How's Your 911? (NBC's "Today Show" Segment)

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This aired nationwide on NBC’s “Today Show” this morning, and today on MSNBC. Painted the communications profession with a broad brush, and it didn’t make the communications profession as a whole look very good. To the average “Today Show” viewer, who knows what they’re thinking after watching this piece.

From: TheSecretList@FirefighterCloseCalls.com [mailto:thesecretlist@firefighterclosecalls.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of TheSecretList@FirefighterCloseCalls.com

Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 12:08 PM+

Subject: How's Your 9-1-1 ? (The Secret List)

Hey,

This morning's edition of the Today Show on NBC contained a feature that dramatically shows the current state of many 9-1-1 and emergency dispatch centers in the United States. This was a very accurate piece and should be of interest - and concern - to every Firefighter, Officer and Chief.

While showcasing a really tragic EMS run in Texas, where the City did not provide pre-arrival instructions (a toddler died) the show went on to point out that many states have no standards for 9-1-1 call takers, telecommunicators and dispatcher. They also point out that some are paid less than fast food employees, and that "raids" on 9-1-1 funds whereby moneys are illegally or "weaselly" diverted by City Hall Dwellers to other uses, are common.

In these tough fiscal times, many 9-1-1 centers have also faced the "furlough" of employees or freezing of vacancies. The lack of adequate staffing anywhere in the response and suppression chain is dangerous-as communications is our first line of response, when people have a fire. Nothing most of you don't know.

Check out this video at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34745516 to get a better understanding of the challenges and frustrations faced by the folks "on the other end of the radio." After watching the show, at least asking about how "your" 9-1-1 and Emergency Communications system is funded, lead, trained and staffed might be a good idea. It's also a good opportunity for FF's to work thru whatever channels have to be worked thru-so you can actually spend some real time in your fire communications center to better understand the job of the communications folks. Unless you have done that, you do not understand what they do.

The final comments by Matt Lauer also holds people responsible for prevention-which is a positive message. But, as always, when that doesn't work, people dial 9-1-1, and while there are many well funded, trained and lead 9-1-1 personnel, there are many more that are not.

Take Care-BE CAREFUL.

BillyG

The Secret List 1-7-09 / 1207 Hours

www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com