NCJ Number
67543
Journal
CCE (CONSULTING COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERS) NEWSLETTER Dated: (AUTUMN 1975) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IMPLEMENTING 911 HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE RATHER THAN A TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF REPORTING EMERGENCIES.
Abstract
THE URGE TO RUSH INTO A 911 SYSTEM COULD BE BOTH ENORMOUSLY COSTLY AND CONFUSING. BECAUSE EACH SMALL TOWNSHIP CANNOT AFFORD A SEPARATE 911 CENTER, ONE LARGE CENTER WOULD NEED TO BE CREATED TO COVER FIVE OR SIX TOWNSHIPS OR POSSIBLY AN ENTIRE COUNTY. IN ADDITION, 911 INCLUDES NOT ONLY MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE INCLUDING HOSPITALS, VOLUNTEER AMBULANCES, BLOOD BANKS, EYE CENTERS, AND POISON CENTERS; BUT ALSO CIVIL EMERGENCIES INCLUDING FLOOD, FIRE, HURRICANE, AND DISASTER, AS WELL AS THE USUAL POLICE, FIRE, WATER, GAS, AND SIMILAR EMERGENCIES. FURTHER, THE CITIZEN CANNOT NECESSARILY BE GUARANTEED HELP IN A HURRY. IF ALL THE CALLS OF A LARGE SUBURBAN AREA ARE DELIVERED TO A 911 CENTER, THE CENTER MUST NOTE THE EMERGENCY, ASK FOR A TELEPHONE NUMBER, FIND OUT THE EMERGENCY LOCATION AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, REFER TO RECORDS, AND EITHER RELAY THE MESSAGE OR TRANSFER THE CALL. ALL THIS CAN TAKE 15 MINUTES WHEN TIME IS CRITICAL. A SIMPLE VARIATION OF 911 WHICH IS FEASIBLE WITH MODERN TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE EQUIPMENT IS TO SUPPLEMENT 911 WITH 4 ADDITIONAL DIGITS AS IN 911 POLICE OR 911 FIRE. (PAP)