Guidelines for Charity Event Operations

This is a guideline for MARC radio communications, and operations during Charity Events.

All radios on the event repeater, (primary frequency) MUST, go through net control, and be limited to EVENT communications. PLEASE keep all personal (non event) traffic on an alternate frequency, i.e. MARC simplex, 144.370, CTCSS Tone, 100.0.

Of course, our first priority is our personal Safety. At all times be aware of your surroundings and don’t let your desire for communications or assistance to others jeopardize your own safety.

Beyond that – the first thing that we must accomplish is that of protecting the participants, and ourselves, at all times. REMEMBER, we are not policemen. Never use your motorcycle to block traffic, unless the participant is in danger. When assigned a group to escort, locate your last rider, then move ahead of the group and watch for your next rider, then move ahead again, leapfrogging with the group.

IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT: First, make sure YOU park in a safe location. Remember, a motorcycle is NOT well lighted to the rear, and even well lighted EMS vehicles sometimes get rear-ended. Make sure the accident victim is in a safe location. DO NOT move an injured rider unless they are in an unsafe location, i.e. in danger of additional injury.

If it involves a serious injury – call 911 yourself, do not try to channel the call through Net Control. YOU are in the best location to give Emergency Services the location of the accident, and to do it in a timely fashion. Keep yourself apprised of the location, and city, you are currently in.

Be prepared to give the following information, (let the EMS dispatcher guide you.), the city, in which the accident has occurred, the street address, and the nearest cross street, (if known.), the type of injury, i.e., bicycle rider down with injuries to, (body part.). Be sure to give your cell phone number. STAY ON THE PHONE UNTIL THE DISPATCHER TELLS YOU TO HANG UP.

After calling 911, let Net Control know ASAP, typically with the rider’s number and what action you have taken. We have to turn that information over to the Charity event Officials, they have to have all that info, and they depend on “MARC” getting it for them, if they are hospitalized they (event person) usually heads to the hospital promptly. So we have to make sure what Hospital they go to, number transported etc, if no number is available, we will use the name.

* Take care of the rider. Do the A. B. C’s, of first aid,

* AIRWAY: be sure the victim airway is clear, and he/she is breathing.

* BLEEDING: take care of any profuse bleeding. A victim can quickly bleed out.

* CIRCULATION: Be sure the victim is breathing, and the heart is pumping. If not, begin CPR immediately.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE; Contact Net Control on the primary radio frequency, try to use this format:

“Net control, “your call sign”, I have emergency traffic.” Net Control should then broadcast, “Emergency traffic, all units stand by. “Your call sign” go ahead with your emergency traffic.” Give Net Control the same information that you would give over your cell phone, i.e. Requesting emergency service (Paramedics) at; the city, in which the accident has occurred, the street address, and the nearest cross street, (if known.), the type of injury, i.e., bicycle rider down with injuries to, (body part.). When possible, give Net Control the rider number. Remember, NO NAMES should ever be used on the radio.

Stay with your victim until emergency help arrives and either transports, or releases the victim. If transported, be sure the bicycle is transported via SAG.

When broadcasting, use rider numbers, not names. There are privacy issues involved. Remember, a lot of these riders know one another, sometimes they are clubs, or employee groups, that may number many dozens of riders. Keep them assured, (as best you can,) and moving past the accident scene. Try to avoid them (the riders) grouping up at the accident scene.

ROUTINE OPERATIONS

Riding alongside participants in the traffic lane is particularly dangerous. It blocks non-participant traffic; it can cause other traffic to do unexpected maneuvers, YOU could get a ticket, and it can actually harm the Charity image.

Try the leapfrog method mentioned at the beginning of this document. When a rider has a problem, i.e. a flat tire, let Net Control know you are off the bike, assisting cyclist #.

It is necessary for Net Control, to know when our riders are off the M/C, regardless of what they are doing, be it lunch stop, personal necessities, or helping a bicycle participant. Another reason Net Control needs to know is, with APRS, we may need a M/C in a certain place, and they may be closest to the problem. If we call for them, and get no response, it will cause Net Control to begin looking for the next closest M/C.

While off the motorcycle, assist the rider in whatever he/she needs. Remember, a lot of these riders are very accomplished, and prepared for most eventualities. Only notify Net Control if additional services are required i.e. SAG transport. Net Control, will then ask you what other services you might need. Let Net Control guide you.

WHAT NET CONTROL NEEDS

When we ask where the lead/last riders are, we need to know based on route instruction numbers or at least street/intersection locations. Be concise with your broadcast. When we need to know the where the lead, and last cyclists are, we will contact the nearest motorcycle.

REMEMBER; there will probably be young riders out on the course, they may be riding by themselves. Keep a special eye out for them.

Whenever possible, use 144.370, CTCSS Tone, 100.0, for routine bike to bike, or bike to SAG transmissions. Only use the primary frequency to contact Net Control in case you need to talk to a motorcycle, which is out of range. Remember to speak to other MARC members as you would like to be spoken to, everyone is listening to our communications, be professional.

APRS

We also use APRS with members who have this capability. APRS, using a system of repeaters gives an approximate location of an individual APRS system. When reporting the location of an incident, don’t rely on the APRS system to report your position exactly. You can ask net control if they have you on APRS and if they agree on your position, you’re all set. In any case – be sure Net Control knows exactly where you are, however that is done.

Thank you so very much for participating in the MARC Charity Events. Your contributions of time, and an expensive vehicle, make the charity dollars worth so very much more.

Remember, participants frequently thank us for being out there, watching over them.

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THESE CHARITY EVENTS!