Minneapolis enhanced 911 system helps situational awareness and response

| 04.16.2007 | 08:06:127998 |

April 16 '07: A computer aided-dispatch (CAD) 911 call system in Minneapolis is helping law enforcement, fire and medical personnel respond to emergency calls in the city, a press release announced. The system was built over the course of two years and came online in March 2007.

The more than 1,200 calls each day are handled by the CAD system. Using location technology, 911 dispatchers can locate the caller and send that information to a remote device such as a laptop being used by police and EMT personnel. The Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system "allows dispatchers to see on a map the locations of police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances throughout the city even when they're on the move."

32 of the 44 fire vehicles in Minneapolis have the AVL technology. The AVL system also transmits field and dispatch reports to give firefighters a heads-up. "Currently, 28 ambulances also use the CAD system and are able to be tracked through the system," the press release wrote.

"Often, Minneapolis firefighters act as first responders to medical emergencies, and the new CAD system allows them to see the same medical pre-arrival information available to HCMC paramedics," the press release concluded.