Red Cross Tests Vertex DMR Technology During Inauguration

The American Red Cross, a longtime user of Vertex Standard radios, tested the company’s new digital technology during the Presidential Inauguration Jan. 21.

During the inauguration, 20 Red Cross disaster relief teams were deployed to provide public-safety assistance throughout the National Mall area. Trained in CPR and first aid, the volunteers are positioned within crowds at major events to monitor well being and offer assistance. In the event that someone becomes ill, suffers an injury or is separated from their families or groups, the teams contact first responders, provide immediate assistance and assist with transporting individuals to mobile first aid stations.

For more than 20 years, the American Red Cross has used Vertex mobiles and portable two-way radios and repeaters during events. “The radios help our teams communicate with each other and the repeaters allow us to coordinate back to the command truck, which is equipped with public-safety radios,” said Gary Gilham, coordinator of operations and planning, emergency and international services, American Red Cross. “It also gives us the ability to communicate with our logistics, administration, security/safety and our liaison in the D.C. fire department.”

The Vertex eVerge product line, which meets Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Tier 2 international standards, is designed to offer the benefits of digital at a lower price point and with seamless integration to analog systems, said Craig Chenicek, Vertex’s general manager.

The Red Cross began considering a migration to digital around the same time Vertex was preparing to release the DMR technology. The inauguration presented an ideal opportunity to test and implement the new products in a rich RF environment where many analog radios would be in use to make sure the radios provided interoperability and seamless ease of use, Chenicek said. “They were a good partner to make sure this worked seamlessly, and they were very happy with it,” he said.

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Source: Radioresource