CBBS ARN Activation Procedures, Part One:
From the CBBS Disaster Response Plan:
Concerning blood banks, "a disaster is ... a situation suddenly requiring a much larger amount of blood than usual, [or] which temporarily restricts or eliminates a blood center's ability to collect blood, or a sudden influx of donors ...". During disasters, if normal means of communications "are unusable or overloaded, the North and South Area EOC's will be activated with previously coordinated Amateur Radio operators providing communications with each other and to their respective regional blood centers. ... both Northern and Southern Area EOC's will come on air to contact each other and establish Net Control. Net Control will then attempt to contact each blood center ... Status and disaster intelligence will be gathered by Net Control ...".
"Designated ham operators should go to their respective blood center, come on air to establish contact with CBBS Area EOC Net Control, and stand by for roll call. If they are unable to go to their respective blood center, ham operators should attempt to contact a blood center representative by any means available, then relay information to Net Control ... Once communication is established, a determination of status and blood need will be made and relayed to blood center ham operators".
CBBS ARN Activation Procedures: Part Two - Information for CBBS ARN Members
Part One comes from the CBBS Disaster Response Plan, which assumes that the hams are immediately aware of all California disasters. Therefore, if any of us learns of a disaster, either through the news media or direct experience, we should first try to phone the lead operators for the Sacramento and Houchin Blood Centers, to alert them to the situation. If the lead operators are not available, try to contact the primary alternates.
When you come "on the air" immediately after a disaster, listen for a moment on 3.880 MHz. Then ask, "Is there a net control station on frequency?" If there is no reply, then YOU are the acting net control. Announce, "This is [your call] for the [your blood bank] and the CBBS ARN. Would all stations please keep this frequency clear for emergency traffic concerning the California blood banks. Are there any other blood bank stations on frequency?"
While you are holding 3.880 MHz open for us, you should also periodically check 3.910 MHz, to see if any blood banks are using that alternate frequency. If it is during the daytime, you should also briefly check 7.245 MHz for blood bank activity.
Before you head off to your local blood bank following a disaster, you should try to phone them first. Some of the blood banks we support do not have Amateur Radio equipment. Blood bank staff may prefer that you operate your HF rig from your home, and communicate with them via telephone or 2-meter radio.