911 ResponsAbility

Problems with Planning and Preparing for Emergencies in Schools

Seems like there is no end to the problem of school safety. I just came across this article on CNN.com.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/05/17/school.safety.ap/index.html

    ...according to an analysis by the congressional Government Accountability     Office. For example:

• About half of school districts don’t have plans for continuing to educate students in the event of a lengthy school closure.
• School districts generally are not working with first responders or other community officials on how to implement emergency plans.
• Twenty-eight percent of school districts with emergency plans do not have specific provisions for evacuating student with disabilities in an emergency.
• Two-thirds of districts reported a lack of expertise and equipment, such as two-way radios and adequate locks for school building, as impediments to emergency planning.

InterAct pushes for schools to integrate with their local police and other emergency officials. This is the best way to ensure the best response possible if their is a breach in a school’s security plan. We continue to see a need for schools to be able to integrate technologies together to keep their schools safe.

At InterAct we have come up with solutions to link intelligent video surveillance (TrueSentry) to a the systems at the local 9-1-1 center, allowing dispatchers and first responders to be aware of what situation is going on before they even arrive on scene. In a previous blog, we talk about how to use emergency notification (MissionMode) to get alerts out to other officials who need to know about a situation that is going on.

Of course there is will be no end to see articles on how our schools aren’t as safe as we hope, but InterAct makes sure the solutions are out there for them to do it. For more on InterAct schools safety, visit http://www.interact911.com/industry__solutions/private__sector/education/index.htm

Hug a 9-1-1 Dispatcher

Today marks the beginning of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

InterAct Public Safety Systems is proud to play a critical role in the job that 9-1-1 telecommunicators do nationwide. Please join us in honoring them during National Public Safety Telecommunications. These unsung heroes who put in long hours at more than 6,000 public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the country play a critical role in the safety and security of their communities.

Response teams in law, fire and medical fields often take the bulk of credit for responding to an emergency. Meanwhile it is the dispatchers behind the scene who shoulder the responsibility of making sure emergency officials get to an emergency as fast as they can.

For more information on how you can honor the PSAP or call center in your area, as well as the individuals, please visit www.apcotelecomweek.org.

PSAP Surveillance and Security

As the lifeline to hundreds and thousands of people, it is critical that emergency communications towers and 9-1-1 centers stay up and running. Protecting the flow of communication and the dedicated teams of telecommunicators within should rely on nothing less than the most sophisticated technology available.

Surveillance cameras are no stranger to the PSAP. Most of them have some kind of surveillance camera installed, at least at the front door so that personnel can see who is there before buzzing them in. But often they are still using hard-wired CCTV cameras. Recording goes onto VHS tapes if anything is being recorded at all. If a tape runs out in the middle of an incident, critical information won’t even be archived. And video that does get recorded is often grainy and in Black and White, making it hard to make out any details. Likewise, navigating through tapes for relevant video surrounding an incident is time-consuming.

The InterAct TrueSentry digital video surveillance system  has been developed with public safety applications in mind. Some of the ways InterAct TrueSentry can help increase security in the PSAP include:

Integration with Access Control Devices and Alarms: Cameras mounted at the entrance to the PSAP can be integrated into access control devices. Every time the buzzer is rung, a TrueSentry camera can record and archive only that data. So, if down the line, there is a question about who came to the front door and when, instead of going through hours of tape, you can just have a running log of the people coming to the door.

Video Analytics: Pre-defined behaviors can be set and identified, and when a rule is violated TrueSentry can alert staff with audible and visual notifications. For instance, cameras can be installed on remote communication towers and a perimeter can be defined around the tower.  to alert dispatchers whenever a person comes within a defined radious.

CAD Integration: TrueSentry can be integrated into any computer aided dispatch system – and already is integrated into InterAct CAD. Some PSAPs are tied directly to courtrooms. if things begin to get a little out of hand, a judge or bailiff can push a button to alert dispatch and a CAD incident is created. TrueSenty cameras can be linked to the alarm sending video directly to the dispatcher who could then see exactly what was going on and attach the video to the CAD incident, and even send it to responders.

Knowing that budget is always an issue, InterAct TrueSentry has put together a PSAP Surveillance Starter Kit that includes 4 cameras and an NVR. Flexible pricing plans have been developed to appeal to agencies of every size.

The $16,400 package can also be leased for $592.90 for 36 months or 3 annual payments of $7114.80. To learn more go to:

http://www.interact911.com/psap_surveillance