With tourists and locals alike making the most of summer weekends – dispatchers in northern Michigan are especially busy. But this past weekend – Grand Traverse County 911 says it eclipsed even a holiday weekend. Central Dispatch says typically the 4th of July is the...

Volunteer for the Supplemental Location Data Working Group
1 hour ago   (0 Comments)Posted by: Chris Nussman
NENA seeks volunteers for a new working group to write a NENA Information Document that will provide guidance and recommended best practices to the PSAPs for the use of supplemental location and caller information as identified in the Recommended Best Practices for Supplemental 9-1-1 Location Data document created by NENA staff, NASNA and iCERT. In addition to supplemental location data, this document will include emergency contact information, medical data, telematics information, and other data types available from IoT devices. This work will include:
Identification of supplemental location and caller data sources (embedded in call handling/dispatch clients, third party applications, web-based client, etc.);
Development of best practices for delivering, accessing and utilizing this data;
Evaluation of the data’s value and benefit to the PSAP and public safety ecosystem operations (ex. Call-taker, dispatcher, field responder); and,
Development of recommendations for the delivery and operational use of Z-access data.
Volunteers for this work group should have subject matter experience as:
PSAP operations staff (e.g. calltakers, dispatchers, trainers, managers, etc.);
GIS professionals;
Supplemental location / data providers; and
Operations / 9-1-1 call-handling equipment vendors.
Meetings will be held on a bi-weekly basis on a day/time to be determined by members of the WG. To join this WG go here.

The CARES Act funding received by the State of Idaho will fund projects across the state that create and retain local jobs and result in purposeful outcomes, including distance learning, telehealth public safety, commerce, and overall well-being. The “Program for...

Free Sponsored Webinar: “Evolving Technology for PSAPs’ Changing Needs”
1 hour ago   (0 Comments)Posted by: Chris NussmanEvolving Technology for PSAPs’ Changing NeedsSponsored by Motorola SolutionsThursday, September 10 | 1PM Eastern (live) or On-DemandFREE! Click here to register!
COVID-19 and social unrest have resulted in changes to timelines and plans for implementing cloud technology. If this is true for your PSAP, you are not alone. Many PSAPs are considering a move to the cloud sooner than anticipated. The events experienced this year are broad and impactful as we consider the best means to protect our communities in uncertain times. Join us on September 10th as your colleagues share with us how they are implementing new cloud technologies, what benefits they’re experiencing and what feedback they’re hearing from call takers and dispatchers. 
Can’t attend on the 10th? Register now and you will have access to the on-demand webinar archive via the registration landing page.
CEUs: Attend this webinar and receive one-half ENP re-certification point toward the six-point maximum for non-NENA courses in the Professional Development CEU/Course Credits section.
Webinar Access Info: Dial-in and web-access details will be provided to attendees via email automatically upon registration.
The views expressed during this webinar are those of the sponsor and not necessarily those of NENA. NENA does not endorse any proprietary product or solution. Contact Sean Sullivan for more information on how your company can participate in NENA’s sponsored webinar program.

HENDERSON, Ky. – Over the weekend, some callers who dialed 911 to reach the 911 Emergency Communications Center in Henderson received a busy signal, though the system is not designed that way. Calls to 911 should always be answered. The 911 Emergency Communications...

Amberley Payton, a Police Dispatcher, died in a car crash on I-65 near Moffett. She was a 19 year veteran of the department.

Holbrook selectmen Wednesday night accepted three grants totaling of $971,891.041 from the Massachusetts State 911 Department on behalf of Holbrook/Norfolk County Control. The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center is the Norfolk County Fire District Four...

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Communications Bureau launched its new Text to 9-1-1 program today in order to help people who are unable to call during an emergency. The new Text to 9-1-1 program asks residents to “Call If You Can. Text If You Can’t.”...

9-1-1 Professionals Being Honored by 15,000+ Convenience Stores Across America on 24/7 Day
46 minutes ago   (0 Comments)Posted by: Chris NussmanAmerica’s 9-1-1 professionals are among the first responders and local heroes being celebrated this week as the convenience and fuel retailing industry unites in the second annual 24/7 Day event on Friday, July 24.  
 
NENA: The 9-1-1 Association is partnering with the NACS Foundation and American Red Cross in the annual national event, which recognizes first responders, medical personnel, and American Red Cross volunteers who work around the clock, 24/7, serving our communities to ensure people don’t face emergencies alone.
On Friday, at more than 15,000 convenience store locations operated by Shell, ExtraMile, Kwik Chek, Loop Neighborhood Market, Rapid Refill, Garrett’s Family Market, Yesway, and Allsup’s, uniformed or badged 9-1-1 professionals are among those who will be able to get a free coffee, fountain drink, or snack (local details vary) as a way of saying “thank you” for their invaluable, courageous public service.

NENA members are encouraged to visit one of these stores on Friday, take photos of themselves enjoying their free benefit, and post them to Facebook or Twitter with the hashtags #247Day, #ThankYou911, and #WeHeartHeroes. 

“Throughout the COVID crisis, as always, our 9-1-1 professionals have continued to go to work, 24/7, helping to protect and serve our communities,” said NENA CEO Brian Fontes. “We thank our friends across the convenience retail industry for recognizing that 9-1-1 dispatchers are local heroes who have earned America’s appreciation.”

“The NACS Foundation is proud to unite the convenience and fuel retailing industry to support the American Red Cross, its volunteers, and the first responders—like the people of 9-1-1—who support our communities 24/7,” said Stephanie Sikorski, executive director of the NACS Foundation. “Convenience stores are often the only locations that remain open in a crisis, ensuring that fuel, food, and other necessities are available for emergency workers and customers seeking a return to normalcy. And with their extended hours of operation, our stores are often the only place open to serve first responders and medical personnel working overnight. That’s why the NACS Foundation honors hometown heroes who work around the clock in local communities across the country.”

NENA members may check these links for locations, although local participation may vary:
ExtraMile (California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington) 
Kwik Chek (Oklahoma and Texas) 
Loop Neighborhood Market (California) 
Rapid Refill  (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island) and Garrett’s Family Market (Massachusetts)
Shell (nationwide)
Yesway (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming) and Allsup’s (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)  

FORT WORTH-Fort Worth’s Medstar paramedics are warning of a doubling of patients in full cardiac arrest by the time a call for help comes in and help arrives to patients, and a tripling of wait times before the 9-1-1 call when heart issues are suspected. Medstar’s...

A public safety systems administrator for Alexandria, Virginia, died Monday morning after his SUV struck a traffic pole at the intersection of North Kings Highway and Telegraph Road in the Huntington section of Fairfax County. Robert Bloom, 61, of Alexandria, died at...

Arlington Heights-based Northwest Central Dispatch System has received the first Public-Safety Answering Point of the Year award from Illinois Heart Rescue, in conjunction with Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. The award recognizes the emergency dispatch...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Change is coming to the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications in response to a lawsuit settlement surrounding the response to the Waffle House shooting in 2018. The lawsuit was filed by victim Akilah DaSilva's...

After several years of working on an agreement, Coconut Creek will become part of Coral Springs Police and Fire Department dispatch services. On July 15, city commissioners approved the Coral Springs/Coconut Creek Interlocal Agreement for 911 dispatch services. The...

JOPLIN, Mo. — In an emergency, many people know to dial 911. Eventually there will be a separate emergency number to call to try and prevent suicide. The Federal Communications Commission has approved the designation of 988 as the national suicide prevention hotline....

NORWALK — The Huron County Emergency Management Agency signed a contract with Frontier Communications to upgrade the bandwidth and internet speed at Huron County dispatch sites last December. The agency is still waiting for those upgrades eight months later. The last...

POLK CUNTY—Polk County is restructuring its 911 communication center by deciding to put the direction of the center under the office of the sheriff. The county also recently hired Jeremy Gregg to be the communication center director. Gregg is a lifelong resident of...

SCARBOROUGH — Cell service is an ongoing concern for residents in Scarborough, and the communications tower installed at the new Public Safety Building has space for up to five wireless carriers that could improve service. Although the capacity is there, no leases...