8th Annual NPEF Conference: Another Success in the Books!

At the 8th National Public Safety Educators Conference held in Charleston, South Carolina, public educators from all over the United States joined together to discuss public education initiatives, brainstorm new ideas for PSAs, and truly think outside the box to come up with crafty messages to reach target audiences. This conference is one of a kind due simply to the nature of how it is set up! Attendees did not have to worry about missing any speakers during their time at the conference because all speakers’ sessions were all in one room throughout the entire four-day conference.

This year, attendees had the opportunity to learn how to make a creative Public Service Announcement (PSA) and learned more about Kari’s Law, the 50^th Anniversary of 9-1-1 and Real Time Text (RTT), to name a few. The PSAs created by the attendees turned out truly phenomenal and to view them you can visit the Facebook NPEF website here: www.facebook.com/911NPEF. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a bus tour of Charleston during their off-time from the conference.

Almost fifty percent of attendees were newcomers this year, which is always exciting because this is their first opportunity to meet so many 9-1-1 public educators from all over and share ideas to take back home and implement within their communities. This conference provided attendees with tons of ways to be creative in their public education program. Keynote speakers Adam Timm and Trooper Bob did an excellent job of sharing their craft and inspiring those present.

Next year will be the 9^th annual conference and will be held in Virginia Beach, Virginia July 14-17, 2019 at the Founders Inn. More information will be coming out shortly so make sure to join NPEF (it’s FREE!) so you will stay updated on when registration will begin and more! Visit www.911npef.org to sign up today! You won’t regret it! Below you will find a 2018 wrap up video of this year’s conference- enjoy!

Safety Tips for this Independence Day!

This Fourth of July, we celebrate our nation’s Declaration of independence. Many people choose to celebrate this special holiday by getting together with friends to eat, drink and have fun! There are usually fireworks involved too- which can be lots of fun- if used safely and under supervision of an adult!

Did you know?

Did you know this July 4^th is the 242^nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence? How cool is that! It is one of the most celebrated holidays in the nation and many people are lucky enough to get the day off. If you are one of those lucky individuals, what will you choose to do to rejoice in this holiday?

Some people will visit a park or historical site, according to USA.gov. You can find a list of parks near you here: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-search.htm. Others will proudly display the American flag in front of their homes and offices. And last, many will participate in local festivities where a huge fireworks display occurs once it gets dark.

It is highly recommended that you attend a festival where you can see professionals put on amazing fireworks displays! But if you want to put on a small fireworks display of your own, please keep the following tips in mind:

o   Make sure where ever you plan on using fireworks that it is legal to use.

o   NEVER let small children play with or set off fireworks. Fireworks are very dangerous and could hurt a child very easily.

o   When setting off fireworks, always make sure you have a safe distance between you and the fireworks when lighting the fuse.

o   Always keep a bucket of water nearby. You never know when you might need to put out a firework that gets out of hand. Plus with as hot as it is in a lot of areas, you want to make sure you are prepared for anything and putting safety first.

o   Do not pick up fireworks that have recently been used. They are most likely still extremely HOT and could burn you.

o   Once a firework has completely burned off, you can then put the fireworks in the bucket of water to soak and cool off.

Want to know more on how to safely dispose of fireworks? Visit this link here: https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-education-centers/fireworks.

Celebrating the 4^th of July can be a lot of fun and a great day to spend time with family and friends. Make sure to keep your holiday safe, and if you find yourself in an emergency, do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help!

TC SPOTLIGHT BLOG: Miranda Valdez from Coastal Bend Area

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself: Where are you from, what agency do you work for, how long have you been there and what is your passion for working for 911?

 

Hi, my name is Miranda and I am from Corpus Christi Tx. I have worked for Metrocom (Corpus Christi and Nueces County dispatch) for more than seven years and my favorite part of working here is that I love to be directly involved with helping people.

 

2. I’m sure you hear a lot of interesting stories when answering calls, but what is one story that sticks out in your head that might have been scary, but turned out funny and/or everything worked out after the call.
  
One time I received a 911 call from a young boy, barely a teenager. He was hiding in his closet with his friend because they believed someone was breaking into the home. He was home alone and could not reach his mother on the phone. After about five minutes, he heard a person messing around in the kitchen. At this point, a coworker was able to contact his mother on the phone. It turns out I was his mother the whole time.

 

3. What do you think people need to know about the people who answer the phones for 9-1-1?

I believe the most important thing our customers should realize is that, although we will try to help as much as possible, most of the time the people who answer 911 are not trained police officer, fire fighters or EMS.

 

4. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

I enjoy problem solving. Whether it be helping the public or the coworkers, I love to find the answers that can be useful to someone else.

 

5. What do you think is the hardest part about working your job and why?

The hardest part has always been not knowing the ending after the phone call is over.

 

6. Why do you think it is important for people to have 9-1-1 as a resource for emergency help?

911 is the quickest way to local emergency resources. It is easier than learning business numbers for all the surrounding police, fire, and EMS agencies.

 

7. If you could share one piece of advice with the world regarding 9-1-1, what would it be and why?

The best way to help yourself in an emergency is to always know where you are.

 

8. If you were talking to kids graduating high school who were not sure what field that wanted to go into, what would you tell them about your job and why it is such a fulfilling and worthwhile job?

If I was talking to someone graduating high school, I would tell them that they should, at least for a little while, become a public servant. Any position helping your city, county, state or country is worth a couple years of your life.

It is 9-1-1 Public Education Month and Telecommunicator’s Week During the Month of April!

It is that time of year when 9-1-1 public educators share emergency services information with the public including showing appreciation to their 9-1-1 public safety telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 8-14, 2018). But this year is especially unique, because 9-1-1 is also celebrating 50 years of service since the first 9-1-1 call took place.

For those of you who do not know, telecommunicators, also known as call-takers or dispatchers, are individuals who work for an emergency service provider (usually 9-1-1) and are qualified to answer incoming emergency telephone calls and provide for the appropriate emergency response. They work tremendously hard each and every day answering the tough 9-1-1 calls in an effort to get the public the emergency services they need.  

In 1991, Congress recognized telecommunicator’s efforts and created a special week distinguishing who they are and the importance they play in the community. In 2008, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to increase national awareness about the importance and appropriate use of 9-1-1 and created a month solely dedicated to 9-1-1 education. With this, Congress encouraged public awareness events, advertising campaigns, outreach activities and training/education for parents and teachers.

Below are some important messages and current issues that the public should be more aware of so that they can get the most out of 9-1-1 services.

Call if You Can, Text if You Can’t: Many agencies are working hard to make this available across the United States. While some areas have rolled out text to 9-1-1, there are still many areas that do not have text to 9-1-1. If you see a sign or information in your region promoting that you can text to 9-1-1, then you can guarantee it is available. But if you do not, then please assume you can’t text to 9-1-1 and please call 9-1-1 if you need help. Keep in mind that if you do text to 9-1-1 and it is NOT available in your area, you will receive a bounce back message instructing you to please call 9-1-1 for help.   

Know Your Location: Many people have smart phones these days. And on these smart phones we have maps that show us where we are, so it doesn’t seem farfetched to think that if we have GPS in our phone, then 9-1-1 should be able to find us when we call. This is actually not the case. When you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone/smart phone, dispatchers are only able to see approximately where you are and not specifically where you are located. As Next Generation 9-1-1 continues to upgrade 9-1-1 capabilities, this will soon change. But for now, please remember to always know your location. Look for mile markers, landmarks, cross streets and addresses on buildings. This information could potentially save lives!

Kari’s Law: A new law that business service users and the public should be aware of is Kari’s Law. This law has to do with providing direct access to 9-1-1 from a multi-user telephone line (MLTS). Prior to Kari’s Law (in Texas, not all states have this law in place), if you tried to dial 9-1-1 from a motel phone or a similar phone where you need to dial 9 or another digit first to get an outside line, you would not always get connected to 9-1-1. Now with Kari’s Law in place, business service users with MLTS phones must have their phones set to be able to dial 9-1-1 directly without dialing an extra digit first. For more info on Kari’s Law visit here. Most recently, President Trump signed into law Kari’s Law at the federal level. You can read more about the federal bill in an article posted here.

Please remember that 9-1-1 is for emergency use only and should never be abused or used for fun. It not only helps save lives, but is an important tool in helping our community get the aid they need. For more information on 9-1-1 education, please visit www.csec.texas.gov.

******** NENA Debuts New Videos for 9-1-1 Education Month **********

Check out this video link thanking 9-1-1 professionals for the hard work they do year-round: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIEQI0-cZdc

Check out this video link highlighting the need for Next Generation 9-1-1 which would enhance the current 9-1-1 system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hprnnA-8d5c

 

9-1-1 Telecommunicators Spotlight Blog: Lara Bell

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself: Where are you from, what agency do you work for, how long have you been there and what is your passion for working for 911?

Hi, I am Lara B. I have been dispatching off and on since I was 18. I started at my first agency in a very small department that was volunteer and even took a 911 call on the original old red phone. I have been to a few departments since, a lot of training, and I still come back to this line of work. I work for Ingleside Police Dept. and just recently returned back to work from being home with new baby that's now three years old. I had about 31/2 years previously with Ingleside. My passion for working this job is being able to serve in so many ways between emergency personnel and the general public.

 

2. What do you think people need to know about the people who answer the phones for 9-1-1? 

That we matter. We are more than a receptionist.

 

3. What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

When I am able to see a whole call through. Knowing that quick action helped saved someone in a time of need.

 

4. What do you think is the hardest part about working your job and why?

Hearing someone tell you their last words to repeat to their family.  That is a lot of weight to carry. When all you can do is be the calm voice for them, which is really hard.

 

5. Why do you think it is important for people to have 9-1-1 as a resource for emergency help?

A generalized number to reach for help. Organized and centralized to your area. It helps lessen confusion on how to obtain help when you need it.

 

6. If you could share one piece of advice with the world regarding 9-1-1, what would it be and why?

LOCATION! In an emergency situation, people often forget to give that critical piece of information. Please remember that we need to know where you are to get help to you.

 

7. If you were talking to kids graduating high school who were not sure what field that wanted to go into, what would you tell them about your job and why it is such a fulfilling and worthwhile job?

There is no other job like it. You get to help on so many different levels. 

9-1-1 Telecommunicators Spot Light Blog: Hilory Verduzco of Aransas County

1.    Tell me a little bit about yourself: Where are you from, what agency do you work for, how long have you been there and what is your passion for working for 911?

My name is Hilary Verduzco I work for the Aransas County Public Safety Center and I just hit my 3 year mark.  To be honest I didn’t dream of being a dispatcher or a 911 operator I just sort of stumbled upon the job.  I did want to do something in the field of criminal justice and earned a bachelor’s degree so when I was job searching I came across the listing for this position.  I am the type of person who loves to help people in any way possible.  This job fulfills the need of helping people by getting my citizen the answer or helping them find the answer to their problem.   As a dispatcher I get to work with officers, deputies, DPS, fire department, ems, investigators and citizens so having us all work together to help our community is what I love the most.  I love to be challenged and my mind gets  restless when I don’t have something to do, with this job I get to work on a multitude of tasks  which is sometimes stressful but it keeps me on my toes.  All of the challenges and different situations we deal with as dispatchers keeps my passion for 911 alive. 

2.    I’m sure you hear a lot of interesting stories when answering calls, but what is one story that sticks out in your head that might have been scary, but turned out funny and/or everything worked out after the call.

It’s hard to remember all of the interesting calls or stories that come across dispatch but one of the more recent ones was a child, I’d say about 8, who called 911 and said that he was alone and was scared he didn’t know where his dad was.  He also didn’t know what the exact address of where he was so I proceeded to get any info on his parents so that I could contact them to see what was going on.  He gave his mother’s name and phone number so I called her on our non-emergency line and it turns out she lived in another state! She started to panic and wonder what was going on as well.  I advised her everything was okay we just needed the fathers information now since that was his house.  The mother also told me that the child’s grandmother and cousin also lived with the child’s father so she would try to contact them as well.  While I was gathering all of this information the officer was dispatched to the residence and was attempting to locate the child.  It turns out that the grandmother and another family member was asleep in another room, the child was okay after all.  This is an example of how our emotions go from one end to the other thinking this child was in danger or the parents weren’t watching their children to they were just asleep in another room.  That was one of the few calls where we as dispatchers actually get some closure or learn the outcome of a call. 

3.    What do you think people need to know about the people who answer the phones for 9-1-1?

A lot of people need to know that, for our agency, the people who answer 911 are people just like you, we have lives and families and problems that we are struggling with along with doing our jobs so a small amount of consideration and respect can go a long way with us.  We are a consolidated Communications Center; therefore, we dispatch for multiple agencies and we deal with everything that goes on in our community from funeral escorts to school zone traffic control, from medical emergencies to structure fires, from after-hours water payments to cows in the roadway and everything in between.  We are not “All Knowing” we cannot make an officer appear in front of you within seconds and we cannot read minds.  We try to do things as fast and accurate most importantly as safely as possible for everyone involved so bear with us. 

4.    Why do you think it is important for people to have 9-1-1 as a resource for emergency help?

911 is an important resource to have for emergencies.   911 is the easiest number to remember and hopefully it is instilled in most of our brains by now.  Any phone in or out of service is able to dial 911 so anyone and everyone can reach help if needed.  911 is a great resource when you are alone, for me this is the most important time for 911.  Since there is no one else around to help you with whatever you are going through, it allows you to get the help you need. 

5.    If you were talking to kids graduating high school who were not sure what field that wanted to go into, what would you tell them about your job and why it is such a fulfilling and worthwhile job?

If you are looking into a career as a Telecommunications Operator, you want to help people and are good at multi-tasking and do well under pressure, then this is the job for you.  There are plenty of opportunities to see how it all works through sit-ins or doing a ride-along.  I really wanted to help people and I was very interested in criminal justice but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a police officer.  I looked at different career paths like a case worker for child support, although there is a need for caseworkers to look into children’s situations and their job is so very important, it just didn’t stick.  Another option I thought of was a Juvenile probation officer, at the time of my job search there weren’t too many openings in my area.  When I came across the dispatcher position I ended up loving it its exciting and challenging, you will not be bored and first responders are always needed!

9-1-1 Celebrate 50 Years of Service in the United States!

This year marks a significant achievement for 9-1-1! The number that people know to dial in the U.S. to reach emergency services, 9-1-1, is celebrating 50 years of service. On February 16, 1968, Alabama Speaker of the House, Mr. Rankin Fite, made the first 9-1-1 call from the Haleyville City Hall.

9-1-1 has come a long way since then and gone through several different type of phones used to reach 9-1-1 for emergency situations. Phones that we find indoors come in all shapes and sizes. They may have buttons or dials, and can sit on a desk or hang on a wall. They may have a cord that looks like a tail and attaches to the wall. Some have a curly cord that attaches the handset to the phone. To call 9-1-1 on a corded landline phone, pick it up and you will hear a dial tone. Push the “9” button, push the “1” button, and then push the “1” button again.

The phones that have no curly cords and that you can take all over the house are called cordless phones. These phones have a base and a cord attached to the wall. There is a difference between cordless and cell phones. To call 9-1-1 on a cordless phone, press the on or talk button, listen for a dial tone, and then push the "9" button, push the "1" button, and then push the "1" button again.

There are many variations of cell phones sometimes called smart phones. To call for help, push the “9” button, push the “1” button, and then push the “1” button again, then press the send button. The send or on button may be green or have a green icon.

 

When to Call 911

9-1-1 is the number to call when you need help in an emergency! An emergency is when something happens and you need the police, firemen, or an ambulance.  For example, if you see your neighbor's house on fire, that is an emergency!  If someone falls down and is badly hurt, that is an emergency too!  But, if your cat is stuck in a tree, that is not an emergency.

9-1-1 is not the number to use if you just need help from an adult or for pets. 9-1-1 should only be used in a real emergency and never as a joke!

WHEN to call 9-1-1: 

•when lives are at risk

•when you need the police, fire department, or paramedics

When you should NOT call 9-1-1:

•when there is no emergency

•for animals (except when they pose a threat to the safety of a person)

•as a game or prank

•for a joke

•to practice

Since then, 9-1-1 technology has evolved and continues to evolve to meet consumer expectations. Each advancement has improved our nation’s ability to get better, more reliable information to first responders so they can do their job of saving lives and property.

As we celebrate 50 years of service in the United States, it is an important reminder to the significance of 9-1-1 emergency services. Without 9-1-1, emergency services such as EMS, Fire and Police would not be able to get to those in need of help.
Most recently, a major change to multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) has been the introduction of Kari’s Law. In Texas, Kari’s Law requires direct access to 9-1-1 without having to dial an additional digit such as 9. This law is important because it ensures those who call 9-1-1 from an MLTS phone get the help they need.
As 9-1-1 continues to adapt to other needs of the community, consumers will see the adaptation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911). NG911 includes 9-1-1 being able to find those in emergency situations quicker and pinpoint their location more efficiently. It also includes text to 9-1-1, which will eventually allow for consumers to send not only texts to 9-1-1, but also pictures and videos.
For 9-1-1 to provide the excellent emergency services that the community needs, adapting NG911 services will become more important than ever—especially when we have natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey. All of the Texas 9-1-1 Authorities are excited to celebrate 50 years of 9-1-1 throughout the United States and hope to see     9-1-1 continue to provide emergency services that fit the communities’ needs.

What will you be doing in your area this year to help celebrate 50 Years of 9-1-1? Email melinda.crockom@csec.texas.gov with information, pictures and videos and I will showcase your efforts in the future blogs!