Amateur radio operator provides aid from a great distance - Never underestimate the potential of volunteerism...
Amateur radio operator provides aid from a great distance - Never underestimate the potential of volunteerism
Amateur radio operator Fred Moore recently assisted the United States Coast Guard with an on-the-water rescue of a mariner suffering chest pains in the Atlantic Ocean.
Society does not only depend on paid emergency workers or law enforcement etc. Volunteers are a vital supplement to these paid services for two reasons: Firstly they are not paid to do it as a job and have a genuine desire to help, and Secondly because they often have a specific skill or experience that they are good at.
Although such volunteers often organise themselves into teams/clubs that operate over an extended period it is true that volunteers can't be held legally liable to prove a 24/7 service for 365 days of the year but this is why also they do not replace existing agencies or services - they serve a complementary function and often fill niches (like the example case here) where normal services do not extend to.
Many years ago when I was a serving police officer I remember with gratitude many volunteer police reservists coming to work during specific holiday periods which allowed permanent police officers to take time off (police have to maintain a minimum operational strength which limits leave that can be taken to a specified percentage of their strength). Not only was this appreciated by police officers but it also helped maintain that bond with the community itself. Such an appreciation and bond with the community is essential to democratic policing - but that is a whole different topic.
See the story about the rescue in the Atlantic Ocean at https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/local-amateur-radio-operator-provides-aide-from-great-distance/article_8fa9b6ce-edd2-11e8-9d4e-171928d049ad.html
#amateurradio #hamradio #volunteerism
from Danie van der Merwe - Google+ Posts https://ift.tt/2Kt5MqV
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Amateur radio operator Fred Moore recently assisted the United States Coast Guard with an on-the-water rescue of a mariner suffering chest pains in the Atlantic Ocean.
Society does not only depend on paid emergency workers or law enforcement etc. Volunteers are a vital supplement to these paid services for two reasons: Firstly they are not paid to do it as a job and have a genuine desire to help, and Secondly because they often have a specific skill or experience that they are good at.
Although such volunteers often organise themselves into teams/clubs that operate over an extended period it is true that volunteers can't be held legally liable to prove a 24/7 service for 365 days of the year but this is why also they do not replace existing agencies or services - they serve a complementary function and often fill niches (like the example case here) where normal services do not extend to.
Many years ago when I was a serving police officer I remember with gratitude many volunteer police reservists coming to work during specific holiday periods which allowed permanent police officers to take time off (police have to maintain a minimum operational strength which limits leave that can be taken to a specified percentage of their strength). Not only was this appreciated by police officers but it also helped maintain that bond with the community itself. Such an appreciation and bond with the community is essential to democratic policing - but that is a whole different topic.
See the story about the rescue in the Atlantic Ocean at https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/local-amateur-radio-operator-provides-aide-from-great-distance/article_8fa9b6ce-edd2-11e8-9d4e-171928d049ad.html
#amateurradio #hamradio #volunteerism
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Local amateur radio operator provides aid from great distance | Local News | |
from Danie van der Merwe - Google+ Posts https://ift.tt/2Kt5MqV
via IFTTT
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