by AllThingsECC.com | Feb 9, 2021 | Comm Center News
AUSTIN, TX — In the latest example of a new city function created with funds reallocated from the police budget, Austin 911 operators have begun testing a fourth triage option for mental health services as part of their script.
“Austin 9-1-1, do you need police, fire, EMS, or mental health services?” callers now hear when making an emergency call. Austin is believed to be the first city in the U.S. to offer the option, an added service that is an offshoot of continual reform on the local police department after officers’ reactions to protesters in May and June of last year when some demonstrators were seriously hurt by non-lethal projectiles fired into crowds of protesters.
by ECC Editor | Feb 9, 2021 | Comm Center News
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) — UPDATE: 02/08 11:33 a.m.: Electrical issues affecting the Hawaii Island Police Department’s communications center has been resolved, says HPD.
Hawaii Island police (HPD) are reporting electrical issues with its communications center resulting in limited phone services. HPD says they are still able to answer calls and provide service, but advise the public to anticipate slight delays… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Feb 9, 2021 | Comm Center News
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — In an emergency, seconds matter and that’s why CBS 17 has continued to closely follow the COVID-19 outbreak at the Durham 911 call center.
The call takers and dispatchers are required to quickly process the information they’re given by the public and relay it to first responders.
Since December, CBS 17 has been looking into the Durham 911 call center. Director of the center, Randy Beeman, said a COVID-19 outbreak created staffing shortages…
by AllThingsECC.com | Feb 8, 2021 | Comm Center News
SANDERSVILLE, Ga. — A Washington County 911 dispatcher was on duty earlier this week when she got a call about a house fire at her house. Alicia Napier has been a Washington County dispatcher for about 20 years, the same amount of time she’s lived on Anderson Drive in Sandersville. Napier said she received the emergency call on Monday around 3 p.m. from her 21-year-old son, who had been napping at home…
by AllThingsECC.com | Feb 8, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Public safety represents a growing challenge for cities around the globe.
As urban populations grow, smart cities are leveraging new digital technologies to monitor and optimise water and energy consumption, enhance citizen access to services, create effective transportation infrastructures and deliver the city-wide connectivity that citizens and businesses need.
The building blocks of smart cities are 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) /cloud. There is no doubt that to carry the weight of the smart city of the future, the mobile network will need to be fast, responsive and stable to handle a vast amount of data…
by AllThingsECC.com | Feb 8, 2021 | Comm Center News
NICE today announced that it has opened nominations for the 2021 PSAPs’ Finest Awards, an annual recognition program for emergency communications (ECC) professionals now in its sixteenth year. Awards are presented each year in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement, Communications Center Director, Line Supervisor, Technician, Trainer, Telecommunicator, Innovator, and PSAP of the Year. For 2021, NICE is also adding an Above & Beyond award to acknowledge the exemplary contributions of front-line emergency communications professionals during these particularly challenging times…
