Thousands of accidental 911 calls coming into Hancock County’s 911 center (IN)

Thousands of accidental 911 calls coming into Hancock County’s 911 center (IN)

by | Jun 10, 2021 | Comm Center News

HANCOCK COUNTY — “We get them once an hour or more,” said Greg Duda, 911 Dispatcher, and Hancock County 911 Public Information Officer.

Duda said the Hancock County 911 Center is on track to beat the 7,300 accidental calls they received in 2020. Since January 1, the center has received 3,450 accidental calls. Summer and fall are the busiest times for calls like these so experienced dispatchers in the facility expect it to be a record year.

The issue has a trickle-down effect. When dispatchers receive hang-up calls or no response on the other end of a call they must investigate and ensure the caller is okay. Dispatchers will call back and try to get a response or text the phone to confirm it was an accidental phone call…

APCO, NENA, NASNA speakers cite ‘discussions’ to address NG911 funding issues

by | Jun 10, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News

Representatives of three organizations associated with 911 expressed some optimism that ongoing “discussions” between could lead to broader consensus on the language that should be included in any legislation to provide $15 billion in federal funds to accelerate the deployment of next-generation 911 (NG911) across the United States.

Personnel from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) made the statements in response to questions about NG911 funding during a webinar last week hosted by the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA)…

911 Services could receive boost from federal government COVID-19 relief funds (MO)

911 Services could receive boost from federal government COVID-19 relief funds (MO)

by | Jun 10, 2021 | Comm Center News

Franklin County officials would like to use federal COVID-19 stimulus money to improve emergency communication services, but they need to make sure it’s an allowable expenditure.

“We’re going to definitely look into that option if it’s doable,” Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker said after a Thursday workshop meeting.

The county recently received just over $10 million, the first of two payments it will receive as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. But officials are still not sure exactly what the money can be used on…

AT&T (T) Augments FirstNet Network in Northern Minnesota

by | Jun 10, 2021 | Comm Center News

AT&T Inc. T has announced the expansion of the FirstNet network that will augment the wireless communications of Northern Minnesota’s first responders.

FirstNet is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the FirstNet Authority — an independent agency within the federal government.

FirstNet is a nationwide, high-speed wireless broadband network that is dedicated to public safety. It allows first responders, emergency personnel and other essential workers to communicate during an emergency…

Coaching callers through CPR is part of daily routine for emergency dispatchers

Coaching callers through CPR is part of daily routine for emergency dispatchers

by | Jun 10, 2021 | Comm Center News

Dispatchers often coach bystanders by phone to help save people's lives, but it's great if they already know CPR. In this file photo, EMS instructor Robert Kelley helps Robert Ford, 31, of Galloway, with hand placement for chest compressions during a CPR class at the Columbus Fire Training Academy on the South Side.

After getting an incident address and callback number, emergency medical dispatchers ask two questions about a person in distress: “are they conscious?” and “are they breathing?”

If the answer to both is no, the person might be in cardiac arrest — and dispatchers advise callers that someone must begin CPR. A person has several minutes before they suffer irreversible organ damage said Lt. Sheldon Combs, a 31-year member of the Columbus Division of Fire and communications liaison. 

“The body starts dying off after a certain point of lack of oxygen,” he said…