‘It was a mild evening in August when, offshore, a breeze picks up and three kayakers in the water start to separate and drift out.’
We’ve all unfortunately heard these stories; what begins as a bit of fun rapidly turns into a dangerous situation with lives on the line. This holiday season is likely to be no different as the sunshine brings crowds, chaos and often crisis conditions. And, whilst the public unwinds, frontline services gear up for what can be their busiest time of year, from wildfires and extreme weather to festival crowds and resort emergencies.
This spike in demand is also set against the backdrop of global warming, with Europe warming at twice the global average, adding another dimension to the complex and busy holiday season.
This is when experienced operators view summer as a test of readiness, not just for people, but for the systems and tools that underpin safety.
Let’s explore the key summer scenarios and the communication strategies that help frontline staff stand up to the heat.
When the great outdoors calls
Summertime brings a flurry of human activity, from beach holidays and festivals to crowded parks and remote hiking. More people head into the great outdoors, often underprepared and unaware that mobile coverage disappears fast in hills, forests and national parks.
This puts demand on a wide range of frontline roles: security teams, lifeguards, national park rangers, emergency responders, resort staff and transport operators.
A solo hiker overdue from a route with no signal, a cluster of campervans in a remote valley near a wildfire outbreak, an unforeseen incident at a festival, these are the moments when connectivity is a lifeline for frontline workers and when radio communications come into their own.
Even where the terrain, crowds or network outages create barriers, radios extend reach over a secure channel and provide the voice clarity where mobile networks fail. In practice, this means that responders can still talk instantly, clearly, and without competing for bandwidth with the public.
This enhanced communications starts with a broad choice of network coverage and with automatic network switching to keep teams connected to command centres. From digital mobile radio (DMR) and P25 technologies, including simulcast networks, to compact portable repeaters and mesh networks, these technologies form the agile, ad hoc infrastructure needed to extend coverage to remote areas. Open standards are crucial for interoperability when teams need to coordinate seamlessly with other agencies and technologies.
In September 2024, when Hurricane Helene struck Ashville and Buncombe County, North Carolina, both residents and first responders faced a loss of internet and communication services. Despite this, the county's 14-site Tait Communications P25 trunked radio system continued to operate, ensuring communication during the disaster and recovery phases, even as other networks like cellular and fibre ceased to function.
And this level of communication security isn’t just required for emergencies. Large-scale festivals and stadium events pose many logistical, operational and safety challenges for organisers who need to keep the public and workers safe. Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) provides the coverage and tailored capacity to match the event type and size or to extend coverage where it’s needed.
With features like end-to-end encryption, secure network access and proven availability, PMR systems are designed to safeguard comms front-to-back and can also support on-rig computing and live video streaming ready to accelerate decision-making.
GPS – When seconds save lives
When conditions are high-stress, situations can quickly get out of hand, and workers can sometimes become casualties themselves. With GPS-enabled radios, command centres can track and pinpoint the locations of workers instantly. One-touch emergency buttons also provide the added protection needed for staff operating alone or under threat.
It’s an uncomfortable fact, but a delay in locating a missing person can be fatal. Embedding GPS and other radio features like Lone Worker and Man Down detection into comms devices turns lone worker regulation into real-world safety.
As one park ranger puts it, “With Man Down alerts and GPS, we remove the guesswork. We don’t waste time calling and hoping, we see where help is needed, and we get there."
This can be further enhanced with advanced safety and location services like Incident Management Software and Biometric monitoring. These solutions integrate biometric devices with portable radios to transmit real-time physiological data to control rooms, enabling proactive incident management and potentially preventing injuries or fatalities.
Wearable sensors collect and transmit vital signs like heart rate, body temperature and other relevant data from workers in the field. Command centres can set up alerts for abnormal readings and trigger responses if a worker is in distress. These are the technological solutions that make the difference in the field.
Search and rescue – connecting across terrain
For teams at the sharp end of summer response, search and rescue (SAR) teams face a simple truth: if they can’t communicate, they can’t coordinate.
That’s why rugged, glove-friendly radios, dedicated frequencies, and the ability to operate in direct mode (DMO) become non-negotiable features. With DMO, responders can operate directly team-to-team, without infrastructure, so when the weather, landscape or disaster gets in the way of fixed communications, DMO keeps people talking.
Record-breaking fire season
As of mid-August, The European Commission’s EFFIS reports 1,628 fires detected in the EU so far in 2025, burning 439,568 hectares, far above the 188,643 hectares recorded last year.
Wildfires destroy more than land; they wipe out mobile towers, power lines and other communications infrastructure. Fire crews cannot depend on anything fragile or easily disrupted. That’s why radios, with IP ratings and high-clarity audio designed for extreme noise environments, are a necessity, not a nice-to-have.
With ATEX and IP, radios are proven to work and keep working in volatile environments. IP ratings show how well a device is sealed against dust and water, vital when conditions are smoky, wet or unpredictable.
The climate factor – growing demand
As we are all becoming increasingly aware, rising temperatures and climate extremes mean that the risks of natural disasters such as wildfires are growing year on year. According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 saw the hottest summer ever recorded in Europe.
For many emergency planners, the conversation has shifted from ‘how do we handle this summer?’ to ‘how do we adapt to a permanently higher baseline of risk?’
This shift is driving demand for equipment that can operate reliably in even the harshest of conditions. This can range from lighter gear with more battery life, to integrated sensors, or software that automates situational awareness.
When the heat is on, comms holds it together
Summer now means more risk, more pressure, which in turn causes more uncertainty. But seasoned operators know that radio technology and how it is integrated and deployed into planning, training, and decision-making is a life-saving difference.
Meanwhile, as the summer unfolds, there are many major sporting events on the horizon, including the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 and the UEFA Women's Euros, which will bring fresh pressure on frontline teams. With packed stadiums, fan zones, and busy transport hubs, the demand for reliable, real-time comms will remain critical. Because when the pressure rises, comms must perform.
Ready to Enhance Your Communications?
Tait’s mission-critical communications help frontline workers and agencies tackle modern challenges. Whether you’re coordinating multi-agency response at a busy festival or supporting volunteer crews in remote wildland districts, Tait’s hybrid-ready solutions, proven support, and trusted partnerships ensure you deliver life-saving communications.
Would you like an audit of your communications? Are you ready to review your readiness? Reach out to Tait for help and support in enhancing your radio communications. Tait keeps you safe, efficient and connected, whatever your communications demand, now and into the future.
Reference
Key Facts: Europe’s Warming Reality
• Europe is heating up at twice the global rate
• Summer 2024 was the hottest on record, with temperatures 1.54 °C above the 1991–2020 average
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/copernicus-global-climate-report-2024-confirms-last-year-warmest-record-first-ever-above-15degc-2025-01-10_en
• Wildfires burned around 400,000 hectares across Europe — with Southern regions particularly affected https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc/2024/wildfires
• Emergency services see a >30% rise in call-outs during extreme heat events https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10616749/
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