A request from Todd Boss, W8YHF:
We are looking for volunteers to help out with medical communications for the 2025 Tulip Time parades. This is perhaps our best opportunity each year to represent amateur radio within our community, and we are providing a critical service to local residents and visitors. It’s also a great time!
ALL members of these organizations are eligible to participate:
- Ottawa County Emergency Communications (OCEC)
- Holland Amateur Radio Club (HARC)
- North Ottawa Amateur Radio Club (NOARC)
Radio operators are paired up with one or more medical personnel and assigned a section of the parade route. Once on station, we patrol and look for participants or spectators that are in need of medical assistance. When we encounter a medical need, we relay information regarding the patient’s condition and location to Net Control. Our Net Control operators work alongside public safety and emergency medical dispatchers, and ensure that help arrives as soon as possible.
This year’s parades are on Thursday, May 8th and Saturday, May 10th. We usually meet around noon and are finished by a bit after 4pm on both days. One change for this year’s event is that the Saturday parade will be shortened to end at Kollen Park (same end point as the Thursday parade).
If you’re interested in volunteering or have any questions, please email me at bossman.mi@gmail.com and let me know which parade(s) you’re available to help.