The 9-1-1 nationwide emergency system needs to be upgraded. Communication modes have expanded from simple verbal phone calls, to texting, to still or moving images. However, 9-1-1 hasn?t kept up with the times.
"We have 13-year-olds out there with more technology than public safety has – 13-year-olds who need to use that technology to contact us," Kevin McGinnis said. He is program manager for the National Association of State Emergency Management System [EMS] Officials and chair of the US Department of Homeland Security?s safe communications [SAFECOM] program. This is no small matter. From fire, to car accidents, to home invasions, to heart attacks, nationally, the 9-1-1 system handles more than 230 million calls nationwide a year.
"Today’s 9-1-1 system doesn’t support the communication tools of tomorrow," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said. Officials agree that the public should be able to initiate a 911 call from any wired, wireless or IP-based device. The fly in the ointment is the expense of upgrading the 911 call centers and training the operators how to decipher obscure abbreviated text and how to interpret grainy images and shaky video clips.
McGinnes told TechNewsWorld: "Some call centers can triangulate cell calls; some call centers can use GPS tracking ? and some call centers don’t have access to either technology." Genachowski stated: "Many 9-1-1 call centers don’t even have broadband."
Public safety has a big gap to fill and very little money to pour into it right now. The US public has been brainwashed to call 9-1-1 in an emergency, even toddlers have done so to get help for an injured parent. Slightly older youngsters? first reaction might be to text instead of call. Unfortunately, with scarce money and staff layoffs calling the shots lately, don?t expect 9-1-1 technology to be improved upon any time soon.
