TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 19.11 DATE: March 17, 2019
SUBJECT: DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE?
If some one came up to you right now, and needed a location of where you are at, could you tell them? Sure you may be able to give them the address of your house, or place of employment, but could you give them the Latitude and Longitude of where you're at?
In some emergencies giving someone the Latitude and Longitude of where you are at may be better than giving a house address. A lot of people are learning how to find Latitude and Longitude locations by using a GPS (Global Position System) Receiver. I'm not for sure, but I'll bet that some of the new Smart Phones have a GPS Receiver built in them, and can have an App, that will give you a map of where you are at with the Latitude and Longitude when you put it in.
If you have a GPS Receiver, go out side right now and get the GPS Latitude and Longitude of your house, and put them where you can find them when they are needed. If you have a GPS Receiver, but don't know how to use it, you might want to practice with it. If you have it with you at the scene of an accident, you may be asked by someone who is in charge of the incident the Latitude and Longitude so they can get a Helicopter brought in for a medical transport.
Just a thought.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV