Used the Magellan on Sunday when I gave the coords of the landing zone to one of our Lts. who then relayed them to the Lifeflight pilot.

Here's the link to the story:

http://www.wabi.tv/story.asp?12825


Here are the photos of Lifeflight landing and taking off.

http://www.geocachingmaine.org/gallery/data/507/medium/2006_0105JakePhotos0003.JPG

http://www.geocachingmaine.org/gallery/data/507/medium/2006_0105JakePhotos0004.JPG

http://www.geocachingmaine.org/gallery/data/507/medium/2006_0105JakePhotos0005.JPG

http://www.geocachingmaine.org/gallery/data/507/medium/2006_0105JakePhotos0006.JPG

We have GPSr in all our rescues for that one purpose; to give Lifeflight and the Maine Forestry Service coords for patient pick up and water drops. Works really well and saves lots of time for the pilots....

We have GPSr in all our rescues for that one purpose; to give Lifeflight and the Maine Forestry Service coords for patient pick up and water drops. Works really well and saves lots of time for the pilots....

Unity Ambulance has one too . . . but they were a bit busy and apparently never relayed the coords . . . at least over the air -- they might have called the in via cell phone (though I kind of doubt it since they had multiple injuries.)

...that with the Magellan coordinates they did not land at the Oxford Race Track.... LOL!!!! Seriously, it is amazing how fast technology has become an important part of our lives. This is just another example. My fire department has not started to use GPSr's yet.

Team Teebow 1

So if I was out wandering in the woods one day and injured myself, and by some freak act of nature my cell phone was actually getting a signal, I could call 9-11 give them my coords and they would understand what I was saying?

Actually unless you disabled it, some newer cell phones send their position to the emergency responder if you dial 911.

So if I was out wandering in the woods one day and injured myself, and by some freak act of nature my cell phone was actually getting a signal, I could call 9-11 give them my coords and they would understand what I was saying?

I highly doubt that Lifeflight would take off though and search for you based solely on your cell phone call . . . but if you were able to get in touch with emergency providers I am sure that the Rangers, Game Wardens, Search and Rescue personnnel, etc. would be very familiar with coords . . . you'd want to be sure you let them know what type of coords you're using though.

I highly doubt that Lifeflight would take off though and search for you based solely on your cell phone call . . . but if you were able to get in touch with emergency providers I am sure that the Rangers, Game Wardens, Search and Rescue personnnel, etc. would be very familiar with coords . . . you'd want to be sure you let them know what type of coords you're using though.

so i shouldnt expect to see the 109e flyin overhead if i call in saying im stuck on the hill without any beer.... *sigh*

I hear them on the scanner all the time. They have a good web page at http://www.lifeflightmaine.org/

The scanner freqs. are
453.6500 LifeFlight of Maine (EMMC/CMMC)
and
458.6500 Lifeflight of Maine repeater on Streaked Mtn

At times I track them as they radio in the cords every few minutes while in the air. I've been able to see them fly by on more than one occasion. It's really amazing how busy they are. They are a great service for the state of Maine to have. My hat goes off to them!

So ever wonder what they are doing with those coordinates when they are radioed in?

If you can hear them try this. Plot the coordinates in a mapping program, Street Atlas or Topo works best. Get a couple of position reports and then try to figure out where they will be at the next report (they call in every 10 mins). See how close you can come.

That is what the comm spe******ts are doing, yes every time...

Actually the freqs that were mentioned are correct, but actually are used on multiple towers throughout the state and on Mt Washington.

Have fun...

It works great. The only thing that life flight has to remember is, put down the landing gear when they land!!!!!! This is no joke. It happen to us on the Stud Mill Road. OOOOPs, mess.

Hey Jake

On the life flight page they are looking for pictures for the 2008 calendar. If they use one of your pictures in the calendar you might get a nifty gift.

CG

Hey Jake

On the life flight page they are looking for pictures for the 2008 calendar. If they use one of your pictures in the calendar you might get a nifty gift.

CG

Thanks for thinking of me . . . but those pics were kind of cluttered by the building in the background . . . now if only Lifeflight had landed in a more scenic area! :D ;)

Incidentally, the 2007 calendar has a story that relates to the photos I took -- the photos on our site here were from a call at Unity Raceway when a guy shooting video footage was run over by a stock car and LifeFlighted to Bangor.

I have the utmost respect for firefighters and EMT's. They do a great job for our communities and GPS's are a great tool for this profession.

It seems like there are a lot of EMT and firefighters cachers out there.
It must be the prospect of finding...that draws them to this sport.

I wonder which is more frustrating...finding people that are lost in the woods, (injured or not) or finding someones devious find...:rolleyes:

either way its rewarding....

In the late 90s, when I lived in New Hampshire, I used to cross paths with the pilots at DHART http://www.dhmc.org/dhart.cfm

As I recall, they were building their own database of hospital helipads (or parking lots), ski areas, intersections and other possible landing zones in their service area. At one point I think they even drove around on their days off to take fixes. That is some serious dedication. And smart.

In the late 90s, when I lived in New Hampshire, I used to cross paths with the pilots at DHART http://www.dhmc.org/dhart.cfm

As I recall, they were building their own database of hospital helipads (or parking lots), ski areas, intersections and other possible landing zones in their service area. At one point I think they even drove around on their days off to take fixes. That is some serious dedication. And smart.

That's pretty impressive. I feel safer knowing this when I travel out to the W.Leb store to work. Thanks for the link.