrol aid room ext 307

Grizzly Peak hut ext 308

Cole Creek hut ext 329

Emergency

EMS, Fire, LE 911

HELP Flight 1-800 538-4357

First Flight of Wyoming 202 366-2220

911 Report. For on-hill trauma or medical emergency requiring a 911 call. Use the Dispatch cell phone to call 911, do not use your personal cell phone.

Non-emergency

Carbon County Dispatch 406 446-1234

Red Lodge Fire Rescue 406 446-2320

Red Lodge Police Station 406 446-3672

Montana Highway Patrol 406 525-5555

Beartooth Billings Clinic ED nurse station 406 446-0521/0522/0523

BBC ED fax machine 406 446-4182

State Road Conditions 511

Red Lodge Fire Rescue. Red Lodge Fire Rescue operates three ambulances. The responding unit may call for a patient update while enroute using the Rural Repeater channel. The responding unit transmitting in the radio will identify by their vehicle: A71, A72, or A73.

Help Flight/First Flight. In the event air transport is required, Dispatch will call the number listed in our dispatch book and a central dispatcher for the helicopter companies will dispatch whichever company is available. There is a checklist in the logbook that must be followed when talking to the helicopter dispatcher. Rather than list every step on here, patrollers being trained at Dispatch should look through the “Dispatching Help Flight” sheet in the logbook.

Beartooth Billings Clinic. The closest definitive medical care facility is BBC in Red Lodge. Patients suffering a traumatic injury or acute medical condition will be transported by EMS or POV to BBC ED for initial care and stabilization. Call BBC ED with a patient voice report and fax required paperwork. Provide a map to patients who are not familiar with Red Lodge. Maps are located on the desk in the aid room.