9-1-1, Finally a Universal Number!
Emphasis on emergency services is at an all time high since September 11, 2001, and the inception of Homeland Security. Emergency communications is no exception. The FCC mandated that all of the United States will have 9-1-1 by September 11, 2002. All of Missouri is now compliant. Very few places in the US do not have 9-1-1.
However, the 9-1-1 dispatcher may not know your call back phone number OR your location! Particularly if you use a cell phone and not a wire lined phone.
You, as well as your children should memorize the phone numbers of the home phone and the cell phone. The dispatcher may need to call you back for further information, especially with cell phones that "break off" and lose the signal.
Knowing your location, or children knowing their address, is vitally important. When no other information is known an emergency professional can be sent once a location is known. Your location is the one piece of information that emergency services MUST have. And yet, as you travel in your car, are you aware of where you are? Most people are not. Dispatch centers have taken calls from travelers who have not known their location, only to talk to them as they die. Don’t let this happen to you! Know your location and your cell phone number.
9-1-1 Celebrates 20 Years of Life Saving Service
On February 14, 2003 Cass County joined with the Mid-America Regional Council in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the regional 9-1-1 system. The regional 91-1 system has grown to include two states, eight counties cooperative effort that embodies 47 emergency communication centers; the largest 9-1-1 system in the world. Belton joined the 9-1-1 system in 1983 and Cass County followed in 1994.
The first 9-1-1 system in the area only forwarded the 9-1-1 call to the appropriate dispatch center. The system today not only forwards the call to the correct center but also gives that center the location and phone number of the calling party when using a land line phone. The call can be transferred several times to any other center in the region and each center will receive the caller’s information. This is known as
E9-1-1 or Enhanced 9-1-1.
The location information is the most important information that a dispatcher needs; enough to send assistance if no other information is known. Dispatchers in the area have been receiving location information for a number of years, but only when the caller used a wire lined phone. Wireless cell phone calls have given the dispatcher no information at all. They were "blind" calls that fell off as the caller traveled from cell site to cell site. Too often lives were lost due to the caller’s inability to relay their location or the dispatcher lost contact and was unable to reconnect.
Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 Becomes a Reality
In 1999 the Federal Communications Commission made it mandatory for cell phone companies to first provide the dispatcher with a call back phone number and the location of the tower site that receives and transmits the 9-1-1 call (Phase I) and then location by latitude and longitude and call back phone number of the caller (Phase II). But first the 9-1-1 centers must be equipped to receive such life saving information. This is a costly improvement to both the cell phone companies and the 9-1-1 centers. The cost of wireless E9-1-1 service has prevented the improvement in most of the United States. But by carefully planning during the past four years, the Kansas City area, is the first system in the US that is completing implementation of wireless E9-1-1.
Starting in March 2003, the 9-1-1 centers in the Kansas City area, including Cass County, will start to receive Phase I (call back number and cell site location) and Phase II (call back phone number and location of caller within 150 feet);
BUT ONLY WITH THOSE CELL PHONE CUSTOMERS THAT SUBSCRIBE TO A PARTICPATING COMPANY. AND, IN SOME CASES, ONLY IF THE CUSTOMER HAS THE PROPER CELL PHONE EQUIPMENT.
Each cell phone company has a choice in the method they use to send the 9-1-1 centers the necessary information. Some will use a GPS chip in the cell phone itself. Others will figure the location mathematically by using triangulation of tower sites. Eventually all cell phone companies will use GPS technology for a more accurate reading of the callers location.
YOU, AS A CELL PHONE CUSTOMER NEED TO KNOW WHICH TECHNOLOGY YOUR CELL PHONE COMPANY USES OR IS PLANNING TO USE. ARMED WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION YOU MAY DECIDE TO PURCHASE A CELL PHONE WITH A GPS CHIP;
Cingular and AT&T Wireless will be using a hybrid of triangulation and the GPS chip in the cell phone.
Sprint PCS, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Nextel will use GPS chips in their phones.
Wireless E9-1-1 is a relatively new technology and as it is being implemented problems are encountered and addressed. Because the Kansas City area is so large and requires more cooperation and attention to detail, it is estimated that the system will not be deemed complete for about one year. During that time the 9-1-1 professionals ask the public to be aware of their location in order to relay that one bit of information needed to receive help.
HELP 9-1-1 HELP YOU
Know your location at all times.
Know your cell phone number.
Teach all children at age 3 about HOW to use a phone and HOW to dial 9-1-1.
Instruct children at the age of 4 or 5 on their address and phone number.
When you are in a building in which you must dial a number to get an outside number, remember that when dialing 9-1-1 you must first dial the number that gives you a dial tone.
Call from a SAFE location.
After you dial 9-1-1, STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL YOUR CALL IS ANSWERED. (Even if you didn’t mean to dial 9-1-1!)
Try to remain calm (breathe!) and answer ALL the questions of the dispatcher.
Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to do so.
Red E. Fox Helps Children Learn about 9-1-1
The Red E. Fox program has been available to all schools in Cass County for five years! Each year more and more schools call to schedule the Red E. Fox program for kindergarten and first graders. Cass County has taught more that 10,000 children how to use the phone to dial 9-1-1, when to dial and what to expect when 9-1-1 is called.
The event starts with a charming interactive video starring Red E. Fox. Afterward, there is a lively discussion. You know, it is true: kids really do say the darnest things! Did you know you should call a super hero if you have an emergency, especially the one named "Grandma"!
The kids act out a few skits showing them what to do if a friend falls out of a tree or if they wake up in the middle of the night and their house is on fire. There is even a "volunteer" dispatcher to take the call.
Everyone is able to dial with a special but real 9-1-1 practice phone. It only rings if you call 9-1-1! Then the children are also taught about some safety issues, like what to do if they see a gun, when to use their seat belts, where to sit in the car or truck, and how to tell if it is a "good police officer". At the end, the children are presented with a special bag of goodies that help reinforce the lesson from Red E. Fox.
Although the first graders may have seen this in kindergarten, they are excited to see it again. Most learn something they hadn’t before or maybe are reminded of something they had forgotten. The repetition reinforces the information on 9-1-1.
This program is available to any children’s group and can be altered for younger or older children. Would you believe a two-year-old able to dial 9-1-1 successfully? (But we prefer teaching two-year-olds that are closer to three to prevent "accidental" dialings)
To arrange a presentation, call Doreen Draper, Cass County 9-1-1 Coordinator at 816-380-8224.
Teach Your Child
Their address
Their phone number
How to hold a phone…where to place their mouth
(Please not on the receiver!! We can’t understand you!…..a common problem with every child!)
When to hang up
9-1-1 ALERT for Hospitals, Schools and Businesses Cuts Liability
Many hospitals, schools and businesses have telephone systems that require a caller to dial a number to first get an outside line. This causes certain issues to arise when dialing 9-1-1. Issues that cannot be solved by the 9-1-1 system; only by you!
Not only should all employees know that first they must dial the number to get an outside line BEFORE they dial 9-1-1, BUT this should be posted at ALL telephone extensions; the law in many states. This should be done for two reasons. First, it may not be an employee that makes the call. And, second, when a crisis happens, even a usually calm person can and probably will panic to some degree.
Familiarize your employees with what information is needed by the 9-1-1 dispatcher to effectively send emergency assistance. 9-1-1 centers actually have more difficulty with adult callers than with children!
A plan should be in place addressing such issues as:
Designated people to identify where in the building the emergency exists
Designated people to lead the emergency vehicles and personnel to the correct location in the building
A procedure to follow when the 9-1-1 dispatcher calls the switchboard operator, office or receptionist and says a
9-1-1 call was made from that location and inquires as to the type of emergency and the exact location in the building. How do you thoroughly check for the emergency?
What steps can be made by you or the personnel to insure that the proper emergency assistance arrives as quickly as possible with the correct equipment?
Does your organization offer CPR and/or first aid classes?
Does your organization keep a secure, confidential record of emergency contacts, pertinent health information such as allergies, types of medication, medical history that may be pertinent, next of kin, etc.?
For assistance in developing a plan, scheduling a class concerning 9-1-1 issues or for questions, please contact Doreen Draper, Cass County
9-1-1 Coordinator, at 816-380-8224.
Call Before You Dig
We would hate to call an ambulance for you!
We would hate to lose 9-1-1 service because you forgot to call before you dig!
In the front pages of every phone book is the phone number to call before you dig ANY hole. They will send someone to check for underground wires and pipes.
Need a Secure, Exciting Career?
Look into becoming a trained professional in the field of emergency communications!
For information call Doreen Draper, Cass County 9-1-1 Coordinator, at 816-380-8224 or email casscounty911@aol.com.
Public Monthly 9-1-1 Meetings
The 9-1-1 Advisory Board meets at the Harrisonville EMS Department, 903 South Commercial, Harrisonville at 9:00A.M. on the 4th Wednesday of each month.
Come join us!
New Technology Change:
A fascinating new technology will change the telephone system as we know it today. This is Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP. It is available at a very low cost to those that already have a broadband connection for internet access. The computer is used to act like a phone. And, the person called does not need to be a VoIP customer or even be connected to the internet! There are several attractive and unique features of VoIP but most significant is a lack of long distance charges.
But, consumers should be aware of several issues before climbing aboard the VoIP train. First, many alarm systems will only work with a hard wired phone not VoIP. Certainly worth considering when looking at VoIP.
The biggest issue for VoIP is 9-1-1 connectivity. Until recently the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) had a hands-off approach to VoIP. But after several cases of death exasperated by the use of a VoIP call to 9-1-1 and Canada’s recent requirement for VoIP to connect to 9-1-1, the FCC has made a mandate for VoIP to connect to 9-1-1 seamlessly. This must be complete by November, 2005. Until then, most VoIP connections cannot reach 9-1-1. In our area the Time Warner VoIP is the only company that does connect to our 9-1-1 system. Time will tell if the November deadline will be held. The cell phone connection date was pushed back again and again over several years. It may well be that the same will hold true with VoIP. (All
VoIP companies will say they connect to 9-1-1 in some manner. Be very suspicious of the type of connection and read the fine print of the agreement. An extremely small number of VoIP providers connect to 9-1-1.)
One benefit of VoIP could actually be tragic. Since this communication service is over the internet, a subscriber will be able to pick up the computer and travel to anywhere in the world that there is a broadband connection and still have the same phone connection. If, while on a vacation, 9-1-1 needs to be called, the call will be connected to the 9-1-1 center in your hometown, NOT to the center in the town where you are vacationing. The center receiving the 9-1-1 call will send emergency units to the home address if the connection is lost and not able to confirm the location. Even if the subscriber can relay the vacation address to 9-1-1, there will be a long delay for the 9-1-1 cal taker to locate the correct 9-1-1 center needed and their phone number so that your call can be transferred.
Something else to consider is that all use of VoIP will be lost if electrical power or broadband connection is interrupted. Cass County 9-1-1 encourages everyone to keep at least one hardwired phone in residences and businesses when switching to cell phone or VoIP as a primary voice communication.
VoIP service will affect 9-1-1 in other ways. Some that hasn’t even been discovered yet. One concern was how well we would hear the caller and, just as important, the background sounds. Tests were conducted and were shocking. Even the sound of a gunshot was compromised beyond recognition.
The 9-1-1 community is deeply concerned over the financial effect VoIP will have on emergency communications. Currently, 9-1-1 is funded by the users. Wirelined phones have a 9-1-1 surcharge that goes directly to the subscriber’s county. Most states also have a surcharge on cell phones but Missouri is one of 2 states that does not. Already a drop in the amount of wired telephones, and thus a drop in funding, has been shown with more people switching to solely cell phone use. The rapid growth of VoIP is expected to place 9-1-1 in a compromised position. With the continued success of VoIP, 9-1-1 will need to look to other methods of funding.