October Meeting of Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club October 17 - Emergency Services Night: Hospital Disaster Support Communications System Speaker - April Moell, WA6OPS Meeting Starts - 7:30 PM Location: Goleta Union Schools Admin. Board Room 401 N. Fairview Ave., Goleta

The Hospital Disaster Support Communications System of Orange County has been in existance for 23 years and has responded to 75 emergencies in support of 35 hospitals. Lots has been learned along the way regarding activation procedures, hospital interface, and training etc. This presentation will offer case studies of several emergencies (e.g. Placentia train collison; Laguna Fire) to which HDSCS has responded and highlight how the ARES structure, activation procedures and specialized training led to accomplishing the mission of backing up communications critical to patient care.

With experience both as an Amateur Radio operator and hospital employee, April Moell found it natural to combine the two in HDSCS. She passed her first ham operator test in 1976 and now holds an Advanced Class license. As a Registered Occupational Therapist, April served for 17 years as Director of Occupational and Recreational Therapies at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, CA. While there, she originated HDSCS. She also founded the Rehab Radio program, which used Amateur Radio communications as a therapy tool with patients recovering from stroke, head injury, and spinal cord injury. In addition, she initiated the North Pole Network, which brings joy to hospital patients of all ages at Christmas time.

If you are planning on attending dinner with the speaker, please let Marvin KE6HTS (marvin@rain.org) know so we can make reservations. The dinner will be held at Cody's Restaurant at 5:30pm. Cody's is located in the shopping center at the corner of Hollister Ave and Turnpike Rd.