799 – Radio Point of Contact SOP

Objective

This SOP outlines the expectations for the ranger or volunteer who is serving as “799”, the main radio point of contact for Cabrillo National Monument. 

1) Expectations

The person serving as 799 will monitor the radio at all times. If the ranger on duty needs to take a break, they will coordinate with another ranger or highly trained volunteer to monitor the radio during that time.

     2) Procedure

At the beginning of the day, the ranger/volunteer responsible for 799 will broadcast to the park “All units, [call sign] is serving as 799 starting now at 0900. 799 clear.” This provides clarity to all units in the park who is responsible.

If the person responsible needs to take a short break (less than five minutes) they can ask another ranger or trained volunteer to cover the radio without making an announcement of the change in responsible party. If switching shifts, the new 799 ranger/volunteer on duty will make an announcement “All units, 540 [Volunteer Name] or [Unit #] is serving as 799 starting now at 1 pm.”

• Radio checks. Respond to routine radio checks from VIPs and reply with “799, 540 (VIP NAME), Loud and Clear” or if the transmission is unclear, scratchy, or cutting out, 799 will respond with the status and providing troubleshooting for the VIP if needed. I.e. “[unit calling], 799, move the microphone further from your mouth, the transmission is muffled” or “Unit calling, your transmission is scratchy, can you try a different location?”
• Emergency Traffic. 799 will monitor for emergency traffic or potential emergencies. If an emergency call comes across, 799 will immediately alert law enforcement, and ask all units not involved to hold traffic until the emergency is resolved. For example: “All units, hold traffic unless related to this or another emergency.” When the emergency is cleared, announce “All units, this channel is now clear for regular traffic.”

• Emergencies in areas without cell service (tide pools). If an emergency is reported in the tide pools, 799 can collect information from the reporting party over the radio to relay this information to Navy Dispatch. If an NPSLaw Enforcement officer is available, follow their direction. If none is available, immediately contact Navy Dispatch at 619-524-6999 and identify yourself as a Cabrillo Ranger, relaying information from a radio call at the tide pools. Follow the dispatcher’s prompts, which will usually include the following information:
  • What is the nature of the emergency?
  • What is the exact location of the emergency?
  • When did this occur?
  • Can you describe the injury? Type? Cause? How serious? Breathing? Loss of consciousness? Symptoms?
  • Can you describe the person(s) involved? Male/female? Age? 
  • If a search/rescue, they may ask: Build? Ethnicity? Hair color? Eyes? Clothing? 

Tattoos/Unique features? etc.

• Can you describe the vehicle(s) or vessel(s) involved? Type? Make? Model? Year? Color? Plate/tags? Bumper Stickers/unique features? Passengers?
• All-park announcements. 799 will make an announcement at 5 pm “All units, closing announcements have been made.” 799 will respond to any all-park announcements with “799 copies” and a brief repeat of the message. For example, at 4:30 when the entrance station ranger says “All units, the tide pool gate is now closed” 799 will respond “799 copies, tide pool gate is closed.”

      3) Troubleshooting

• No response. If 799 stops responding, attempt to locate the person responsible, or ask another unit in the admin area to locate them. Their radio battery may be depleted.
• Open mic. If a unit is broadcasting with an open mic, it is usually the result of user error – someone holding down the button, it being pressed against a vehicle seat or other object. When 799 hears an “open mic” they will announce “All units, there is an open mic. Check your radios.” Repeat this until the open mic has been resolved. If it continues, broadcast “All units, check your coworkers, vehicles, and equipment. There is an open mic.”
• Inappropriate radio traffic. All traffic on the radio will be short and appropriate for visitors to overhear. Curse words, personal information, long conversations, and security information (i.e. gate codes) should not be broadcast over the radio. 799 will monitor the radio for inappropriate traffic, and if heard, they will contact the unit to ask them to relay the information over the phone. 
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4) Other Considerations

• Check the battery level of the radio when beginning 799 duties.
• The screen should read CABR RPTR-D. If your screen does not read CABR RPTR-D, turn the channel dial (the one with the numbers) until it does.
• Regardless of who is serving as 799, they will always be referred to as 799. There is no need to add their name;or other call sign.

Who Can Serve as 799

• It is preferred that a uniformed ranger, usually the Interpretation ranger assigned as lead ranger for the Visitor Center for the day, serves as 799.
• Some highly trained volunteers have served as 799. To be certified to serve as 799, VIPs will review this SOP, receive hands-on training, and be approved by the Chief of Interpretation. The 799 VIP role will be added to their file. Please contact Elizabeth Skinner for questions.

This SOP is located on the SOP CABR folder on the Cabrillo T Drive: T:\SOP CABR 

Last edit: 9/25/19 E. Skinner

Last revised 26-Jan-20