by ECC Editor | May 10, 2022 | Comm Center News
In an emergency, seconds count. You quickly dial 9-1-1, tell the call-taker what has happened, and within minutes responders arrive to the scene. While it seems simple enough, there is a lot going on in the background to make it all happen.
To ensure 9-1-1 staff and frontline responders can communicate effectively in order to provide a timely response, we have a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, which serves as the backbone of our emergency response. It is a sophisticated suite of software and technical components that allows for 9-1-1 call handling and dispatching, GIS mapping, station alerting, and data analysis… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | May 9, 2022 | Comm Center News
LISBON –Efforts by the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency leaders along with Commissioner Tim Weigle continue to pursue additional funding for operation of next generation 911 for this and other counties across the state may have begun to pay off.
Brian Rutledge, 911 Coordinator, reported to members at Thursday’s meeting of the Columbiana County 911 Emergency Service Committee the state committee looking at concerns for funding ESInet for the state are considering increasing the fees for users of the system. Not only is the state committee considering raising the cost of the fee attached to cell phones from 25 cents to 70 cents, the plan would include adding fees for other smart devices or means of communication such as tablets and land lines… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | May 9, 2022 | Comm Center News
When two new parents in Boulder, Colorado, discovered their newborn was unconscious and not breathing, their saving grace was a man named Rob Schimoler.
Schimoler is a 911 communications dispatcher. While police officers and firemen often get the credit for being first responders, dispatchers are really a person’s first line to help in an emergency. When they do their job well — as Schimoler did — they are the difference between life and death.
The first call the frantic father made was a hang-up call. Schimoler called back, explained who he was, and asked if there was an emergency.
“The man replied ‘Yes. My baby is not breathing,’” a post from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office stated. “Rob asked some additional questions to gain more information.
“The baby was just under four weeks old and was neither conscious nor breathing.”
To make matters worse, the family was located in a remote mountain area, and help was not close, putting the burden of the response on the parents themselves and their coach, Schimoler.
While help made the long journey out to the parents and infant, Schimoler stayed on the line for 14 minutes, giving the parents step-by-step instructions on performing infant CPR and counting off the timing for them.
“Two breaths were given, followed by thirty, two finger chest compressions, one and one-half inches deep and at least twice per second,” the post continued. “Rob was their metronome, counting ‘1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4’ as they provided the compressions.”
And it worked. Within minutes, the baby started to cry.
While the 4-week-old was far from stable, the fire department soon arrived and was able to take over and get the baby the emergency care it needed.
Coal Creek Canyon Assistant Fire Chief Ceurvorst was clear about Schimoler’s impact, though, recognizing him as the family’s hero.
“I wanted to reach out to commend your dispatch team on this morning’s one-month old patient,” Ceurvorst said in a statement.
“I’m not sure who was guiding the parents through infant CPR, but they certainly deserve a shout out. The infant had just started breathing and crying on our arrival. We had a lot to do to stabilize this newborn, but it would not have been possible without the good CPR prior to our arrival.
“Our jobs, both in Dispatch and Fire, are challenging and we often do not achieve the patient outcomes that we would like, but the success of today’s incident makes all the training and sacrifices we endure so worth it. We were fortunate that it was our day to be heroes. Strong work!”
The sheriff’s office also praised Schimoler’s calm professionalism and skill, credited him with helping the parents save the baby’s life and recognized his work with a Life-Saving Award.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
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by AllThingsECC.com | May 9, 2022 | Comm Center News
Hawkins County 911 director Lynn Campbell is preparing to make his case before the Hawkins County Budget Committee next week on why his department needs a county funding increase of the first time since 2012.
Campbell told the Review he beileves the numbers speak for themselves:
2012 Calls for Service – 39,275 with two dispatchers per shift.
2021 Calls for Service – 63,732 with two dispatchers per shift.
That’s a 62.3% Increase in dispatched calls…
by ECC Editor | May 9, 2022 | Comm Center News
MANCHESTER — Selectmen answered the public’s remaining questions regarding the town’s dispatch operations at the final public hearing on the topic last week.
At Town Election on May 17, voters will decide whether to dissolve the town’s dispatch services and join North Shore Regional 911 of Middleton or keep operations local by reinvesting in personnel, hardware and software.
Attendees at Thursday’s hearing asked about a potential “exit strategy” if the town chooses to regionalize. North Shore Regional 911 is offering Manchester a contract through 2029 that is subject to renewal… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | May 9, 2022 | Comm Center News
Because the ambulance companies aren’t based locally, they say they aren’t familiar with the areas.
JASPER, Texas — When lives are at risk, emergency services response times for ambulances are critical, especially in rural areas.
Slow response times or sometimes no response at all have become an ongoing crisis in both Jasper and Newton Counties.
Not having an ambulance provider under contract to keep an ambulance available in a rural county can be the difference between life or death…
