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Courie: Focusing on first responder mental health and wellness
Not many people can understand or empathize with the things first responders encounter during an emergency or even on a daily basis. Public safety service comes with great personal sacrifice, and many first responders silently carry the burden. Trauma can be difficult...
Voices from the frontlines: FirstNet devices help first responders coordinate across jurisdictions during the pandemic
By: David Buchanan, Director of Public Safety Engagement, First Responder Network Authority As a part of the COVID-19 response, first responders are turning to FirstNet-enabled devices to make emergency communications efficient and effective during this critical time....
Columbus expanding ‘Right Response Unit’ to provide more social workers to 911 call center (OH)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The 'Right Response Unit,' a triage pod in the city's 911 emergency call center, is expanding. It started as a pilot program in June. State certified clinicians are on hand to take 911 calls and help those in crisis. When there...
Red Deer allocates $1.29 million provincial grant towards Next Generation 9-1-1 telephone system (Canada)
Red Deer city council approved on Monday the use of an additional $1.29 million in provincial grant funding towards the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) telephone system. The NG9-1-1, an expansion in 9-1-1 services mandated by the Canadian Radio-Television and...
NY Pilot of FirstNet Public Safety Network Enhances Operational Readiness and Emergency Response
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a successful collaboration between the New York Power Authority and AT&T to pilot FirstNet, built with AT&T, as part of a NYPA private wireless Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology pilot project. FirstNet is the only...
Georgia Senate committee passes bill to overhaul 911 training
Reveal Chief Investigator Brendan Keefe reported Tuesday afternoon that the bill had advanced unanimously out of the Georgia Senate Public Safety Committee. ATLANTA — A Georgia Senate committee has passed a bill overhauling the state's 911 system and training...
Philadelphia Mom Unites With 911 Dispatcher Who Helped Deliver Her Baby While In The Car (PA)
A Philadelphia mother was united with the 911 dispatcher who helped coach her during childbirth, Today reports. In November, Charlotte Fatoma went into labor en route to the hospital and eventually called 911, where dispatcher Elyce Rivera took her call. Rivera, who...
PulsePoint launches in Johnson County, calling on people to help cardiac arrest victims (IA)
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KWWL) - Fifty-seven percent of all U.S. adults say they have some kind of CPR training, but only 11% say they've ever actually used it. Those numbers are according to PulsePoint, a smart phone app trying to use the community at large to save lives...
Looking Back at Washington County Communications Center’s First Year (IA)
It’s been a little over a year since the new Washington County Communications Center began operations, and in the past year it’s already proved its worth in different ways. Safety was no concern for the dispatch staff in their tornado shelter-grade building when the...
Durham 911 Center begins assessment to renew accreditation amid staffing shortage (NC)
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Just because something is routine doesn't make it any less rigorous. "It all boils down to consistency, best practices, continual improvement and constantly looking at your policies and procedures," Zeta Fail, a lead assessor at the Commission...
Groups Issue Joint Statement on EMS Lights and Siren Responses
Editor’s Note: Thirteen associations have released a joint statement on lights and siren use in emergency medical services response. The statement is posted below verbatim. The National Association of EMS Physicians and the then National Association of State EMS...
Dispatch mix-up sends emergency crews to Toledo for fire in Sylvania (OH)
SYLVANIA, Ohio (WTVG) - Residents of Sylvania have questions after several people called about a potentially deadly car fire last week and emergency crews were sent to Toledo instead. This is coming as Lucas County has implemented a new county-wide 911 system that...
911 dispatch training bill considered (IN)
STATEHOUSE – Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) creating minimum training requirements for 911 dispatchers could soon be law. Frye, chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety, said 911 dispatchers are already required...
911 financial advice sought from county (OH)
LISBON — Already ahead of other counties, Columbiana County is being asked to share financial figures about the current 911 system in the county. The Public-Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operations subcommittee met this week and is scheduled to report some actual...
Delayed: Ambulance Response Times Suffer From EMS Worker Shortage (MA)
When you call 911, every second can count. But around Massachusetts, it's taking longer for ambulances to respond to people in need of medical care. Leaders at private ambulance companies and local fire departments point to a shortage of EMS workers — created by low...
RICK MACLEAN: ‘9-1-1. What is the nature of your emergency?’ (Canada)
“9-1-1, what is the nature of your emergency?” I knew who it was before I answered. “This is 9-1-1. Is there an emergency?” But I’m guilty of jumping to the end of this story – emergency? It started much earlier, in the wee hours, around 8:30 a.m., definitely the wee...
Davis County 9-1-1 operators, first responders deliver baby (UT)
KAYSVILLE, Utah, Feb. 13, 2022 (Gephardt Daily) — Everyday, 9-1-1 operators and first responders work together to save lives. Saturday, they helped bring a new one into the world. According to a post on the Kaysville Fire Department’s Facebook page, Davis County 9-1-1...
9-1-1 ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS GRAPPLE OVER NG911 TRANSITION COSTS, AUTHORITY
Public-safety agencies and organizations and originating service providers (OSPs) sparred over FCC authority and cost responsibility in comments on a National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA) petition asking the commission to help advance the...
Durham Tech closer to launching 911 academy; hopes to boost staffing as half of call taker positions are vacant (NC)
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – Officials with Durham Technical Community College say they are moving quickly as they prepare to launch their 911 operator academy later this spring. Friday afternoon, Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton said they have hired a program coordinator...
How Can a Smartphone Always Make Emergency Calls?
The modern smartphone is a marvel of technology, packing huge computing power and a variety of hardware components into a package that fits in the palm of your hand. Over the passage of time, communication technology has grown by leaps and bounds, and mobile phones...
Reauthorization SurveyMORE>
PSBTA Releases Survey on First Responder Support for FirstNet Reauthorization
New Survey: First Responders Overwhelmingly Support Reauthorization of FirstNet
A new bipartisan national survey commissioned by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association finds near- unanimous support among first responders for reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)– the agency overseeing America’s dedicated public safety broadband network.
PETITIONSMORE>
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UpdatesMORE>
Podcast
FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz Spectrum
This episode dives into the critical evolution of public safety communications, focusing on the recent FCC decision to establish a nationwide Band Manager framework for the 4.9 GHz spectrum, and discuss the evolution and deployment of the FirstNet System. Host Chris Tubbs interviews Chief Jeff Johnson, a leader in public safety technology and the development of FirstNet. Together, they explore the history, governance, and transformative potential of FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz spectrum in enhancing public safety operations with emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and augmented reality. The discussion emphasizes the importance of protecting and optimizing public safety spectrum, the lessons learned from past advocacy efforts, and a call to action for public safety leaders to remain engaged in ensuring the spectrum’s effective use and governance.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
Public Sector GrantsMORE>
Webinar
Accessing Federal Resources When an Emergency or Major Disaster Strikes
In light of the major disasters that our nation has recently experienced, PS Grants is offering this FREE webinar to review Disaster Assistance Programs and how to access them. Learn what federal funds and resources are available through Disaster Assistance, understand the process of requesting assistance, know what to expect before, during, and after, and find out who to contact for help.
REGISTER
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