RACES Notes 10/11/2006 News and Announcements 1) Upcoming Events 10/14 Cars in the Park - Sierra Vista Veterans Memorial Park 10/14 Cochise Perimeter Cycling Classic 10/21 Tucson Swapmeet 10/22 Tombstone Parade 11/4 CARA Swapmeet 12/2 Xmas Parade in Sierra Vista 2) Cars in the Park (SV) - We have been asked to set up a technology display with the Sheriff's Office at the annual "Cars In The Park" car show on Saturday 10/14/06. We will use it to also provide the Net Control function for the Cochise Perimeter Cycling Classic. I will need an assistant (or two) to help operate this display and perform the NCS function at the city park from 8-12 and 12-3. There will be a couple other Sheriff Department vehicles there as well. 3) Cochise Perimeter Cycling Classic - Also a reminder that this weekend is the Cycling Classic. We still have a number of positions/vacancies to fill so please contact RB Rice to sign up for an assignment. RB sent out an assignment roster earlier this evening to all the volunteers. 4) DICE 2007 - Although it may seem a little early to consider, the preplanning conference for the DoD Interoperability Communications Exercise will be held in November. Cochise County and the MCU are likely to participate in this exercise along with a number of other First Responder agencies from around AZ. The actual exercise will probably be in March. 5) SV Xmas Parade - We have participated in this parade in the past. I am looking for two volunteers to drive the MCU in the parade. Please drop me an e-mail if you would like to be considered. 6)The FCC announced a change today that impacts amateur radio operators ability to respond to emergencies. They announced that they will revise Section 97.111(a) to clarify that amateur stations may, at all times and on all frequencies authorized to the control operator, make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and to facilitate relief actions. Training - It's that time of year again that we transition from hot summer and monsoons into cooler weather. We have already seen night time temperatures in Sierra Vista drop into the 50's. That is a good indication that the temperatures in the mountains are getting close to freezing at night. It is also getting dark earlier meaning more frequent use of flashlights. Do you have fresh batteries for your flashlights and other battery operated devices such as your GPS? While you are checking batteries, you might also take this opportunity to change out any meds you carry in your Go Bag. They should be changed out every 3 - 6 months, more frequently in the hot summer months. I recently picked up a second LED head lamp to carry from the Sportsman Guide. These LED lamps are low current draw and provide long life between battery changes. I find these very handy to use and allow me to keep my hands free for other tasks. Since we have had a number of new members join us over the past 6 months so I thought I would also go back and cover something we have covered before, preparing a basic "Go Bag" or "Deployment Bag". I usually have two different bags for deploying. One I consider my 8-hour bag, used for a number of exercises and short events and a second bag for those events where I do not know when we will finish but plan for at least 24 hours. These are just recommendations but they provide a basic start for most new comers. The makeup of a "Go Bag" is likely to be an evolving task and you will probably continue to fine tune your bag after each deployment. You usually find something appropriate at the local Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart or Big 5 Sporting Goods stores. I use a combination of a recycled Army Ruck Sack and Rubbermaid Action Packers to keep most of my stuff in. Tonight we will just cover a basic kit. Basic Kit (8 hour) . Back Pack or Small Duffle . Canteen with water or water bottles (At least 2 quarts) . Food (i.e. MREs or Heater Meals) . Fanny pack with Snacks (i.e. Power Bars / Nutrition Bars), radio earphone, sun screen, chap stick, small pocket knife, pen, small note pad . First-aid kit - Pain Killers (such as Aspiring, Motrin, Tylenol), Benadryl, Imodium, Band-Aids, First Aid Cream, insect repellent, earplugs, and if needed a daily dose of your prescriptions . Toilet paper, Facial Tissue, cups . Towel (small) . Pocket knife or multifunction tool (i.e. Leatherman in belt pouch, etc) . Flashlights (Maglites, large and small) . Pens, pencils, markers, Steno note pad . Maps (Delorme or Benchmark AZ Topo Map book), GPS, compass . Protective Clothing -This is Season Dependent (jacket, hat, leather gloves with liners, sweatshirt, change of socks, underclothes, rain poncho . Space blanket . Waterproof matches, butane lighters . Walkie Talkie (w/Spare Battery Pack) . Garbage bags (two 55 gallon, four large zip-lock) . Parachute cord (two 50-foot lengths) . Small Binoculars . Four light sticks (12-hour, green) . Strobe-marker light . Dust Mask . Dust and wind goggles . Rubber/Latex Gloves . Reflective Vest Bob Robert L Hollister