Gallatin County may put public safety levies on June ballot (MT)

The Gallatin County Commission will decide on Tuesday whether to ask voters to approve tax increases for public safety on the June 2 ballot.

The commissioners are considering two mill levies — one for the 911 Dispatch Center and one for Search and Rescue.

The 911 Dispatch Center is seeking an increase to its budget of six mills — about $2.1 million — bringing the department’s total mill levy from…

Emergency Services Center to get new phone system (TX)

The Emergency Services Center on County Services Drive is getting a new phone system.

Members of the Putnam County Emergency Communications District unanimously approved the emergency purchase of a new Mitel phone system for the building Thursday.

The purchase is not to exceed $41,000. There are 64 phones in the emergency services building, Putnam County 911 Director Penny Foister said…READ MORE

Safeguards help prevent false wireless emergency alerts in NC, but some mistakes are inevitable (NC)

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Wireless Emergency Alerts allow public safety officials to send warnings directly to cell phones in case of a potentially life-threatening incident. Recently, though, erroneous alerts have gone out with long delays in correcting the messages.

It isn’t a new concept. False alarms aren’t new, either.

On Feb. 20, 1971, at 9:33 a.m. on a Saturday, wire service teletypes across the United States spit out an… READ MORE

Partnership helps dispatchers map AEDs in Stearns County (MN)

A partnership in Stearns County is bringing more awareness to heart health.

February is American Heart Month, and now there’s a new dispatch mapping tool to locate where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are throughout the county.

“I had a heart attack 15 years ago,” said Joel Vogel, with Advocates for Health.

Vogel has six stents in his heart and knows all too well how important timing is during these medical emergencies…

Emergency Services Center to get new phone system (TN)

The Emergency Services Center on County Services Drive is getting a new phone system. Members of the Putnam County Emergency Communications District unanimously approved the emergency purchase of a new Mitel phone system for the building Thursday.

The purchase is not to exceed $41,000. There are 64 phones in the emergency services building, Putnam County 911 Director Penny Foister said… READ MORE

There’s a bill that would classify 911 dispatchers as first responders, and this local union is supporting it (VA)

They’re the first voice of reason you’ll hear when tragedy strikes, maintaining a calm steadiness all the while also ensuring first responders get to you in the safest and most efficient manner.

They’re public safety telecommunicators or 911 dispatchers though Donald Dinse, president and lobbyist for the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2498 union, said the term… READ MORE