Newsletter

9-1-1 MAGAZINE e-newsletter

February 2012

 

Breaking News

FSF provides free Fire Scene Communications training program

Fire Scene Communications is the newest free training program available from the Firefighters Support Foundation (FSF).  This program consists of a 60-minute video program and an accompanying PowerPoint program. Firefighters and EMTs can view the video material with the PowerPoint file acting as their hard copy notes, or they can use either resource independently.... Read More >

Sterling Heights (MI) PD puts new software to good use solving crime

New software and technology from New World Systems is providing the Sterling Heights, Mich. Police Department with easy access to critical information that is enhancing investigations. On January 18, 2012, a masked man entered a Sterling Heights pharmacy attempting to get narcotics. After a brief struggle with the pharmacist the man fled, leaving behind a prescription bottle with a partial name, and a witness able to provide a vehicle description..... Read More >

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Features

Addressing Diverse Human Behavior Issues in the New Era Of Multi-Layered Emergency Communications

by Joe Wilson, Federal Signal

The flood of new technology makes it easier than ever to reach out and communicate with someone, right? Think again. While it's true that communicating with "someone" may indeed be easier, achieving dependable communications with "everyone" on a moment's notice and in an emergency crisis is at least as much of a challenge as ever. So why is that?..... Read More >

 

Coordinating Communications: The Value of Plain Speech and Universal Radio Equipment in Local Operations

by Samuel Knisley

NIMS requires the use of plain speech during multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction and multi-discipline events, such as major disasters and exercises. It does not require plain speech as common practice within day to day departmental operations. However, the importance of plain speech as a means of creating a universal radio language in the United States goes far beyond those kind of major, multi-agency disasters....... Read More >

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New Products

LDV S-Series Mobile Command Center

The LDV S-Series Cab Chassis mobile command center is a strategically designed heavy duty command with one slide-out. Plenty of technology loaded in this unit with a forward conference room with seating for six and folding bench seat for another three. Two corner workstations in the front and four workstations in the rear, weatherproof exterior workstation and full galley and lavatory complete this unit.... Read More >

 

LuciadLightspeed Brings Situational Awareness Into A New Era

LuciadLightspeed provides software components and functionalities that enable data fusion, visualization and analysis of geospatial information. LuciadLightspeed enables the development of Sustainable Applications; Applications that are easier, and thus lower cost, to maintain, and applications that can be evolved in a cost effective manner..... Read More >

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Featured Columnists

Quality Is Job 9-1-1

by Barry Furey

The state of quality control within our industry truly requires a case-by-case study. Some states have standards; others do not. Some agencies train; others do not. You get the point. Realistically then, quality must begin at home. But what do we mean by quality? What do we measure and how often do we measure it? And, more importantly, what do we do with the results?...Read More

Trust... But Verify...

by Dave Larton

Using that old Ronald Reagan quote has a lot to say about address verification. Every once in a while, we see another bad outcome of a dispatcher or calltaker who sent responders to an incorrect address, an incorrect jurisdiction, or a location that did not exist. Why does this happen?....Read More

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From the Field

Fire heavily damages historic building in Fort Worth

Firefighters in Fort Worth, Texas, battle an early morning fire in the city's historical district on January 24, 2012. The report came into 9-1-1 shortly after 3AM, and took several hours to extinguish. The fire heavily damaged the Victorian Apartments on Hemphill Street, a vacant 1920s-era structure.....Read More >

Coast Guard assists disabled fishing vessel

Coast Guard crews assisted a disabled fishing vessel and safely delivered it to Gloucester, Mass., at approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday, January 13th, 2012. The four-person crew of the 75-foot stern trawler Bulldog used their radio to contact watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England to report the vessel's engine shaft had broken and they needed assistance Thursday night.....Read More >

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9-1-1 MAGAZINE e-newsletter

January, 2012

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Breaking News

9-1-1 Dispatchers Can Save More Lives by Coaching Bystanders in CPR

More people will survive sudden cardiac arrest when 9-1-1 dispatchers help bystanders assess victims and begin CPR immediately, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. In the 2010 resuscitation guidelines, the association advised 9-1-1 dispatchers to....Read More >

 

Spectrum Aeromed Completes Air Ambulance Equipped Pilatus PC-12 Interior for Valley Med Flight

Spectrum Aeromed has completed customizing a Pilatus PC-12 with a single system medical interior for Grand Forks, North Dakota based Valley Med Flight.  The PC-12 will be stationed in Williston, North Dakota.  “This was an exciting project for us to work on,” said Spectrum Aeromed Vice President and Account Executive Matthew Christenson.  “Approximately 80% of the work we do is international.  This aircraft will serve... Read More >

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Features

A Different Kind of CAD System Security Update: Best Practices in Legacy Migration

by Michael D. Falkow, Assistant City Manager and CIO, City of Inglewood, CA
Call it ironic - but it wasn't funny. It was 2009, and a simple operating system security update took down the 9-1-1 call system we spent the past 19 months trying to migrate. Had this been in production, it would have put our city's 110,000 citizens at risk. Eight hours went by before we were able to roll back the update and get the code functioning again. Clearly this wasn't going to cut it.
..... Read More >

Five Factors To Consider When Developing Enclosure Solutions For Mobile Applications

By Eric Ziemer, Design Engineering Technician, Crenlo
Protecting vital electronic equipment in a static - or immobile - environment is a challenge, but set that equipment in motion and the degree of difficulty rises exponentially. Enclosure solutions for mobile applications like those described require some special layout and design considerations not necessary with stationary operations....Read More >

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New Products

Zetron's RoIP Gateways Offer Flexible, Reliable Radio-over-IP Communications

Zetron’s new Series 6300 Radio-over-IP (RoIP) gateways provide more flexible, cost-effective, IP-based connections between a variety radio dispatch backroom equipment and remote wireline radio resources. The gateways ease the migration of circuits between radios and their control equipment from expensive legacy leased lines to cost-effective, modern IP networks.... Read More >

GammaTech Introduces Fully Rugged Durabook R13C Convertible Computer

GammaTech Computer Corp., a major international manufacturer and supplier of innovative notebook and tablet computers, has added another model to its line of fully rugged convertible computers. The Durabook R13C, an upgraded version of model R13S, passes Military Standard 810G certification for drop, shock, and spill protection, plus explosive atmosphere, salt, fog, and freeze/thaw standards..... Read More >

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Featured Columnists

The Ghosts of Christmases Past

By Barry Furey
There will always be a select number of calls whose memory will follow each and every one of us throughout our careers and become indelibly imprinted as part of the holiday season... Despite the severity of these events and others like them, the names of those involved have dimmed over the years. While the streets and neighborhoods involved are often associated with these recollections, the most common denominator is the deep seated sorrow that "something like this could happen near the..Read More >

During Budget Cuts How Technology Can Saves Lives with Less Money

Bob Stanberry, Cisco Systems
Today, state and local governments must provide citizen services with tighter budget constraints than ever before. These challenges force governments to pick and choose between programs and services often putting citizens and government employees in jeopardy. Innovative, collaborative, virtualization technology is a key solution to address this ever-growing problem..... Read More >

 

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From the Field

From the Field: NJ Water Rescue Attempt: Occupied Vehicle in Water

Marine units from Collingswood, Westmont and Pennsauken were dispatched.  A call to 9-1-1 reported a vehicle in the water. .... Read More >

 

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Editor's Desk

The Dragon that Lurks in Shadows
A Weird Tales-styled view of discontentment and negativity in the workplace

From our August 2004 issue

 

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9-1-1 MAGAZINE e-newsletter

December 2011

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Breaking News

Three San Juan County agencies use Spillman to stretch resources, share data

Three public safety agencies in San Juan County are utilizing a shared Spillman software system in an effort to better patrol Utah's biggest county. Last month, the Monticello and Blanding police departments began sharing Spillman data on a server hosted by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. The system enables all three agencies to exchange instant messages, images, and name, vehicle, and property records.... Read More >

Motorola Solutions to Provide Atlanta PD with Integrated Surveillance System to Fight Crime

Motorola Solutions, Inc. has announced a contract to integrate the City of Atlanta's disparate public and private surveillance camera systems into one common operational environment in the Video Integration Center. Motorola's Global Services organization leads a team including ADT Commercial Security to provide a comprehensive solution for the city.... Read More >

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Features

How 9/11 Has Changed Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis

As the nation struggled to understand how something like 9/11 could occur on American soil, information came to light about breakdowns in information sharing between law enforcement agencies that might have helped prevent it. Predictably, there was a heated outcry to fix those breakdowns in order to protect our citizens from similar threats in the future... So, what has been done since those dark days to improve information sharing and law enforcement intelligence analysis? ..... Read More >

Information - A First Responder's First Line Of Defense

We live in a mobile era of cell phones, text messaging, instant messaging, and email. Information is only ever one search away on a computer, MDC, Smart Phone, or other handheld device, so the question becomes, why didn't the First Responders dispatched to this domestic dispute call illustrated above have this mission-critical and potentially life-saving information at their finger tips?...... Read More >

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Archived From Our Magazine Back Issues

Active Shooting Response: The Call Taker's Role

In every class I teach, I drive home the point that the first person on the scene of every crime, fire and medical emergency is the initial call taker. It's no different when the call for help involves an active shooting incident. When a frightened voice on the other end of the phone is looking for help, you are right on the scene. When the phones start to light up, will you be prepared?...Read More >

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New Products

Narrow-banding audio quality improved by Pryme's new Turbo-Boost speaker transducer

Pryme's Turbo-Boost is a new transducer that is smaller yet more powerful than anything that's ever come before. It has a built-in frequency response curve optimized to the characteristics of narrow-banded analog or digital modulated radios. Now, even in extremely noisy environments, Pryme's Turbo-Boost speaker transducer delivers crystal clear audio to your ear. ... Read More >

ToCite Parking /Law Enforcement Solutions from United Public Safety

United Public Safety, also known as UP Safety, was was formed for the sole purpose of providing an efficient and affordable solution to issuing parking tickets, citations, and permits. The solution options include ToCite Ticket and ForCite Citation software and ToCite Cloud and ForCite Cloud as well as an American-made ruggedized mobile ticket writer with integrated printer and various other hardware options..... Read More >

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Featured Columnists

Vendor's Corner:  Communications Technology Key to Disaster Preparation

Recently, Motorola Solutions had an opportunity to speak with two of our customers who were on the front lines of very different natural disasters that grabbed headlines this year. We wanted to hear their stories first-hand to ensure that we are meeting the current demands of first responders throughout the country, as well as anticipating their needs in coming years. ....Read More >

PSAP Management:  Deja Vu All Over Again: Public Safety & Civil Disobedience 2011 Style

Are we headed for a repeat of the tumultuous sixties? I'm not sure, but certainly some of the divining signs are there. And if that is the case we are going to need to resharpen our skills in handling the types of events that are associated with societal change..... Read More >

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From the Field

PhotoStory: Gloucester City, NJ Vehicle Rescue

On November 11, 2011 Squad 51 from Gloucester City Fire Department along with EMS were dispatched for a M.V.A Rescue at Route 130 and Market St. in Gloucester City, New Jersey.

Police arrived and requested an urgent response.

Battalion 504 reported a 2 car crash with an S.U.V overturned with 4 occupants trapped. Additional BLS from Bellmawr and Westville were dispatched…Read More >

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White Paper

Laird White Paper: Dedicated Short Range Communications antenna integration into existing automotive quad-band antennas

Laird Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the design and supply of customized performance-critical components and systems for advanced electronics and wireless products, has announced that two of its Telematics & Wireless M2M subject matter experts have authored a technical paper discussing V2V (Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC)) antenna integration into existing automotive quad-band antennas...... Read More >

 

Book Review

 The Chieftain - Victorian true crime through the eyes of one of Scotland Yard’s first detectives

The Chieftain by Chris Payne is an excellent read as well as being an authoritative and well researched historical document. The book shows the day to day life of one of the first eight Detectives in Scotland Yard, George Clarke who was the author’s great, great, grandfather. Its historical accuracy and detailed descriptions of public hangings, murders, scams and fraudsters give a vivid snapshot of what life would have been like in Victorian London between 1818 and 1900...Read More >

 

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