The Importance Of First Responder Communication

Crisis information during Hurricane Katrina was immediately available through mass media; television, radio, the emergency broadcast system, and social media. During emergencies, the importance of our country’s communications systems becomes clear. These

Imagine daily threats of diseases, terror, and a dynamic working conditions affecting a person daily on a job. Unable to unseen what was seen so they just push it to the back of their head, just trying to forget. Certain people will and cannot relate to seeing people dying every single day. This what first responder specifically EMRs, EMTs, and paramedics go through on daily basis, even though the job can be very rewarding there is always a downside to every job. Being that a first responder is always putting their life out on the line and sometimes experience traumatic events while on the job, suicide and despair has being ineffectively recognized and unaddressed hazard. Even though

The current communication systems between first responders and other emergency officials have many existing problems. The first issue in communication between first responders is the inability to communicate over a completely wireless system. Wireless communication systems allow first responders to communicate, no matter the situation in which they are thrown. Communication through wireless systems are also more efficient, due to the updated technology that is used for wireless systems. First responders are also unable to communicate with exactly who they want,

The columbine high school shooting which occurred in April 20, 1999 was a tragedy that left 15 people killed and 20 seriously injured. The main communication problems in this shooting were brought about by the many agencies that were involved as well as the different sources that were used. The communication problem was said to relate to a technical limitation that saw the separate agencies experience direct communication problems with each other. This supported by the fact that with over the 40 agencies involved in the incident, it would be inevitable for them to be operating on the different channels of emergency radio there are in addition to on the different radio bandwidth and spectrum parts (Stillman, 2012). For instance, the Sherriff’s office operated on the VHF frequencies, the Denver police department operated on Ericsson 800MHzwhile others like the Douglas County Sherriff operated on a trucked format of the 800MHz. the varying systems prevented the

military’s vast experience in responding to and managing casualties from IED and/or active shooter incidents and from its significant investment in combat casualty care research into the civilian first responder environment” (DHS, First Responder Guide. 2015). In order to improve safety in response to terror events, especially those classified as international terrorism it will require that first responders to further prepare for a vast variety of potential threats. The focus of this increased preparation should not only regard the safe and effective responses of first responders to all potential hazards caused by a terrorist event; but should also include the improvement of first responder’s connections to their communities, the gathering of intelligence, information sharing, and realizing their role in domestic defense of the United States of America.

The helicopters brought in to survey the area appeared to be lacking in their ability to transfer information to the ground. Emergency Management Systems personnel were stationed very near towers but also seemed ill prepared for this type of catastrophe. Had they all been connected and communicating many lives could have been saved (Jim Dwyer, 2007).

The attacks of 9/11 in 2001 shed a light on many different weaknesses relevant to the security of the United States regarding communication, and disaster response. On every level of government— federal, state, and local— substandard communication methods contributed to the deaths of nearly 3000 people, as well as the growing number of people dying from illnesses that resulted from participating in the cleanup at Ground Zero. There were many communication challenges faced by agencies tasked with responding to the incident, and particularly in the case of law enforcement, these problems likely resulted in more fatalities than would have occurred had better systems been in place. This paper will discuss the communication problems that

In everyday life communication is one of the most important aspects to receiving information. The information is not just verbal but reading or visual as well. Every morning we wake up and turn on the tv or sit down and read the newspaper. We begin to absorb the information and this continues throughout the day. The fire service no different. We rely on good communication to get our message across. Although, sometimes we fail to effectively use our communications well. This is not only at the company level, but as well in informing the public. I was once told, "information is power" and I certainly agree. Although, the key is to have effective and accurate information. Within the Incident Command System among the Command Staff rests a very

Due to the vast array of resources that responded to the Cedar fire some were equipped with 800 MHz radios rather than the traditional VHF radios, which was a major communication challenge. Now all resources are equipped with VHF radios that are preprogrammed, but also have field programming capabilities, allowing for all resources to establish effective communications. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors joined the sheriff’s department to invest $22 million in a county regional communication system (S.D. Preparation, n.d.). These upgrades are vastly improved communications between emergency responders and adjoining

(Sellnow & Segger 2013, 10). Over the years, communications developed and broader concepts were created, many from lessons learned over the years. Hurricane Katrina brought to light the deficiencies of emergency communication systems. In the Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned put out by the Bush administration in 2006, noted that the Department of Homeland Security reports described the emergency communications infrastructure as ‘non-existent’ and that Katrina devastated other communication infrastructures across the Gulf Coast, “incapacitating telephone and cell service, police and fire dispatch centers, and emergency radio systems”. (White House 2006).

Barrett (2011) provides a list of questions to consider when developing a policy. The list includes identifying the audience, purpose, message, medium/forum, communicator, and timing. Following Barrett’s (2011) system, Draper City’s proposed Emergency Communication Policy

Communications and emergency services are both very critical areas of infrastructure in the United States. Everything depends on communication. Without it, very few of the other areas can integrate with other agencies and may even lose the ability to function completely. Although the nation relies heavily on the emergency services sector and I agree that, without the full capabilities of it in play, that it is a vital area, why did you feel that it is necessarily at risk? Do you feel that the risk is solely based on natural disasters or do you think there is a potential of attack towards the emergency services sector? Ebinger believes that a company that is typically very well run financially typically will spend less on terrorism protection

Boston marathon bombing required instant dissemination of information to the audience once essential information are gathered, helpful information on the description of the suspects needed to be disseminated so as to help the law enforcement identify and consequently locate the suspects. Doing this would help calm public fears and thus manage their expectations. When people know and understand what to expect, there is tendency for them to follow instructions provided, hence allow emergency responders to perform their tasks (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2014). In addition, it is essential to make sure information is disseminated through reliable media such as: Television broadcast, press conference, different social media, and radios to reach as many people as possible. The main concern here is to get accurate information to the public in a timely manner since disaster increases public media consumption (Janoske, Liu, & Sheppard,

Media partnership is another critical assumption that is used in an emergency situation. The media takes the responsibility of giving information to the public, as well as receiving information from them too. Thus, any emergency response team must work together with the media to give information that is particularly accurate and timely to avert situations that aggravate tension. Emergency managers must have an understanding of the needs and requirements of the media and the value that they come with in emergency response situations (Haddow & Haddow, 2013).

During emergencies, the importance of our country’s communications systems becomes clear. These communications systems include the wire line and wireless telephone networks, broadcast and cable television, radio, Public Safety Land Mobile Radio, satellite systems and increasingly the Internet. For example, in an emergency, we may dial 911, call our family members to make sure they are safe, and turn on our televisions and radios to get breaking news and important updates (FCC, 2012).