| News for emergency communications and response professionals |  |
| Making the Call |  |  |
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- Ill. first responders receive training on autism
Illinois paramedics and firefighters are getting special training to identify people who have autism and are learning how best to direct them during emergencies. "Autism spectrum and similar disorders may affect the way someone reacts during high stress situations and first responders need to recognize and understand an effective way to keep them safe," State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis said in a statement. WBBM-TV (Chicago)
(4/16)     
- Mass. certification program standardizes 9-1-1 response
9-1-1 dispatchers in Massachusetts have until July 1 to get certified under a state program meant to improve emergency services and standardize how medical calls are handled. Dispatchers will be trained to use scripts and software to ask for specific information from callers to ensure that appropriate equipment and personnel are sent. The program also sets standards for coaching callers to provide CPR and other basic care before an ambulance arrives. Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Mass.)
(4/14)
| Policy Pulse | | |
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- Industry takes on NG 9-1-1 development challenges
NENA called for improvements to the nation's 9-1-1 system more than a decade ago, but rapidly changing technology has created challenges in the effort to develop an interoperable, standard Next Generation 9-1-1 system. In 2011, NENA approved a set of technical standards for NG 9-1-1 infrastructure and interoperability, although CEO Brian Fontes said it is a blueprint that likely will be changed as deployment goes forward. Funding remains a challenge, said Fontes, who advocates a blue-ribbon panel to tackle the question. "When you get experts together with that goal in mind, they'll come out with a series of options on how best to fund NG911 that will work," he said. GovTech.com
(4/13)
| Innovation Insights | | |
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- Twitcident filters social media chatter for first responders
First responders are getting help using social media on the job from Twitcident, which sorts social media updates about emergency situations and funnels them to first-responder crews. Developed by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Twitcident first monitors local emergency broadcasts, then aggregates related updates and filters the data for information on location, damage reports, potential fatalities and more. Wired.com
(4/13)
- IBM works on "smart floor" technology that can call 9-1-1
IBM has received a patent for a "smart floor" for homes and businesses that can detect intruders or determine whether someone has fallen. It also can call 9-1-1 for help. The device will work with a database of objects and sensors that track the location, number, weight and shape of items in a room. Mashable
(4/11)
| NENA News | | |
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- Free webinar Thursday: "The Importance of Locating Wireless 9-1-1 Calls Indoors"
This free webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern time Thursday explains how the Federal Communications Commission measures the performance of the wireless location technologies used to locate 9-1-1 phone calls made from cell phones. The webinar delves into the latest announcements from the FCC, including statements about countywide averaging, a single location accuracy requirement and an indoor location requirement. Also, analysts from Ovum will review a recent report that exposes the limitations of particular location techniques and shows the benefits of others. Register now free! Can't attend? Register now and receive on-demand access to the webinar after the live presentation.
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