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Government Services Center 601 Westtown Road | Suite 012

West Chester PA 19380

Public Safety Training Campus

137 Modena Road

Coatesville, PA 19320

The Responder

April 2015

An informational source for the Emergency Responders of Chester County

Chester County launches Text to 9-1-1 service

New service available when calling 9-1-1 is not possible

Earlier this month, the Chester County Commissioners and officials from the Department of

Emergency Services announced the availability of a Text to 9-1-1 service for situations when calling

9-1-1 in an emergency is not possible. Chester County is the first county in Southeastern

Pennsylvania to introduce Text to 9-1-1 capabilities.

“By adding a Text to 9-1-1 option, we’re providing equal

access to emergency services for residents with hearing and

speech disabilities,” said Chester County Commissioners’

Chair Terence Farrell. “However, our clear message for this

new service is ‘call if you can, text if you must’.”

“The growth of text messaging as a form of communication is

immense, and it is invaluable within the hearing and speech

disabilities community,” added Commissioner Kathi Cozzone.

“As importantly, this new service could be a safe option for

those who need to contact 9-1-1 in a domestic violence or

crime-related emergency situation.”

According to Chester County Department of Emergency Services Director Robert Kagel, the

county’s 9-1-1 operators currently receive around 775 calls every day, and two out of three of those

calls come from wireless (cell) phones.

“Our Department of Emergency Services and the greater 9-1-1 community strives to meet the

evolving needs of the public, and right now that means implementing a Text to 9-1-1 service,” notes

Commissioner Michelle Kichline. “This is part of a larger nationwide

initiative known as Next Generation 9-1-1, aimed at maximizing

emergency services in a growing wireless mobile society – an

initiative that Chester County is committed to investing in further.”

In December 2012, an agreement was reached nationally among the four wireless carriers – AT&T,

Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon – to provide a nationwide SMS Text to 9-1-1 solution. Chester County

researched options for implementation and signed an agreement with TeleCommunications

Systems (TCS) in February, at no cost to add the Text to 9-1-1 capability. Three of the four major

carriers – Verizon, Sprint and AT&T – are fully deployed. Testing with T-Mobile is scheduled to be

completed by mid-April.

More information on

Text to 9-1-1 on Page 2

Call if you can; text if you can’t.

Whenever possible, people should always call

9-1-1 instead of texting.

Texting isn’t a replacement for calling 9-1-1; it’s a less

accurate alternative.

Text calls do not have the same location accuracy as

voice calls.

You will need to be able to provide your exact location

(an address and municipality – not postal city) if you

are texting 9-1-1.

Text-to-9-1-1 will take longer to process than voice

calls because of the back-and-forth messaging instead

of instant voice conversation. Because of that:

Text to 9-1-1 FAQ

Be brief. Do not use abbreviations.

Do not use “texting” language.

Just answer the

telecommunicator’s questions.

If the situation changes and you can make a

voice call, let the telecommunicator know and

then dial 9-1-1.

When voice calling 9-1-1, your cell phone

connects to the closest tower and your handset

location is sent to 9-1-1.

With texting 9-1-1, your cell phone connects to the

closest tower and the tower – not your handset -

location is sent to 9-1-1. This means we’ll know

what tower you are texting from but we won’t

know where you are.

If you are on the border of the county you might

get a “bounce back” indicating 9-1-1 isn’t available

via texting or you might reach a 9-1-1 center that

isn’t Chester County. If this is the case you will

need to call 9-1-1 so you can be transferred to the

correct 9-1-1 center.

You must have active service on your telephone

to text 9-1-1. This includes a text message plan,

although text message charges do not apply

when contacting 9-1-1.

Text if you can’t.

Call if you can,

Computer-Aided-Dispatch System (CADS):

The software upgrade to Version 9.3 was completed. There was a problem with the delivery of the upgraded Mobile for Public Safety (MPS). Intergraph is working the problem internally and has yet to determine a new date for delivery. At this time the problem does not affect the project schedule.

Work continues on the interface to Glenayre (Fire/EMS Paging), as well as the Harris radio integration.

The new agreed upon cutover date is September 2015 with final project completion estimated for May 2016.

Voice Radio Project:

Of the 27 tower sites we will be using, we have completed the legal and financial process at 24 sites and have released the sites to Harris for their work to begin.

Cutover is scheduled for 1 January 2016 with Final System Acceptance 21 April 2016.

Construction at Bucktown, Malvern, and Norco has been completed.

Training Facility:

The remaining work at the Tactical Village involves the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. The gas pumps which operate propane burn props and water heaters have a 12-week lead time. The Tactical Village is on track to be partially-operational in April. We must await the gas pumps before a final completion date can be provided. The Tactical Village is on track to be partially-operational in April.

We reviewed the final lighting plan for the firing range. We are awaiting a geotechnical study report before we can go before South Coatesville Borough for Land Development. Manns Woodward hopes to have final construction bid documents prepared for the summer but that depends on South Coatesville.

Last month we hosted 1,784 people at 63 events.

April 2015 Stats

710 Per Day 9-1-1, VoIP, 10 Digit Calls

812 Fire Incidents

3,319 EMS Incidents

1 Minute 27

Seconds

Fire/EMS Average Dispatch

29,237 Police Incidents

1 Minute 27

Seconds

Average Police Dispatch

98% Average of Quality Reviews

From the Director…. Project Updates & Monthly Stats

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Pennsylvania is currently in a period of transition. Never before have there been so many vital foundational elements of EMS changing in such a short time frame. The following is a very brief overview of the recent and currently changing aspects of EMS.

It all started with a new Pennsylvania EMS Law. The Emergency Medical Services System Act of 2009 (Act 37) is the legislative basis for all things related to EMS in PA. Signed by the Governor in August 2009, it replaced the previous PA EMS Act (Act 45) from 1985. The EMS system has obviously changed significantly since 1985, and the new law was long overdue. But the law only provides general information, and is not overly detailed. The details come in the form of regulations. From 2009 until 2014, providers operated under the EMS Act, with old outdated EMS Regulations.

Due to an exhaustive comment and review period and the overwhelming support of affected stakeholders, Pennsylvania’s new EMS Regulations (PA Code – Title 28) were approved in October 2013 and effective April 10, 2014. Currently, there are more detailed regulations that are in sync with the new EMS Act. The new Act and Regulations brought with them many administrative and operational changes that affect EMS. Examples include: granting the Department of Health the ability to levy monetary fines to organizations and individuals governed by the EMS Act; adding new EMS certification levels including Advanced EMT and Pre-hospital Physician Extender (Physician’s Assistant); and adding new operational levels including Intermediate ALS and Critical Care Transport. Despite the Legislative and Regulatory pieces being in place to enact these changes, additional work on the system infrastructure is still needed to make some of them operational.

One of those changing key infrastructure pieces that is in the process of implementation currently is the Statewide BLS Protocols. Applicable to all levels of EMS providers in PA, these protocols are the basis for all basic level patient care

provided to all of our patients. The current update that is effective July 1, 2015 includes a total cultural change on how spinal care (no longer termed immobilization) is offered, and the ability for EMTs to administer aspirin and naloxone. Revisions to the Statewide ALS protocols are also due to be released later this year, as are the new AEMT protocols and Critical Care Paramedic protocols which will guide the care of these two new levels of care.

Closely linked to the protocols is the EMS scope of practice. Think of the scope of practice as defining what you can do, and the protocols defining when you can do it – patient care depends on both being in place. The EMS scope of practice was updated in January of this year to reflect the new AEMT level, and to add some of the other changes such as EMT administration of aspirin and naloxone.

The final changing piece is the educational blueprint for EMS. In January 2013, all EMS certification courses (i.e. EMR, EMT, and Paramedic) switched from being based on the former National Standard Curriculum to being based on the new EMS Education Standards (NEMSES). The NEMSES are a shift to more competency based education as opposed to the former hour based education. As part of that shift, we also moved to a new certification testing platform as well. At the BLS level, the psychomotor (practical) exams remain a PA specific exam based on the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) exam format. The BLS cognitive (written) exams are now NREMT computer based exams. At the ALS level, both the psychomotor and cognitive exams are NREMT exams.

So, as you can see, there is a tremendous amount of change currently in the PA EMS system. CCDES will continue roll out new information as it becomes available, and are always available to answer questions as they arise.

Questions can be directed to Harry Moore, Deputy Director Field Services/EMS at hemoore@chesco.org or 610-344-5049.

EMS 2015 – A Time of Transition

The Fire Marshal’s office warns residents about fireplace ashes.

Fireplace and woodstove ashes when removed should be discarded in a metal container with a lid and placed outside away from the home and any combustible materials. Never put ashes in a paper / plastic bag, cardboard box, or combustible container. Never dispose of ashes in your plastic trash container. Never place discarded ashes in a container on combustible material such as wood or composite deck, mulched area, or in a building including a garage. Fireplace ashes may contain HOT EMBERS for many days after the flames are out. There are numerous destructive house fires caused by improper disposal of fireplace and wood stove ashes every year.

Pictometry Online is Now Available to Chester County First Responder

Community.

Pictometry Online (POL) provides web-based access to high-resolution oblique imagery and analytical tools via a web browser. Oblique images are aerial images captured at an angle to provide a more natural perspective, making objects and buildings easier to recognize. The images were taken in the Spring of 2014 from the north, south, east, and west directions providing a virtual 360 degree view of any location in the county. Chester County DES would like to make this product available to every Emergency Management Agency, Fire, EMS, and Police department in the County. Attached are a few sample screen shots to give you an idea of what Pictometry and the images look like.

User accounts are limited, so please respond with only one point of contact per agency. This account can be shared within your organization; however, only one person can be using the account at a time.

To request an account, please provide Dave Sekkes with the following information:

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Department/Agency

For any questions regarding POL, please contact Dave Sekkes at: dsekkes@chesco.org or 610-344-4485

Community Outreach

Program

Provides 9-1-1 educational

and preparedness programs

for all ages.

For more information call Amy

at 610-344-5093 or

aamer@chesco.org

Hazmat Team Members Receive Specialized Training

Three members of the Hazmat team recently traveled to Pueblo, CO to attend a three day awareness training program on Crude Oil By Rail. Deputy Chief Don Herb; Technicians Mark Koenig and Steve Pelna along with other first responders from around the county received training on the characteristics of Crude Oil; how it is transported and how to deal with a rail car on fire during the three day program.

The training was held at the renowned Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERT-C) located at the American Association of Railroads Transportation and Training Center Incorporated (TTCI) in Pueblo. Hazmat Chief Tom Glass and Chief Jason Cole from Valley Forge Fire Company attended the training in 2014. The training allows attendees to bring back information to share with other responders on this new risk coming through our county in the Phoenixville area. For more information on this training go to: www.sertc.org.

Two DES Employees to Present at National

Conference

On Wednesday, June 10, 2015, Chrissy DePaolantonio and Stacey Songer from the Chester County Department of Emergency Services will present at the National Homeland Security Conference in San Antonio, TX. The topic of their presentation will be Family Reunification Centers: Do you know your involvement? As a consequence of emergencies and disasters, family reunification becomes one of the most challenging events to plan for, implement, and accomplish. Family reunification is a process to reunite children with their parents/guardians after an emergency or crisis has occurred due to school threats, hazardous material accidents, fires, natural gas leaks, flooding, earthquakes, bomb threats, terrorist attacks or other local hazards. Currently, a national document which would outline standards, strategies or resources required to coordinate a family reunification site does not exist. The Chester County Department of Emergency Services collaborated with several response agencies within the County to develop a guidance document. In October of 2014, Chrissy and Stacey were able to test this document during our Family Reunification Functional Exercise. They will facilitate a discussion on how other regions can use our findings to build from and form their own reunification plan for their jurisdiction.

Chester County Emergency Services is switching software platforms used for text notifications to partner agencies and public alerting to a company called Everbridge. This change will bring an integration with newer technology and more efficiency in providing alerts.

Using Everbridge as our backbone for the alert system for both the Public and Responder side will give users new and better options to receive messages. They users will be able to select multiple methods as to how they want to be contacted (email, phone calls, text message, fax, etc.) and their preferred order of contact. This system will also rely heavily on the mobile applications for the users to enroll.

This system is scheduled to be operational by July 1st of this year.

Information from people who have signed up for public alerts in the old system will be moved into the new system. Once information has been moved over, people will be asked to go to the new system to create a new username and password, update their contact information, and select the optional government information they wish to receive.

The capabilities of Everbridge will allow the county, municipalities, and responder organizations to provide notification about emergency situations that could impact the citizens and visitors of Chester County as well as provide a method to send out non-emergency information to those who are interested.

Training sessions and public relations materials will be available prior to the launch. If you have further questions as to how the changes will affect your organization, please contact Jeff Emmons at 610-344-5042 or jemmons@chesco.org

ReadyNotifyPA Changes