Author Topic: Pager shortage (Read 8947 times)

CFS_Firey · « **on:** May 26, 2009, 03:58:08 PM »

Just wondering how many brigades, (or units), are suffering from the pager shortage? Has anyone got a system in place to get people responding in the meantime?

Alex · « **Reply #1 on:** May 26, 2009, 04:16:37 PM »

We're short a couple, solution - station siren activates, if there's someone close enough to responmd they should hear it.

Zippy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2009, 05:22:27 PM »

we've on average for 3 or 4 spares. Been allocated to my assumption enough pagers for the "maximum SFEC", the real maximum.

Pipster · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2009, 05:46:52 PM »

We are good (managed to order a number a while ago), so currently not suffering a shortage. (but not having spares)

But, adjoining brigades have new members, all ready to go, but have no pagers for them. (I believe they have extracted all the pagers they can from people not currently active / responding with the brigade)

Pip

Bagyassfirey · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2009, 05:58:36 PM »

meh ive never had a pager...thank god 4 mobile phones n UHF radios.

Robert-Robert34 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2009, 07:59:49 PM »

Even though i've got a pager i always rely on my scanners to give me the heads up about emergencies before getting called out

bittenyakka · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2009, 08:22:31 PM »

We are running low, partly our own fault and partly because of new members.

firegun · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2009, 08:39:18 PM »

the group i am in would have on average 4 or 5 spare pages per brigade for a couple of reasons
A lack of members in some brigades and
An order for spares placed some time ago being filled.

Bagyassfirey · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2009, 08:55:53 PM »

Quote from: Robert-Robert34 on May 26, 2009, 07:59:49 PM

Even though i've got a pager i always rely on my scanners to give me the heads up about emergencies before getting called out

also rely on the plume of smoke out the header window during harvest its usually a fair indicator!

jaff · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2009, 11:17:51 PM »

Quote from: bittenyakka on May 26, 2009, 08:22:31 PM

We are running low, partly our own fault and partly because of new members.

Its all your filtered fault! ........attracting new members ...and wanting to give them a pager, its about blooody time you had a real serious look at yourself!

Baxter · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2009, 08:50:23 PM »

We were issued with ten pager lost two pagers one pager no longer works and has been repaired twice in qucik sucession. We have five members without pagers. Soluation is two pronged send out an sms and have a phone tree going for those with pagers. Yes it is slow but it works

CFS_Firey · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2009, 11:37:41 PM »

malleefire, who sends the SMS? We've had a phone tree suggested too, but I wonder if ALERTS may be more suited to the task? (Surely you can set up temporary groups?)

Zippy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2009, 07:47:33 AM »

Quote from: CFS_Firey on May 27, 2009, 11:37:41 PM

malleefire, who sends the SMS? We've had a phone tree suggested too, but I wonder if ALERTS may be more suited to the task? (Surely you can set up temporary groups?)

Yeah push for Alerts, without adelaide fire connected.

Robert-Robert34 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2009, 09:24:27 AM »

Or even better bring back the old fire phone system where each brigade had their own alerts number so if a fire was reported by a local all the phones would ring a distinct alert ring

misterteddy · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2009, 09:48:20 AM »

oh goody.....lets step back to the mid 1950s....there's progressive 21st Century thinking....

c'mon boys....don't resort to cheap localised work arounds that lower the standard of service becauase the system can't cope.....fix the system!

CFS_Firey · « **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2009, 09:59:39 AM »

Quote from: misterteddy on May 28, 2009, 09:48:20 AM

c'mon boys....don't resort to cheap localised work arounds that lower the standard of service becauase the system can't cope.....fix the system!

Got any suggestions on how to do that?

Zippy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2009, 11:25:10 AM »

1. Your BCO (Good luck

)
2. Talks to your GCO
3. Talks to Region (Good Luck)
4. Talks to State (again, Good luck)
5. Talks to Gary Bau, no luck required, seems like a reasonable bloke.

Or

Your GCO askes all brigades in group to hand in all Spare pagers...and then he controls where they go.

misterteddy · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2009, 11:55:09 AM »

Quote from: CFS_Firey on May 28, 2009, 09:59:39 AM

Quote from: misterteddy on May 28, 2009, 09:48:20 AM
c'mon boys....don't resort to cheap localised work arounds that lower the standard of service becauase the system can't cope.....fix the system!

Got any suggestions on how to do that?

today, right now?....no i don't... I'm not involved in the pager issues enough to be able to provide answers; my Brigade doesnt seem to have to many issues, or else our BCO/GCO seem to be able to do the fishes and loaves things better.

But I do know that part of the answer is to not allow an inferior service to become the accepted norm....because the main (and funded) service is inadequate. If this means an audit of pager issues by the CFSVA staff and the figures made public to shame someone...then maybe its about time they started thinking like a union, and not a CFS committee.

Having said all that, I rather suspect that our issues are more to do with our own internal inadequacies of managing what we have, than any systemic deficiency in numbers.....cant prove it, but I just have a sneaking suspicion

fridgemagnet · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2009, 01:05:28 PM »

I suspect that the phone tree that mallee has is like our where the group decided that only a limited number of members on the Brigades can have access to alerts e.g. five. If it comes through the pagers or alters they ring so many members to get the info out there and to find out who can be the crew. SMS would be sent by one key person in the Brigade who was part of the original notification so that it does not become a part of the a chinese whisper responce.

Darren · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2009, 02:26:20 PM »

Come on guys, hammer the CFS for more pagers, this phone tree or SMS tree is not on, this shouldn't be happening, CFS MUST PROVIDE YOU WITH PAGERS !!!!

Then again it also helps if you wear them !! (the amount of times I have taken and alerts call and ask for pager acknowledgement only to be told I don't have my pager with me)

Be prepared, it won't be long and it will be pager only responses

jaff · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2009, 07:07:36 PM »

Quote from: Darren on May 28, 2009, 02:26:20 PM

Be prepared, it won't be long and it will be pager only responses

Dazza, there will always be room for the smoke signal/plume

Zippy · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2009, 07:57:05 PM »

Quote from: jaff on May 28, 2009, 07:07:36 PM

Quote from: Darren on May 28, 2009, 02:26:20 PM

Be prepared, it won't be long and it will be pager only responses

Dazza, there will always be room for the smoke signal/plume

Aint that already happening...DEH lol.

bajdas · « **Reply #22 on:** May 29, 2009, 11:41:36 AM »

Quote from: misterteddy on May 28, 2009, 11:55:09 AM

.....Having said all that, I rather suspect that our issues are more to do with our own internal inadequacies of managing what we have, than any systemic deficiency in numbers.....cant prove it, but I just have a sneaking suspicion

Personally, I think that is where the SA Government & associated people are examining in ALL emergency service organisations around Australia.

Rather than throwing more money at the issue & seeing the money not making it to the front-line volunteers must be worrying. I think this review and fix (eg remove duplication of effort) has been happening for a long period of time.

Sometimes successful, sometimes blocked.

SA Firey · « **Reply #23 on:** May 29, 2009, 04:45:27 PM »

Not specific to CFS when I was with SES they too didn't have enough pagers to go around....and if you think the pager buddy system works....yeah right