Upgrade: Next Generation 911 offers major benefits
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Technology is evolving so quickly many of us can't (or decided not to) keep up. Meanwhile, our lives depend on the ability of some others to do just that. Fortunately, those in attendance at the 911 Emerging Technologies Symposium in Charleston this week fall into that category.
As the transition to Next Generation 911 proceeds, technology can do things such as improve answering time or pinpoint a caller's precise location.
"Next Generation 911 is long overdue, but it's an important improvement," said West Virginia National Emergency Number Association Chapter President Russell Emrick. "Imagine ... how many rooms are inside this hotel (where the symposium was held). If we're trying to send someone to help you in an emergency or medical crisis, we don't need to be searching room-by-room trying to find you. So, Next Generation 911 does pinpoint location accuracy, the same as when you order food or order a taxi or an Uber or Lyft. It also is faster. There's no setup time for the phone calls."
But what if a person experiencing an emergency is unable to or uncomfortable making a phone call? Many of us carry out so much of our communication via text message these days, it seems natural we should be able to text 911 as well.
Emrick says approximately 70% of our counties can handle texts to 911, but that the goal is for all 55 to have the capability by next year.
"Something we've learned from numerous emergencies nationwide is that the younger generation expects to be able to text 911 as well," Emrick said. "Our goal is to make that 100% by the end of this fiscal year ... or have a strategic plan for every county."
As others in Washington, D.C., and Charleston work toward the expansion of quality, affordable broadband to as many West Virginians as possible, efforts to modernize the 911 system will move even more quickly.
For most, dialing 911 is a rarity. We don't give it any thought. But those gathered at the 911 Emerging Technologies Symposium -- and the colleague to whom they will take back their insights -- do. Thank goodness for that.