by AllThingsECC.com | Apr 20, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
Emergency dispatch technology provider Prepared has raised $9.8 million in a seed funding round — fresh capital that amounts to a new bet on the growth of real-time and livestreamed 911 call data, and providing free tools to get there.
Prepared was founded in 2019 in New Haven, Conn., by three Yale University students and focuses on getting livestreamed and other real-time, “advanced data” from mobile 911 callers to dispatchers.
The tool fits into the larger trend of — and ongoing investor interest in — deploying technology that better serves the emergency response needs of mobile callers, and which allows more data to make its way to first responders in quick fashion…
by AllThingsECC.com | Apr 19, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
I’m from a little town in West Texas. As a Texan, I like getting straight to the point: I believe that emergency communications are a matter of national security. Because this message is so important, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has designated this April as the first-ever Emergency Communications Month.
At CISA, we are focused on two words: partnerships and culture. We cannot move forward in improving our nation’s security by ourselves; it requires partnership. We cannot move forward in overcoming challenges without fostering Collaboration, Innovation, Service, and Accountability—our CISA core values…
by ECC Editor | Apr 18, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
(TNS) – Their faces are never seen, but their voices are always heard. When you are panicking, they remain calm. They are the unseen heroes of first-responder agencies, the telecommunicators.
Public safety telecommunicators, sometimes known as emergency dispatchers, are being recognized this week during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines public safety telecommunicators as those who operate communication systems at 9-1-1 and other emergency centers, gather information from callers regarding public safety matters, then relay that information to appropriate emergency response personnel to respond. They also may offer aid or instructions to callers at times… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Apr 18, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
“9-1-1. What is your emergency?”
“I’ve shot my entire family, and I’ll kill anyone that tries to stop me, even the cops and firefighters. I have explosives. Don’t come near my house.”
The assumption is that any dispatcher who is on the other end of this call immediately would activate SWAT, the bomb squad, fire and EMS. However, something is missing in the caller’s voice that you, the reader, can’t detect: urgency…
by AllThingsECC.com | Apr 18, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
Much has happened since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States on Jan. 20, 2020. That date marked the beginning of an ongoing change in our daily behaviors and caused the death of more than 950,000 people nationwide. Although first responders initiated strict protocols, immunity never could be expected.
According to the NFPA, in 2020, firefighter deaths doubled compared with deaths in 2019, with more than half of 2020’s fatalities attributed to COVID. A search of the U.S. Fire Administration database reveals that another 48 firefighters succumbed to the disease in 2021 as of press time. Put another way, dozens of first responders who survived 9/11 failed to survive the coronavirus…
by ECC Editor | Apr 16, 2022 | Articles, Comm Center News
First responders need robust 911 communication infrastructure that can handle high-pressure situations at a high volume or in case of disaster.
An all-encompassing first response starts the moment an emergency call is received. In these scenarios time is critical, so communication platforms need to be dependable and resilient. Public safety agencies like the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Service (Cal OES) are constantly aiming to improve the communication infrastructure in their 911 call centers. Down time — or any sort of compromised connectivity — is not an option. Helping local governments stay up to date with the latest and best available technology allows Cal OES to better support dispatchers, emergency responders, and ultimately save lives… READ MORE
