National 9-1-1 Education Month Prepares Americans for Emergencies

This April, national public safety organizations are conducting 9-1-1 awareness campaigns that will ensure citizens are ready to get the help they need during emergencies.

The National 9-1-1 Education Coalition, an alliance of eight national organizations committed to promoting 9-1-1 public education across the country, has created a clearinghouse for free 9-1-1 public education materials, available now at www.know911.org. Key messages include:

• Know Your Location: Especially when calling from a wireless device, the 9-1-1 call taker may not have access to your exact location. Be prepared to provide detailed information on where you are so that help can get to you as quickly as possible.
• Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t: Text-to-9-1-1 service is available in an increasing number of communities around the country. However, a traditional voice call, if possible, is still the best way to reach emergency services.
• Stay Calm and Don’t Hang Up: When you are on the phone with 9-1-1, you are their eyes and ears. So, until you are instructed to do otherwise, stay on line so you can provide any necessary information or assistance to the 9-1-1 call taker.

"You don’t wake up in the morning thinking you are going to call 9-1-1. However, should you have to, it may be the most important call you ever make," said Brian Fontes, CEO of NENA: The 9-1-1 Association. "That’s what makes 9-1-1 Education Month so very important. In an emergency, seconds matter; being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference."

Additional resources are available at www.nena.org/education-month.

 

NENA 2015 Full Conference Details Announced

"Camp NENA" is your summertime destination to earn your merit badges in all things 9-1-1.

At NENA 2015, you will not only hear about the public safety issues of today and tomorrow, but also gain practical, real-world know how that you can take home with you and put into action immediately. No matter what your role is in public safety, Camp NENA delivers the education, resources, and contacts you need to fill your daypack and summit any mountain in front of you.

Featuring inspiring keynote speakers, more than ninety hours of breakout sessions that inform and empower, career-building courses and workshops with real-world applications, nightly networking events that help you make the right connections, and an Expo Hall showcasing cutting-edge products and services, NENA 2015 is the must-attend event of the year. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it!

Learn more:

• Breakouts
• Pre-Con Courses
• Workshops
• Networking Events 
• Keynotes 
• Run for 9-1-1 
• Exhibits
• ...and More!

Click here to register and here to make your housing reservations. With many hotels already close to being sold out, be sure to book soon to get the best possible rate at your hotel of choice!

 

NENA CEO Brian Fontes Named One of Government Technology’s "Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, & Drivers"

On March 25, "Government Technology" announced its Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers – 25 individuals or teams who exemplify transformative use of technology that’s improving the way government does business and serves its citizens. Showcased in the April issue of Government Technology magazine, this year’s list includes a California-based entrepreneur who placed a $23 million bet on new companies in the gov tech space; government innovation and performance officers who are reinventing how agencies acquire and use technology, as well as how they measure the results; and CIOs and elected officials who are revolutionizing the bedrock systems and infrastructure that power government service delivery and public safety.

Brian was recognized for his leadership in the march towards Next Generation 9-1-1. You can read about him and the other 24 award recipients here.

 

New NENA NG9-1-1 Working Group Being Formed

The Monitoring and Managing NG9-1-1 Working Group is tasked with creating a NENA document that addresses specific operational topics and makes general recommendations on operational procedures associated with the transition to monitoring and managing NG9-1-1 software functions and  infrastructure. The output is targeted to those personnel who develop and manage PSAP processes and procedures, and to those responsible for ESInet, NG9-1-1 Core Services, and PSAP infrastructure. The effort will identify and describe what needs to be monitored and how that is different than current practices within E9-1-1, including the acquisition and provisioning of the capacity involved. The level of detail will be sufficient to identify areas that should be considered in RFPs and Service Level Agreements.

Expertise Needed: Subject Matter Experts who have been involved in monitoring and managing large, complex systems and networks, or that have been involved in writing and negotiating SLAs for them are invited to join the working group in this important effort.   

To join this work group please complete the Volunteer Form. The group meets on Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time.

 

Register Now for the 2nd Annual Run for 9-1-1!

On the morning of Sunday, June 28, lace up your running or walking shoes in support of 9-1-1 training and wellness programs and participate in the Friends of 9-1-1 second-annual "Run for 9-1-1" charity 5K in Denver, Colo.!

The run/walk promotes healthy living among 9-1-1 professionals, gives the Denver community and supporters from around the country a chance to say "thank you" to 9-1-1, and generates funds for scholarships and 9-1-1 training opportunities.

Click here to see pictures from last year's inaugural 5K in Nashville, Tenn.!

Interested runners (and walkers) should visit the Friends of 9-1-1 website for more information. The registration fee is currently $30 and will increase to $35 on May 16 and then to $40 on Race Day (June 28). Teams of five runners can register for $100.  

There are a limited number of corporate sponsorship opportunities for the Run for 9-1-1 charity event. The deadline for sponsorship commitments is June 15.  Sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Sean Sullivan of Team Lightbulb.  

Those who cannot attend the run/walk in person are encouraged to show support by becoming a Friends of 9-1-1 Fundraiser, with options available for individuals or groups to raise funds for scholarships and other initiatives benefiting 9-1-1 professionals.

 

You Shop & Amazon Gives with AmazonSmile!

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support NENA every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to NENA.

To shop at AmazonSmile, simply go to smile.amazon.com from the Web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to search for and select "National Emergency Number Association" to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation.

Click here to learn more and here to start shopping now!

 

Not Receiving NENA Mail?

Make sure the addresses (email and postal) that we have on file for you are current! Please log in to your online member account to verify or update your information, or send an email to Bri Robinson.

 

NG9-1-1 Data Management Requirements Document Available for Review & Comment

 

Updated National 9-1-1 Report Addresses System Demographics and NG9-1-1 Implementation Progress

The National 911 Program released the "2014 National 911 Progress Report," which provides detailed reporting and analysis of the most recent collection of 9-1-1 statistics from more than 39 states.

Available at 911.gov, the report collates the data gathered from participating states with the support of the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA). Key findings from the report include:

• A majority of 9-1-1 calls are received from cellular phones.
• Progress is being made toward the implementation of NG9-1-1.
• Some states have 100 percent operational NG9-1-1 infrastructure.
• Wireline and wireless surcharge funds comprise 35 percent of annual revenue.

With a total of 39 states reporting 2013 information during 2014, this report is the most current data available. Plans are already underway for 2014 data collection to commence in May of this year.

The National 911 Program Office will work with NASNA to continue gathering state-level 9-1-1 data on an annual basis as a way to provide measurement for ongoing improvements of 9-1-1 systems.

Additional information and analysis about the data will be available during the upcoming State of 9-1-1 Webinar on April 14 at 12 p.m. EST. Click here to register for the webinar. 

 

Get the Emergency Communications News That Really Matters with Public Safety SmartBrief

NENA recently launched a FREE email news service called Public Safety SmartBrief. It provides a weekly summary of news, trends, and updates on public safety issues -- not just 9-1-1, but police, fire and EMS. Knowledgeable editors handpick key articles from hundreds of publications, summarize them and provide direct links to the original sources.

 

Enhanced Career Center Now Available

 

Save the Dates...

June 27-July 2 | NENA 2015 Conference & Expo | Denver, CO

October 4-7 | NENA Development Conference | Austin, TX

 

04.09.15 - Overcoming Negativity in the Communications Center - Palm Beach, FL - Learn More!

04.27.15 - Leadership in the 9-1-1 Center - Las Vegas, NV (Navigator Conference) - Register here!

04.28.15 - Customer Service: Takes Seconds, Saves Minutes - Las Vegas, NV (Navigator Conference) - Register here!

06.24-28.15 - NENA 2015 CMCP & Pre-Conference Courses - Denver, CO - Register here!

Questions? Want to bring a course directly to you?
Visit our Host a Course page to find out how you can bring it directly to you. You can also contact NENA's Education & Operational Issues Director Ty Wooten for additional information.