Minka Giles, a Chicago police dispatcher, loves to travel.
She’s been to 34 states and nine countries and, like many travelers, she began to acquire a lot of hotel toiletries.
“One day it was like ‘Well, what do I do with all this stuff?’” she said.
So she began to give the items to homeless people.And she tapped her friends at the police department for help…
BARRE — City councilors have endorsed a plan to upgrade emergency communications in central Vermont, as well as a proposal to equip the city’s police officers with body-worn cameras, though both are contingent on securing significant funding from other sources.
When it comes to the proposed emergency communications upgrade — one that is being pursued in conjunction with Montpelier — the estimated cost exceeds $4.6 million and, councilors were told Tuesday night, the hope is to secure nearly $4 million through a mix of state and federal funding…
FORT MYERS
On the 35th anniversary of 911 in Lee County, leaders announced the Next Generation 911 technology for improved location services when placing a 911 call is now active. The upgrade will also mean that residents and visitors soon will be able to send pictures and video through text-to-911 services to help emergency responders.
By providing callers with a link to upload files, emergency services call takers in Lee County will be able to see pictures, videos or livestream from a scene. Callers will not have the option to send until prompted…
Everyone knows that 9-1-1 is a universal number that should be called in the event of an emergency … or do they?
All over the United States ,9-1-1 Centers have encountered hurdles when educating the public when it comes to the 9-1-1 and its uses. That’s why Vermilion Valley Regional Emergency Communications Joint Authority (Vcom) is urging all educational organizations, parents and caregivers to assist with the “9-1-1 Education” during the month of April as part of National 9-1-1 Education Month.
The goal will be to educate as many people on 9-1-1, its uses, its challenges and the future capabilities during the month. Vcom will have education materials available during the month of April… READ MORE
Local first responders are using a new app to simplify communicating the exact locations of those in need of assistance. The app is called what3words (W3W) and can be downloaded for free. It divides the Earth’s surface into squares 3 meters per side, (57 trillion of them) and assigns a unique combination of three common words to each one. A person calling for help can give those three words to a dispatcher, who can easily communicate the exact location to police, fire or medical personnel.
Ride and delivery services are using the app, as well as businesses and humanitarian organizations seeking to improve “last mile delivery efficiency” (from what3words.com.) In 2018, Mercedes-Benz acquired a 10% share in the company and has begun incorporating the system into its onboard entertainment and navigation systems… READ MORE
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
