COVID-19 outbreak hits Pierce County emergency call center (WA)

COVID-19 outbreak hits Pierce County emergency call center (WA)

South Sound 911 says only 44% of its essential employees were vaccinated before this outbreak, but since then, several employees have chosen to get the vaccine.

TACOMA, Wash. — South Sound 911 in Pierce County was rocked by COVID-19.

The emergency call center stated 15 employees recently tested positive for the virus, with the first popping up in late July. Employees worked overtime and supervisors pitched in working dispatch radios and answering calls in order to not disrupt service. 

The outbreak is giving other first responders a look at the impact an outbreak can have on a department…

Dispatchers aid public when emergencies occur (NM)

Dispatchers aid public when emergencies occur (NM)

Shift Supervisor Raelynn Villarreal enters information at Pecos Valley Regional Communications Center.

If you need help in an emergency in Roswell or anywhere else in Chaves County, chances are you will be talking to one of the dispatchers at the Pecos Valley Regional Communications Center. The telecommunicators of PVRCC answer all 911 calls made in Chaves County and dispatch emergency fire, police and medical services for the city of Roswell, Chaves County Sheriff’s Office, and all police, fire and EMS agencies within the county.

In all, PVRCC does the dispatching for 20 agencies consisting of 12 fire departments, five law enforcement agencies and three EMS services…

Operator shortage means 911 calls await answers in Savannah (GA)

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Some Savannah-area residents are experiencing delays when they call 911.

Chatham County Manager Lee Smith tells The Savannah Morning News that the emergency call center has about 20 vacancies for operators. A full staff is about 100 operators.

“It’s a major problem, but we’re not at a crisis yet,” Smith said.

People say that when they call, sometimes they get repeated rings. Former Savannah City Council member Julian Miller said he made several calls trying to report a person with medical problems along a city street…
911 Dispatch Centers hiring across the region (WI)

911 Dispatch Centers hiring across the region (WI)

FOX VALLEY, Wis. (WFRV) – 911 dispatchers are the heart of public safety operations and many are hiring across Northeast Wisconsin.

Staff Sergeant Erik Nielson of the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office said, “We are hiring for the telecommunicator position for Outagamie County. I think the biggest thing for us is we’re looking for people that want to make public safety a career.”

Communications Captain Lara Vendola-Messer of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said, “We’re actually sort of perpetually hiring. We keep an open application period and keep processes several times a year.”

The communications centers in Outagamie and Winnebago counties said while they are hiring they have enough people to ensure public safety but employees have to do overtime to keep them fully staffed…

Accenture Helps Fire Department of New York City Launch New Dispatch System

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) have developed a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system – FireCAD – replacing the now-retired STARFIRE system, and marking the most significant operational upgrade to the FDNY’s dispatch operations in 45 years.

FireCAD supports the dispatch and response of FDNY firefighters to fires and other public-safety-related incidents throughout the city’s five boroughs. It is a core platform underpinning the work of FDNY’s critical emergency services, which respond to more than 1.5 million 911 calls annually, serving more than 8.5 million residents in a 302-square-mile area…