Pinellas County 911 Center adds live stream video technology for emergency calls

St. Petersburg, Fla – – The Regional 911 Communications Center from Pinellas County recently introduced a video with 911 technology, in which you say that you are changing your reaction to emergencies.

It enables callers to stream video videos for 911 operators too live, and Pinellas County is one of the first in the Tampa Bay Area to use it.

What you say:

“If we find it useful or need a video, we can send you a link,” said Ted Joyal, a 911 operations -supervisor. “As soon as you click on this link, you will be asked to agree to share your location. This is huge information that we need from everyone and need the video with streaming with streaming.”

They used it for calls that include CPR to coach the caller through the life -saving technology, and calls that appreciate the severity of a situation like fires. The technology can also be used to help the law enforcement authorities on the side of things. When the video ends, you will also keep the records if you are needed for checking, quality assurance, evidence or other reasons.

“In contrast to the audio, you can often appreciate what happens if you have a visual aspect of it,” said James Fogarty, Bureau Director at Pinellas County Safety and Emergency Services.

Big Picture View:

The regional 911 Communications Center from Pinellas County started the technology in September, and Joyal said it was of crucial importance for the Hurricanes of the past year.

“We were able to keep an eye on someone who was in their house when there was a flood outside, and we were able to have a kind of triage and give them instructions on how we can make ourselves safe,” said Joyal.

When the conditions made it difficult or prevented the first aiders from getting into emergencies, 911 operators used the video for the 911 tool to speak callers in situations.

They also used it to help first aiders prioritize rescues with more than 600 calls per hour for both storms.

“I don't want to emphasize the technology so much because the technology is impressive, but the skills of the callers, “said Fogarty.” There was a situation during the storm (hurricane Helene). There was a caller that was caught on Howard Franklin Bridge and with all these technologies. The Jersey barrier on the bridge to the water washes the person, “said Fogarty.

Joyal said they used it several times to find missing people by sending the link to the person's phone.

“If you call 911, we will get your location immediately,” he said. “Because you choose 911, it activates these functions on your phone. However, if you do not call 911 or you have never called, we cannot find you. We can press this link on your phone number and you can click to share my location, and we can find it so that we can find an autistic child who has been with the crises, and your parents could not have considered. Technology,” he said.

Joyal said that the new app, combined with the SMS -911 function that has existed for several years, enables callers to receive help without being suspected. Together with the video platform, the text 911 can now communicate the 911 operator with the caller in more ways.

“Let's start, call 911 and hang up. I could not send you a text at first because you have not written in 911. Now I can send you a text and still continue this conversation, even after you are hung. If you have the feeling that you are not sure if you stay on the phone, we can still communicate via text,” said Joyal.

The caller or 911 operator can also hide the video from the 911 app so that it continues to record, but is not displayed on the telephone screen.

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“It was a very advantageous instrument. Even if it is just a life that we make a big difference with the use of a big difference in the family of this person, in the life of this person. So we have already seen a big return for this product,” said Joyal.

The caller can also request that the 911 operator send you the link if he believes that it has valuable images or videos.

Joyal also emphasized how important it is that their location services are switched on as a whole.

“Even if you call 911, we cannot find you unless you have switched on your location services. So this is great information that people need to know so that your location services have to be switched on so that we can find them immediately. If this is switched on, I can see where you are located within a few meters and bring people quickly,” said Joyal.

What's next:

Joyal said they evaluate and observe how the other applications of technology develop, e.g. B. the possibility to send live videos to first aiders on the street.

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