Blogs

In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, it is time to address a major crisis in the country that is simply not talked about enough: the emotional toll emergency response work takes on 911 call responders. Each year, Carbyne and NENA commission Pulse of 911, a national survey to hear about the realities and challenges of emergency communications professionals. This year, we heard from 1,335 professionals from various levels across the country, and the findings were particularly harrowing as they relate to stress, specifically in women.

Job hopping, once stigmatized, has undergone a significant shift in recent years, particularly among millennials and Gen Z. These generations tend to switch jobs more frequently, with millennials typically staying around two years and nine months on average, while Gen Z averages about two years and three months in a role. Surprisingly, a staggering 83% of Gen Z employees see themselves as job hoppers, signaling a fundamental change in how younger workers perceive career trajectories.

In the fast-paced world of emergency response, every second counts. Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) serve as the frontline of emergency services, handling distress calls, dispatching responders, and coordinating critical resources. Amidst the chaos, the mental well-being of PSAP operators often takes a backseat. However, with the aid of cutting-edge technology, we can revolutionize the way PSAPs operate, not only improving efficiency but also prioritizing the mental health of those on the frontlines. In this article, I will leverage my years of service as a Communications Officer with Bountiful City and the State of Utah to shed light on how technology can be our best friend to heroes under the headset.

The Pulse­ of 9-1-1 Survey examines new ways to solve­ challenges in eme­rgency response. It re­veals compelling trends through surve­y data, and expert talks at its accompanying conference­.

Twenty years ago, the technology available for 911 services was quite limited. I remember relying on tools similar to internet search engines to locate callers, when cell phone location services were not very precise. Back then, the idea of seeing live images of a call in progress seemed like science fiction.

While at work many of us evaluate our time based on our 8, 10, 12, or even 16 hour shift. However, as we look deeper, we see that our time is broken down into singular moments. Those moments could be a call, a radio transmission, or even an interaction. While some may seem insignificant, others will have ripple effects through our lives and the lives of others. In 1981, Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California took advantage of her moment to advocate for the 911 telecommunicators she worked alongside. Her ripple began in her community but made its way to President Clinton in 1994, when he signed the Presidential Proclamation, declaring the second week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Not all SaaS contracts are equal. To me this goes without saying, but I am repeatedly surprised how often legal considerations are overlooked especially when involving the purchase of life-saving technology. When you purchase access to a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform, you should be familiar with the contract terms and conditions and should know what to expect from your SaaS supplier. You should make the contract terms and conditions a major part of your supplier assessment and choice. The better suppliers will have fair and equitable terms and conditions. Furthermore, better suppliers will have clear, easy to read contracts with obligations and benefits for both parties. In this article, I share the 7 key contract terms (and tells) you should consider in your SaaS supplier contracts and some questions you ought to ask your supplier before you purchase their SaaS service.

In an era where data is king and technology reigns supreme, the public safety sector is not exempt from the digital revolution. As Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) strive to modernize their operations, many are turning to cloud technologies for solutions. However, not all cloud technologies are created equal, especially when it comes to ensuring public safety. I was privileged to speak at a Carbyne webinar recently on exactly these topics.

During my time as an executive in Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) across this country, I learned only too well that in the space of public safety, where every second counts, collaboration among emergency responders is not just beneficial—it’s absolutely essential. PSAPs are the nerve center of the emergency response ecosystem, where effective teamwork can mean the difference between life and death. In this article, I explain the significance of true collaboration in PSAPs and explore strategies to foster seamless cooperation among team members.

Introduction: As the landscape of emergency services evolves, Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) are tasked with adopting cutting-edge technology to enhance their capabilities. During my tenure as VP of Global Operations at a public safety vendor, I have witnessed first hand how cloud-native technology offers a transformative solution, enabling PSAPs to streamline operations, improve responsiveness,