Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Enhanced 911 Message-ID: <5367@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 19 Mar 90 16:43:31 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: Concurrent Computer Corp. Oceanport,NJ Lines: 51 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 185, Message 5 of 9 In article <5246@accuvax.nwu.edu>, gmc@mvuxr.att.com (Glenn M Cooley) writes: > I agree that it certainly is better to spend millions of my > hard-earned tax dollars for the high-tech solution to this scenario > than for the child's parents to tape their address on the back of the > phone :-) I like the humor but E911 has real advantages and potential for cost savings in dispatcher costs through manpower reductions. Usually, E911 is integrated into a computer aided dispatch system at the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). When a dispatcher answers the call, the address and phone number are automatically run against the computer system and displays all the information known about the address. This includes what fire company, first aid squad and police patrol car should be dispatched to the address and any known hazards on scene (dangerous chemicals, etc.) The dispatcher, once she determines the nature of the problem (Police, Fire, Medical) merely has hit the corresponding button to dispatch the appropriate agency automatically whether by phone, radio or computer depending on the system. This also allows the computer to log the incident and response, freeing the dispatcher to handle the next call, hence, fewer dispatchers are required then with a manual look-up process. However, this cost reduction can only be acheived by consolidating dispatch, i.e. one county PSAP instead of twenty-seven township ones. Here politics can get in the way. E911 allows the dispatcher to send help quicker and with less chance of data entry error. A human is still needed in the loop to filter out false calls and occasional errors such as the PBX one. The magazine of choice for people interested in this topic is the "APCO Communicator" published by the Associated Public Safety Communications Officers, Inc. of which I'm a member. 73 Gary Wilson, WB2BOO Deputy Communications Coordinator (Volunteer) Office of Emergency Management Mercer County, New Jersey PS The address and phone number should STILL be taped to the phone ! :-}