Just a though. here in SoCal the majority of cell phone 911 calls go to CHP. I have waited up to 10 minutes on hold before talking to a live person. It's gotten so bad, that I keep a couple of back-door # on speed dial. But, for you dispatch gurus, with all the cad and stuff, why couldn't I send a text message to the dispatch center with basic info of an incident.
Permalink Reply by Scott on November 23, 2008 at 12:28am
Okay Jay I think I'm getting what your saying but not exactally sure. Do you think you can try and re-word that, and Im not exactly sure whats ment by CHP
Sorry about the shorthand. Don't you remember Ponch and Jon on CHiPs though :). Again is was just a though though. I know there would be hurdles. New laws that would make a prank 911text a crime. What about disposable cell phones that are untraceable.(This may be just a TV legend though, I don't know).
Instead of thinking of a way around the problem, why not fix the problem at its root? Have your emergency calls initially answered by a seperate call taking organisation that then transfers the call to the needed service? Yes, it works. Been working here for many years. Our largest telco is required by law to run the service. And the system is national.
Wow!! 10 minutes is a LONG time in a real emergency. Time enough for a fire to tripple in size or a person to die without medical care. That system needs some attention.
Permalink Reply by FETC on November 24, 2008 at 10:35pm
WE have enhanced 911 in NH. In which the 911 operator will answer the 911 call, code it for it's severity, then pass it off to the appropriate regional dispatch center.
Now if you call them to report a runny nose or a headache, you will get what appears to be a million questions. The system is designed to hand off the call IMMEDIATELY for people NOT breathing, NOT beating, or if you say the word FIRE. I think they have a 15 second goal in the transfer of those calls.
Our area has a single enhanced 911 center that takes in all 911 calls, they have the capability to see and know your address, phone number from the very first ring. They then pass it off via computer to computer to a regional dispatch center that actually dispatches the Firefighters, Police or EMS crews.
Is CHP your enhanced 911 center then the call gets shipped to another dispatch center for local tones? If so, inquire about their protocols for what they do, say with a fire or EMS call...