911 alerts emergency responses via text, network and voice calls: “a case study”
We can help with 911 alerts, this is one example: One of our programmers worked with a local organization that has multiple sites and buildings. This group has about 150 employees and needed help with 911 alert calls and other emergencies. I recall hearing the CEO say, “Ten years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would be authorizing an emergency response plan like this.” The controller said, “No one wants to budget for events we hope will never happen, but in today’s’ world; we all know action plans need to be in place…soon!’ (for more information and background)
The first phase includes 911 alerts. For background, most phone systems inform the primary answering station which extension dialed a 911 alerts. But for the purposes of this application, let’s assume she was on another call and didn’t notice the alphanumeric display alert. Now, what are they going to do if they don’t know where to send emergency personnel when they arrive? A plan was developed, and that’s where Ultimate Communications and our OnTimeforAnything software can help! Any 911 alerts dialed generates real-time data. The OnTimeforAnything software detects the 911 alerts then pinpoints the location and logs the time. Next, the OnTimeforAnything sends a text to over a dozen staff members with a statement like this: “A 911 alert has occurred at the main building from extension 345 on the second floor near room 175.” This data comes to about a dozen staff members labeled with a user-defined caller identification name
and pre-selected phone number. (This ensures a quick response.) Now, if one of the staff is nearby they can press reply and say “I will check into this 911 alert call…” all the emergency members receive this reply which can reduce duplication of efforts. When he or she arrives and declares the event is now under control he can use his smartphone and send an “all clear” message with our Ultimate mobile application.
911 alerts plus additional alarms:
Phase two was available without any additional equipment. We just expand to general emergencies. Any staff member can trigger a different alert with the mobile application. For example, the following message can be sent all the teachers and administration announcing, “In light of the strong winter storm we will move to an early dismissal at 11:30 this morning.” This message can be sent via text, emailed, or as a phone call.
Phase three is an option with onsite software and hardware. OnTimeforAnything can take another step by connecting to the current phone system and including an audio page and/or visual indication of some type of emergency. In this example, let’s assume someone bypassed the front office check-in desk. The front desk can press a button (on the phone or under the desk) which can create alerts to the dozen staff above and play an audio announcement through the paging system, something like, “We have a code blue at the middle school – code blue, thank you!” The teachers know that this means to casually walk to the door and secure it until the all clear message is sent. This same message can be displayed as a banner on the top or bottom computer screens too. We can add our Mass Message Application (MMA) where this customer can send an email or text to all their clients and have them call a number for a detailed audio message during the emergency, or thousands of calls can be made and then hear an update without tying up the phone lines. (Similar to the old-time and temperature number many of us grew up using) If you would like to hear a sample call – dial 970-673-1850. Tell me more (When you call the 970 number you will hear more from the customer above – in their own words.)
This case study has a new twist: recently a child at one campus had an accident at recess. 911 alert was called – our Smart-911 alert system worked fine, the alarming thing is the original 911 alert call using an IP telephone service never reached the local 911 alert center! Apparently, the IP phone service was not under the same restrictions as a traditional telephone line service. The Ultimate Smart911 service is a wise component of this organizations emergency response plan. In today’s’ world – this is more important than ever!