New Training System for Abilene Police and Fire Department
By: Victor Sotelo
Updated: April 24, 2012
Abilene police and fire dispatchers are currently training on a new system that is designed to only send the equipment needed for a certain call.
After a 911 call, a fire truck, ambulance and police are all dispatched, needed or not, but soon dispatchers will be able to only send the pieces of equipment and personnel needed.
The new system will also give a person who needs help some extra, valuable time because dispatchers will be able to instruct callers on how to help till help can arrive.
"You may not be seeing an ambulance, a fire truck and a police officer on every call, you may only see and ambulance, or an ambulance and a police officer," said Greg Goettsch of Abilene Fire Department.
Lt. Greg Goettsch with the Abilene Fire Department says this will save time and money.
"Those that may not be so time sensitive, the equipment is going to be triage so that you are getting the right equipment and the right personnel for your unique situation," said Goettsch.
But the system also adds another time and life saving extra. Once help is already on the way dispatchers will be able to diagnose a problem and if necessary instruct callers how to help a person till crews can arrive.
Goettsch said, "Our dispatchers have been able to, for a long time, walk that caller through CPR but with this new system they are going to be able to do a lot more."
This is the second week of training for Abilene dispatchers and even thought they are set to go live in June, it Goettsch says this is something that is too important to rush.
After a 911 call, a fire truck, ambulance and police are all dispatched, needed or not, but soon dispatchers will be able to only send the pieces of equipment and personnel needed.
The new system will also give a person who needs help some extra, valuable time because dispatchers will be able to instruct callers on how to help till help can arrive.
"You may not be seeing an ambulance, a fire truck and a police officer on every call, you may only see and ambulance, or an ambulance and a police officer," said Greg Goettsch of Abilene Fire Department.
Lt. Greg Goettsch with the Abilene Fire Department says this will save time and money.
"Those that may not be so time sensitive, the equipment is going to be triage so that you are getting the right equipment and the right personnel for your unique situation," said Goettsch.
But the system also adds another time and life saving extra. Once help is already on the way dispatchers will be able to diagnose a problem and if necessary instruct callers how to help a person till crews can arrive.
Goettsch said, "Our dispatchers have been able to, for a long time, walk that caller through CPR but with this new system they are going to be able to do a lot more."
This is the second week of training for Abilene dispatchers and even thought they are set to go live in June, it Goettsch says this is something that is too important to rush.
