by ECC Editor | May 17, 2021 | Comm Center News
Early hang-up calls are a common problem for Buchanan County dispatchers, something that can make the process more difficult for emergency responders.
Sometimes callers hang up out of frustration or thinking it will lead to a faster response time, Melody Reese, a Buchanan County emergency medical dispatcher, said. But it’s important to stay on the line so dispatchers know if a situation changes.
“Your call may have started with chest pain and now, a minute into the call, that patient’s gone unresponsive,” she said. “We want to know that so we can update the crew… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | May 15, 2021 | Comm Center News
It’s been more than six months since Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery) raised a red flag over a lack of 911 fee audits from the Maryland Comptroller’s office — but she says she’s yet to receive any data.
Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) had paused audits due to the pandemic, but agreed to resume 911 fee audits after Kagan warned of a lack of oversight last November. Although those audits have since resumed, Kagan said in a Thursday letter to Franchot that the state’s Next Generation 911 Commission hasn’t received any information from the comptroller’s office… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | May 14, 2021 | Comm Center News
YORK, Pa. (WHTM) — The York County Commissioners on Wednesday approved an agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to provide support in implementing Next Generation 911 services.
Next Generation 911 will transition Pennsylvania’s current 911 infrastructure to an internet protocol-based system. The process is expected to take a year before the first region in PA is activated on the Next Generation service.
Some of the improvements that come with NG911 include:
- Receive incoming calls faster with more accurate caller information.
- Transfer 911 calls and call information to the correct jurisdiction.
- Rely on modern Geographic Information System or GIS technology to locate a caller’s location.
- Securely receive other communications like text messages, photos, and videos… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | May 14, 2021 | Comm Center News
ROGERS COUNTY, Okla. — The American Heart Association is pushing for more 911 call takers in Oklahoma to be trained in Telecommunicator CPR, a technique that walks you through performing CPR over the phone in case of an emergency.
Rogers County call taker Jennifer Holden has used T-CPR a handful of times in less than two years on the job.
She received training about a year ago and says it allows her to walk whoever is on the other line through CPR even if they’ve never been trained… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | May 13, 2021 | Comm Center News
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) — 911 calls are still being put on hold in the City of St. Louis, months after News 4 Investigates exposed the problem. Dispatchers are telling News 4 a program meant to help people is actually slowing down the system even more.
Maureen Ramsey has worked for St. Louis’ 911 system for 44 years. She said handling calls for homicides, assaults, crimes against kids is all just a part of her job. But what stresses her out are the calls put on hold.
“It’s the six-year-old getting shot that the phone is not getting answered because they are all on other calls, that scares the hell out of me,” Ramsey said… READ MORE
