Amateur Radio Plays Crutial Role in Rescue

From the Southgate Amateur Radio Club, www.southgatearc.org

Amateur Radio plays crucial role in rescue of elderly woman Amateur Radio was crucial in summoning help for an elderly New Mexico woman after repeated attempts to contact 911 services by landline and cellular telephone failed.

On August 12th , a thunderstorm knocked out parts of Cibola county's telephone service. About 5:50 in the afternoon, Jonathan Pickens, KD5PHG, received a phone call for his wife, Pam. She told him that a resident of the El Morro Ranches had discovered an elderly neighbor lying semi-conscious on the floor of her home.

The couple rushed to the home of the woman. It turns out that the woman was eighty-six years-old. She had been on the floor for at least two days and was suffering from an apparent stroke and broken hip. She had been unable to yell for help or move to reach a phone. Pam, having medical training as a first responder, began providing assistance while neighbors tried to summon help.

Another El Morro resident was finally able to reach the Cibola County Sheriff and notify them of the situation. But the Sheriff's office was unable to contact area ambulance services because their local phone service had also failed.

KD5PHG realized the situation required an ambulance or possible life flight. With local landline and cell phones useless, Jonathan used his mobile radio to contact the Cibola County Amateur Radio Emergency Service on the Zuni 2 meter repeater.

Dana and Kathy Farmer, WA5SOX and KB5QGH, responded to the call for help from Vanderwagen, New Mexico. They were able to contact the Gallup Metro dispatch who sent the Vanderwagon Fire Department and the Pine Hill Clinic ambulance. The elderly woman was eventually taken to the Gallup medical center for further evaluation.

She's likely alive thanks to the quick response of her ham radio neighbors and their ability to communicate with all phone service knocked out.

Source: ARNewsline, K5CEC