by ECC Editor | Feb 24, 2022 | Comm Center News
FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — The Forsyth County Emergency Department said 911 calls and emergency department services are at an all-time high as they continue to deal with staffing shortages.
“In the past couple of years, especially in the pandemic, we’ve seen an extremely large increase in calls for service,” Daren Ziglar, Director of Emergency Services, said.
Now, they’re using a new program in partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist to help take some of the load off. On top of that, they’re making sure each patient gets the help they need… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | Feb 24, 2022 | Comm Center News
Regardless of the type of emergency, virtually every one of them begins with someone dialing 911. In 2021, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Communications Center answered 527,050 phone calls from people seeking assistance in unincorporated King County and its contract cities. The Center never closes — its employees have been on the job throughout COVID-19, snow storms, forest fires, excessive heat, social protests, and more.
To recognize the great work that takes place in this important department, each year employees nominate and vote on their co-workers who best represent the professionalism and dedication required in their department. The 2021 honorees are… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | Feb 23, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is responsible for establishing a nationwide public-safety broadband network. GAO identified four key statutory requirements and contract responsibilities currently performed by FirstNet that the Congress should address before FirstNet would sunset in 2027. For example, FirstNet oversees the network contract awarded to AT&T in 2017 (see figure). The current statute does not identify another federal entity to assume oversight when FirstNet sunsets. Without any legislative action, network operations and improvements would be at risk and could result in the loss of service for public-safety users. Another example is FirstNet’s responsibility to collect fees and to reinvest these funds to enhance the network. FirstNet expects to collect and reinvest $18 billion in fees from AT&T over the 25-year duration of the contract with AT&T… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | Feb 23, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
By Edward Parkinson, CEO, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)
Broadband has become the lifeblood of our economy. It is also essential to our national security and public safety, a fact that first responders recognized many years ago. The tragedies of September 11th revealed fundamental problems with the communication systems used by our nation’s first responders. They needed a more advanced telecommunications infrastructure for their lifesaving mission, a reliable one to help them communicate and share information during emergencies and daily operations… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | Feb 22, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
After 18 years in the market, the latest Skype update finally allows users to utilize the said video conferencing app for emergency calls.
In addition to this, the said Skype 911 call update now lets users to share location. “The three-digit telephone number “9-1-1” has been designated as the “Universal Emergency Number” for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance,” per Nena. The organization added that this is a national phone number that connects people with a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) quickly and easily… READ MORE
