Communications Center
Hub of fire department emergency response system. Central processing point for all information relating to the emergency incident, Location, status, activities of FD units. Connects and controls all departments communication systems.
Staffing Communications Center
Dispatchers "Telecommunicators" Professionally trained to work in public safety communications enviornment.
Successful telecomunicatior will
Understand and follow complicated procedures, preform multiple tasks effectively, memorize information, make decisions quickly.
Telecomunicators most important skills
communicate effectively with citizens to obtain critical information. Must always be clear, calm, and in control.
Telecomunicators must keep track of what at all times?
Status and location of each unit at all times, and monitor the overall deployment and availability of resources throughout the system.
NFPA 1061
Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicaor.
NFPA 1221
Standard for the Installation Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems.
NFPA code for backup systems for Communication Facility
NFPA 1221 requieres backup systems for all of the critical equipment in a communications center. Failure of one single component or system will not disable the entire operation.
Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
Shorten the time it takes for a telecommunication to receive and dispatch calls. Can send the appropriate units to the correct location as quickly as possible. Know which units availabe, which units assigned to the incident, most advanced can use GPS. Loo
Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)
Gets into from CAD systems, along with pre incident plans, hazardous materials, lockbox location, information on persons living in the address. Gain info on travel routes, maps, and reference materials.
Voice Recorder and Activity Log
Everything is recorded with a voice recording system or activity logging system. Have an instant play back system for 10-15 minutes of playback.
Logging System
Keeps detailed record on every incident and activity that occurs. Every call entered, every unit dispatched, every significant event that occurs in relation to an emergency incident.
Reasons why voice recorders and activity logs are maintained and kept
1. Legal records of official government service by a public agency. May be required for legal proceedings, sometimes years after the incident, defend the fire departments actions when questions are raised,
2. Valuble in reviewing and analyzing information
Responsibility of Telecommunicator
Determine the location of incident and units needed
Once the telecomunicator receives the call when should units be dispached
In less then 1 minute
Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)
Where all 911 calls go in a certain jurisdiction.
When does the response begin
When the call comes into the communications center
Call Receipt
process of receiving an initial call and obtaining the necessary information to initiate a response.
Location Validation
ensures information received is adequate to dispatch units to correct location.
Classification and Prioritization
process of assigning a response category, based on nature of reported problems.
Unit Selection
Process determining exactly which unit or units to dispatch.
Dispatch
Alerting the secreted units to respond and transmitting the information to them.
Call Receipt
Call to 911 connects to PSAP, takes info and transfers the call to appropriate agency to be dispatched.
Telephone Interrogation to initiate a response.
Ask caller location and nature of situation.
TTD/TTY/Text Phones
For speech and hearing impaired, devices transmit text instead of audio
TTD
Telecommunications device for the deaf
TTY
Teletype
Text Pones
Text Phones
American Disability Act requieres
communications centers be able to receive calls via text messages as well as by voice communication.
Direct-Line Telephones
Direct Line connects two pre determined points. Pick up phone at one end causes an immediate ring at the other end.
Call Box
Connects person directly to a telecommunicator. Caller can request Police, fire, ems, or tow truck. Can be connected to wired or wireless telephone network or radio system. Located around major highways, tunnels, subways, large complexes, universities.
Walk-ins
Fire station should advise communications immideiatly.
Enhanced 911
Has Automatic number identification (ANI) and Automatic LocationIdentification (ALI) developed for hard wired phones. Federal Government mandated wireless telephone companies work to update their systems to pinpoint the geographic coordinates for a 911 ca
How many different methods to send a dispatch method.
Each department must have two ways to send a dispatch message.
Portable Radio
Hand Held Radio, use push to talk, Integrated speaker along with microphone, push to talk etc...
Mobile Radio
More powerful then two way radio, perminatly mounted in vechicale, fixed speaker, handheld microphone,
Base Station
Permanently mounted in a building.
Two way radio systems regulated by the
Federal Communications Commission FCC
Simplex Channel "Two Frequencies
each radio transmits signals and receives signals on the same frequency. Message goes directly from one radio to every other radio set on that frequency
Duplex Channel
each radio transmits signals on one frequency and receives on the other frequency... used with repeater systems.
Repeater Systems
Strengthens the radio signal
Talk-around Channel
By-passes the repeater system
MOBILE repeater system
boost signas at the incident scene by creating a localized, on-site repeater system.
Trunking Systems
Link different agencies on the same system.
Emergency Message
urgent message that takes priority over all other communications.
Mayday
Saying a Firefighter needs urgent assistance.
Evacuation Signal
warn all personal to pull back to a safe location.
Taking emergency non emergency personnel calls at fire department.
1. Keep personnel calls to minimum keep phone lines open. 2. Firefighter answering phone is representative of fire department.