Communications and Interoperability
The communications and interoperability resource page is designed to help firefighters keep up with the latest communications gear and best practices in mutual-aid and interoperability.
How emergency responders overcome communication challenges and secure reliable networks
How to safely mitigate incidents with half-stories
T-Mobile doubles down on support for first responders with major ecosystem partnerships like Samsung, individual benefits and a $2M+ scholarship fund for children of fallen first responders
Fire company officials said Lt. Mike Naylor was first pushed by a trooper when the lieutenant wanted to protect the people inside the car before the window was broken
North Dakota received more than $1.47 million in funds to fund the next phase of upgrades to the state’s 22 911 call centers
The lawsuits accuse the county of failing to properly train dispatchers, not warning officers that errors happened and not ensuring the 911 mapping system was accurate
There is an increasingly pressing need for PSAPs to be able to translate text-to-911 messages sent in languages other than English
Since the county went from four 911 centers to one, costs have increased, staff have unionized and technology is blamed for dispatch delays
Following an evacuation order is about saving lives, not concluding interior “play time”
The Phoenix Police Department announced that they would dedicate a new “quiet room” for dispatchers to help them deal with the stress of the job
The current analog-based system would be upgraded to an all-digital radio system
Authorities were searching in vain for Jada Strong before her live stream alerted Facebook to her medical emergency
John Shaw’s 78-second call with United Airlines Flight 93 passenger, Edward Felt, is part of a new book titled “The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11”
Within an hour of deploying FirstNet-Ready devices, the department was putting newfound connectivity to work on a mutual-aid call
FirstNet
The lab tests devices and applications before their deployment in the field
FirstNet
As more agencies and public safety professionals join the network, the interoperability potential grows
Lumberton officials acknowledged their employees were in the video and called the incident a “serious error in judgment”
Some of our newest members had not yet been born when the fire service suffered its darkest day
Hundreds of supporters of the library took to the streets to oppose a funding change that would take away income tax revenue from libraries and transportation agencies
Texas lawmakers passed a bill changing the definition of a first responder to include operator or emergency services dispatcher
How to use communications systems to help ensure personnel accountability during wildfire events
The Akron Fire Department is launching a paramedicine program to offer free, in-home consultations to help residents and reduce non-emergency calls
The money will help fund renovation, hardware, equipment and associated technology costs for the call center
The goal of the Heads Up program is to decrease the unknowns while responding to an emergency call
How in-vehicle communications systems help cut through the noise and allow fire personnel to talk with ease
Modern communication systems help prepare departments for the increasingly dynamic all-hazards environment
911 callers were put on hold and transferred, and the emergency radio system froze due to excessive traffic during the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly requested a study be conducted on the feasibility of consolidating regional 911 dispatch centers into one center
FirstNet officials attended individual engagements, workshops and summits with first responders to ensure the roadmap meets responders’ communication needs
The Ohio Department of Administrative Services gave all dispatch centers a deadline to either be EMD certified or to submit a timeline for compliance
California received the largest award in the country, totaling $11,399,076 to improve its 911 centers
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- Report: 12 factors led to deaths of Toledo firefighters
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- Audio: Detroit firefighters attacked at scene