"labtech_one" wrote in message
...

"brad" wrote in message
. ..
chances of a ham radio operator being 'at hand' at that time,
is about the same as flagging down a squad or a police car.

Actaually no I don't have statistics, to back that up, (The number of
sworn
officers of local agencies in USA is 1.5 per 1,000 of population.) that
means
that there would be at least 450,000 police alone, but there are well over
1 million police and fire personel in the USA, somehow I don't believe
ham radio carries quite that number, last I heard.( the ARRL reports
150,000-members ) So actually finding a police or EMS/Fire person,
should be easier.

in 2000 there were almost 700,000 licensed hams in the US.