Dual-mesh network and communication system for emergency services personnel

A method of maintaining a communications link with multiple portable devices configured to be carried by emergency services personnel while on-site at an emergency location, the method comprising:

• wirelessly broadcasting an alarm message over a first network from a target portable device configured to be carried by emergency services personnel while on-site at an emergency location, the alarm message identifying the target portable device;
• wirelessly broadcasting a search message between the portable devices, the search message identifying the target portable device;
• and
• transmitting a target message from the target portable device over the second network, the target message being received by other portable devices.

A method for locating a portable device, the method comprising:

• configuring multiple portable devices to communicate with one another over a broadcasting mesh network, the portable devices being carried by emergency services personnel while on-site at an emergency location;
• wirelessly broadcasting, from a target portable device, target transmission signal over the broadcasting mesh network, the target transmission signal including a device identification (ID) uniquely identifying the target portable device;
• detecting, at a tracking portable device carried by an emergency services person, the target transmission signal from the broadcasting mesh network;
• and
• estimating a relative location of the target portable device with respect to the tracking portable device based on the target transmission signal.