Amateur Radio is a hobby, but it is also an important public service. Many Orange County hams are involved in organized emergency support communications groups serving city governments, county government, and private agencies such as the Red Cross. The Hospital Disaster Support Communications System is a special group within the Amateur Radio Emergency Service of Orange County, California. It is not directly funded by any agency. Hams in this group have joined because supporting hospitals is their greatest public service interest.
Radio operators try to be self-contained, providing all of their own equipment in most situations.
Meetings are held at numerous hospitals during the year to acquaint members with hospital functions, communications needs, and various aspects of emergencies involving medical services. Members are activated to hospitals via call-up lists and core team assignments. Failure of hospital communications is serious, sometimes life-critical. In a disaster, you will need every communications resource you can get. Hams can supplement your existing emergency resources.