Posted by: thepinetree on 11/13/2014 03:50 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 11/13/2014 03:57 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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CALAVERAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT URGES 9-1-1 CALLERS TO ‘KNOW YOUR LOCATION’
San Andreas, Calif. – Many callers to 9-1-1 assume that call takers who answer their call will automatically know their location. This is not always the case––especially with cell phones. “In a recent consumer survey we found that over two-thirds of respondents believe that 9-1-1 knows their location when they call from a cell phone,” said Public Safety Communications Assistant Director Karen Wong. “However, this is a public misperception and our pilot program will help us guide communications to convey the importance of knowing your location when calling 9-1-1.” ...
“Every year, 9-1-1 receives thousands of calls where the location of the caller and the emergency are not always clear,” said William Anderson, Interim Manager of the California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Branch. “Calls from cell phone calls often do not show up on the call takers’ computer screen with exact location information, which then makes it hard to locate the caller. Even land line locations may not always be clear, especially in hotels or office buildings where there are multiple units at the same physical address. An accurate address is critically important for getting the appropriate law enforcement, fire or emergency medical services units to the caller quickly.”
In 2013, according to California’s Emergency Call Tracking System (ECaTS), there were 25.7 million 9-1-1 calls placed in California, and 16.4 million of those calls – 73.5 percent – were made from a cell phone. Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department received more than 11,800 9-1-1 calls in 2013.
Communicating the importance of having 9-1-1 callers “Know Your Location” is a key component of the California 9-1-1 Branch Education and Awareness Pilot Program, a collaborative effort between Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
During the next few months, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting local outreach to educate the public about the proper use of 9-1-1. Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department will share information with the public at events and will also be advertising in print, radio, and online media, including public service announcements, online banner ads, posters, and social media. Tip cards will also be distributed with information to help the public understand that providing an accurate address is critically important to getting the appropriate emergency response.
“We want people to know that when you call 9-1-1 on your cell phone, your exact location may not pop up on the call-taker’s computer screen,” said Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Rachelle Whiting. “If you don’t know exactly where you are, look around for landmarks, street signs, and buildings. You should also know the name of the city or county where you are. Precious time is lost when a caller cannot tell the 9-1-1 call taker exactly where to send help.”
Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department is just one of the 454 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in California that take 9-1-1 calls. The other PSAPs participating in this pilot public education campaign, in addition to Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department, are Elk Grove Police Department, California State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) Police Department, Anaheim Police Department, and Shasta Area Safety Communications Agency (SHASCOM 9-1-1).
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