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…
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
Doni Whitecotton of Granite Shoals, the communications manager for the Llano County Sheriff’s Office, in the telecommunications hub at the Law Enforcement Center on Texas 16 west of the Llano River. Staff photo by Suzanne Freeman
They are the first of the first responders, the initial problem solvers in what emergency managers call the chain of survival. Dispatchers in Llano and Burnet counties work for their respective sheriffs, taking 911 calls, gathering information, and deciding which services should be sent where in what many times are life-or-death situations. And they do it all simultaneously within seconds of answering a call with “What is your emergency?” …
s our nation celebrates National Telecommunicators Week, the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT) wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to those men and women that answer our 9-1-1 calls. These professionals provide critical life-saving assistance by connecting each of us to police, fire, and emergency medical services during times of emergency.
While it is important to acknowledge the selfless efforts of our 9-1-1 telecommunicators during this national week of recognition, it is even more essential to ensure they have the most advanced 9-1-1 systems available to perform their jobs. Consequently, iCERT urges Congress to make the deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 across our country a national priority and to provide state and local authorities with the resources needed to effectively protect our citizens, communities, and nation… READ MORE
It is common knowledge that over the past five years the FirstNet Authority and FirstNet (Built with AT&T) have built the only nationwide public-safety broadband network and made it available to all first-responder agencies that opt in to FirstNet. Many new communications tools for first responders have come about as the network has matured but these advances seem to have been taken for granted and they have not received as much attention as they deserve. (Here, “Tools” obviously does not refer to hoses, axes, side-arms, or the like. These tools are hardware and software used primarily on FirstNet.)
Some of these tools began as ideas that were hatched at either the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) facility that is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) located in Boulder, Colo., or they were first reviewed and tested at the FirstNet Innovation and Test Lab, also in Boulder…
More than 35,000 people die each year in traffic crashes, and there’s no doubt that number would be higher if there was not 911 to call when a crash happens. This is one of the reasons that the National 911 Program is housed in NHTSA’s Office of Emergency Medical Services. Another reason: when you call 911, it’s just not about 911 telecommunicators providing help over the phone, but often getting help to your location.
Speaking of 911 telecommunicators, now is the time to tell them thanks — it’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This year’s celebration starts April 10 and runs through April 16. National 911 organizations and federal agencies are all recognizing the role of 911 with a variety of ideas, like 911 Tree of Life,CISA, and sending messages on social media… READ MORE
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
