A growing call load coupled with lagging recruitment could be a recipe for disaster for Wisconsin fire and emergency medical service agencies, according to a study conducted by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
“Unless they are appropriately addressed, fire and EMS financial and staffing challenges may soon have a real impact on public safety,” the report says.
Grafton fire chief William Rice said Ozaukee County is no stranger to these issues. Both locally and nationally, fire departments have seen a growing need for ambulances for years, Rice said. But unlike larger, more urban communities like the City of Milwaukee, most don’t have the staff or funding to meet these demands… READ MORE
Garland County recently announced the latest promotions within the Garland County Communications Center.
“These promotions are the result of independent emergency communications testing, as well as a series of independent and internal interviews, conducted earlier in the year,” James Martin, director Garland County 911 Communications Center, said in a news release.
Brittney Bettis was promoted from Level II telecommunicator to Level III telecommunicator, the release said… READ MORE
Midlothian’s 9-1-1 operators recently began using medical dispatch protocols designed to provide immediate response to callers’ needs and at the same time dispatch emergency personnel without delay.
While previous procedures limited dispatchers to obtaining the location where help was needed and a brief description of the emergency, new protocols allow them to provide instructions for treating the emergency until help arrives…
The St. Joseph Police Department needs communications operators, and officials are looking for applicants.
Capt. John Olszowka recently took over the command center at the police department. They field calls for the police, fire, EMS and sheriff’s departments.
Olszowka said they’re concerned about staffing during a busy storm season…
MUNCIE, Ind. — A new 911 director has been hired for Delaware County.
Bernard “Fred” Cummings will oversee the Delaware County Emergency Communications Center when he arrives in Muncie to take the position in mid-January. He has been serving as a PSAP (public safety answering points) shift supervisor in a suburb of Minneapolis, according interim 911 director Barry Ritter.
PSAPs are the primary answering points for wireless 911 calls…
GATESVILLE — Because of staffing shortages at the Gates County 911 center, Perquimans County’s 911 center is also temporarily providing dispatching services in the neighboring county.
Gates County Manager Tim Wilson said the Gates County 911 Communications Center enacted its mutual aid agreement with the Perquimans County 911 Center on Friday, Dec. 17.
Under the agreement, the Gates County 911 Dispatch Center has temporarily relocated to the 911 center in Perquimans and Gates telecommunicators began working at the Perquimans center at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17… 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.
