Why 911 responders may not arrive?
Today’s E911 system is a 40+ plus year old obsolete technology solution that does not meet the real response challenges for enterprise, education and public sector campus environments. Many organizations have implemented location technologies that can identify 911 calls to a desktop location. More often than not the Public Safety Answering Position (PSAP) ignores this information or cannot see it on their screens when answering a 911 call. First responders only receive and act upon Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and the resulting ALI or Automatic Location Information. PSAP and/or E911 do not verify the caller’s location. The myth of call back verification surprises many clients as it rarely happens. Depending on the type of emergency, callers’ devices may become disabled or relocated, creating additional difficulties in time-sensitive situations.
Historically 911 services have been tied to local infrastructure. Many clients using SIP trunking
or hosted PBX services do not realize that 911 response is now tied to VoIP Positioning Carriers (VPCs). Located in North America and Canada, VPCs amount to “PSAPs of Last Resort” for otherwise unrouteable calls. Some emergency districts even charge clients additional fees as high as $200.00 per occurrence.
Critical response services at multi-floor or multi-building campuses necessitate additional on-site campus assistance in order to deliver an immediate and effective response. A successful emergency response requires:
1. On site trained staff
2. A campus emergency response plan
3. Situational awareness
4. Rapid access to entrances
5. Accurate floor plans
6. Environmental data
Talk to your Communication Strategies consultant for assistance on assessing your E911 strategy.
