Do you know who is responding?

[rescuecptn32]

I am posting to let people know about a system which has become very popular with SAR/USAR/SUSAR, etc... teams to learn who is responding (www.iamresponding.com).  To be candid, I am an owner of the company.  I want to let people know about a significant special being offered to search teams, rescue teams, etc.

This system, called the Emergency Responder Reply System, allows any team member viewing the internet to see who is responding to an emergency.  Once your members are paged with either your present dispatch system, or via text, page and email messages on our system, your members simply pick up any of their phones, speed dial a pre-programmed number, and within 3 seconds their names appear on a website that they are responding and where the are responding to.

The system can be found at www.iamresponding.com   Many SAR teams in NY and NJ have already signed on.

Although the program usually costs $800 per year, we have decided to offer subscriptions at the price of $300 just for SAR teams.  

The system also comes with a powerful communications tool, where you can create up to 50 different email/text groups of members, and then send messages from any internet connected computer to your members in just seconds.

I apologize for posting a sort of advertisement, but we are really trying to help our SAR teams (I am a firefighter as well as a rope rescue tech.).  We have won a number of awards from Fire Chief Magazine and various fire/ems shows.

Please check out our site for more info.  We are offering 2 month free trials to anyone interested.

[fireftrm]

We have a similar syetem, that runs the RDS availability. It shows that on a real time map for Fire Control, an all stations page that shows any date chosen (for advance notification of availability). Booking off duty can be by the system (on the internet), by text, or by landline (number not voice activation). Any change causing unavailability causes a text and email (who receives this is set by station supervisors) to be sent. Once the crew breach is repaired (detached crew for example) a follow up message is sent. Real time crew information is sent to the pre-set personnel on any call, Fire Control clicking to send that message on the system. Other FRS, using this system, have station LCD screens with a scrolling crew available message. Email and text groups can be set up, again by station supervisors.

I would be interested to hear if the "imresponding" system is the shown price for multiple stations, i.e. an FRS - unlike US FDs we have large area services with multiple (in 10s not single figures) stations? Also how would you cope with UK texting and pricing, this being a UK site I think others would be interested in these questions too. A good looking product, but if it is to be competitive int he UK then these specifics need some thought?

[toby14483]

We have a big chart on the wall stating who is coming. Those that are unavailable have their name crossed off.

It's very cheap and very effective.

Being honest, I see no reason to make a system high tech when it doesn't need it. Although we have been told that the system will be computerised in the near future. It's a shame, because pieces of paper break down less than computers.

Although a good system was mentioned whereby on the incident printout a list of all the personel that will be attending is displayed. That would be handy for the JO.

[rescuecptn32]

I'm not sure we are talking about the same system.

With this system, volunteers, for example, speed dial a number and a screen at the firehouse posts their name as coming to the emergency.

Do you have that system?  True, this system also permits persons to log onto the internet and post that they are "available" to come to a call.  But in the events where someone is not on a schedule as intending to respond, allowing us to make a 6 second phone call and post our name on the screen is really cool!

Anyway, I was just wondering if you use such a system in the UK.

[fireftrm]

We probably have a stricter rule for who is available, as the majority of other, not wholetime stations, are staffed by Retained Duty System staff, who are paid to be available and then when out on a shout. Our system could do the 'who is coming' but, as it shows, the real time list of who is on call it shouldn't need to. Supervisors do receive a text with the list of who is available on receipt of a call.

So is your system priced per service or station (remembering we could have 20+ RDS stations in a service) and the free texts, would that apply here, international calls.............To Toby - yes I am sure the paper works well on your station, but it does nothing for the management, does it? How does Control know that you are off the run? DO you ring them?If so the computerised system (see Gartantech, or the Fireservice.co.uk bulletin boards for more) would allow you to text/landline or internet change your availability and Control know immediately if this chnaged station resource availability. Managers (inc your WM and CMs) are sent a text so they can sort it and it can let all the others know they are presently off call due to there being insufficient crew. Paper can't coem anywhere near that flexibility, or usefulness to all. Plus you can still keep a paper record on station for the luddites!

[toby14483]

Our availability is done on drill periods. The relevent sheets are filled in and posted up for the week on that day. Any off the run times for that week are telephoned to control there and then.

Should things change, then you need to clear it with the watch manager. If it takes us off the run, then you stay on. With certain exceptions of course.

[mark]

Surely if the 'modern' technology is available that would make the 'old' availabilty board surpless to requirements then i am all for it.I do agree with you toby that it would be handy for the PDA to have a pre determined crew to attend in principle,but, that is soley to maitain operation competantcies.

Our brigade now has introduced a policy whereby the drivers must be rotated as to maitain there skills yet there is no policy to say that this must also be done for JO's and FF's, this is where i see the benefits of fire control having the information of who they have on call coming into it, the people you tend to find that are against a change to modernise the RDS are simply the crews that attend near on every shout.

Whilst this is a slightly different thread does anybody know of a good system or shift that works on the RDS, we have looked at various and they have all failed, normally do to lack of support...............

[toby14483]

I understand what you are saying for RDS crews being the 6 nearest guys to the station every shout.

We use a watch system. Red and Blue. 14 guys, 6 on each watch, 1 sub who rides whenever he's avaiilable, and a floater who only works 2 nights a week.

One watch works 6 till 6 days, and one works 6 till 6 nights. Then rotate each week. If it's your watch and you are available, you ride. Unless you are slow arriving.

Persons reported/trapped is a different story.

Oh and once (if) the regional controls kick off, they wont be bothered with monitoring whos attending shouts. It's not in their job descriptions. They just want to see it moving, on their giant map walls, not who's moving it.