On August 22, 2023, at 21:26, an Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Officer processed an EMS call for a male patient who advised he had alcohol poisoning and wanted to go to detox.
APCO Launches New Certification Course: Communications Center Manager
APCO International announces the release of its newest course, Communications Center Manager, 1st Edition.
Dispatching in the Drone Zones
Drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), have emerged as increasingly valuable tools for first responders, revolutionizing how emergency personnel approach critical situations by being able to provide real-time aerial insights and capabilities that were once difficult or impossible to attain.
Teammates in Action: Crystal Mazeika-Pahl
On November 21, 2023, Communications Operator Crystal Mazeika-Pahl fielded a phone call from a mother who reported her eleven-month-old infant had drowned in the bathtub
APCO Offers Public Safety Perspective on National Spectrum Policies
On January 2, APCO submitted comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding implementation of the National Spectrum Strategy, which was developed to ensure federal spectrum policy advances U.S. innovation, economic vitality, and security.
Teammates in Action: Misty Reid, Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications
On October 22, 2023, Telecommunicator Misty Reid with the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications received a 9-1-1 call for a 79-year-old female who had fallen due to being short of breath.
Standing Up, Standing Behind the 9-1-1 SAVES Act
My fellow Atlantic Chapter of APCO member Tim Cunningham and I were honored to have been invited to literally stand behind Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-D-34) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-R-1) along with other members of the 9-1-1 community as they gave their remarks during the introduction ceremony for H.R. 6319 9-1-1 SAVES Act.
Young Professional Spotlight: Sarah Bates, City of Tulsa
Sarah’s PSC career began unexpectedly in 2010 when she applied and was hired for dispatch in Osage County. She spent her first two years falling in love with the field and, in 2012, took an opportunity at the City of Tulsa dispatch center, where she currently serves as the PSC Training Coordinator.
Teammates in Action: Alexandra, Denver 911
She earned Denver’s “Stork Award” for completing the protocol perfectly and delivering the baby while on the phone with the grandmother.
Unauthorized Interruption
It is a growing trend across the United States. Individuals video government buildings and employees, and the bloggers or auditors identify themselves as First Amendment Auditors.
APCO Welcomes Reintroduction of the 9‑1‑1 SAVES Act
Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), along with several of their colleagues, reintroduced the Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2023, or the “9-1-1 SAVES Act.”
Teammates in Action: Dillan Sutton, Krysten Keeney, Brittany Stroud, and Justin Davis, Missouri State Highway Patrol
Communications Operators Dillan Sutton, Krysten Keeney, Brittany Stroud, and Justin Davis handled an incident that escalated quickly and required an extensive amount of teamwork.
Cisco Emergency Responder Critical Vulnerability
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently released information about a critical vulnerability related to the Cisco Emergency Responder data sheet.
Evaluating Evacuations
Whether you work at a school, office building or municipal building, deciding to evacuate your staff during an emergency is one of the hardest decisions that a manager must make.
Introducing APCO’s Fundamentals of Next Generation 9-1-1 Course: Shaping the Future of Public Safety Communications
APCO International announces the launch of its highly anticipated course, the Fundamentals of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1). The course delves into key concepts critical for success, including interoperability, reliability, redundancy and cybersecurity.
APCO Seeks Working Group Members to Assist With the Revision of an Operational Standard
APCO International is seeking working group members to participate in the revision of APCO ANS Multi-Functional, Multi-Discipline Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Minimum Functional Requirements.
Why We Leave 9-1-1
What about those who can master the skillset needed but leave anyway? Why do they leave?
