Dozens of organizations work tirelessly each day to preserve public safety in communities. Their duties are all-inclusive: from everyday issues, such as traffic safety, to major crises, such as mass shootings and natural disasters.
Recent news stories regarding response to emergencies illustrate how crucial rapid communication and response is in a crisis.
Firemen, police, and paramedics all need to communicate with each other during a crisis to coordinate response and recovery efforts. While unified communications (UC) is typically associated with corporate communications, the tools provided by UC bring many advantages to public safety organizations.
Here’s a closer look at 3 benefits UC provides for public safety organizations:
1) Better Communication During a Crisis
The site of a traumatic incident is chaotic. Emergency responders may not have visibility into a building where a crisis is taking place. They may receive conflicting information about the location of an assailant or the condition and location of victims.
Once a 911 call comes in, first responders must know where to go. They also need to be able to send follow-up messages to request further support.
UC ensures that public safety organizations have access to reliable and rapid forms of communication. Using high-speed wireless technology, public safety organizations can easily communicate with each other. Voice messages are clear and jitter-free, so first responders can feel confident they are working with accurate and complete information.
2) Real-Time Communications
If first responders lack timely information, they could lose track of an assailant or put their resources in the wrong position. Acting on inaccurate information can result in more casualties.
UC ensures that first responders have access to the most current and correct information. When UC tools are supported by a high-speed fiber optic network, information can be sent at the speed of light. Public safety organizations can communicate in real time using instant messaging and give continual updates as conditions change.
3) More Ways to Communicate
Medical teams need to be able to communicate all the way from the scene to the hospital. Trauma centers must prepare ahead of time for the arrival of victims.
First responders need access to a wide variety of communication tools so they can coordinate efforts. UC provides many options for communication, including voice, video, instant messaging, and file sharing.
Medical records can be accessed in the field. Doctors at the hospital can confer with EMTs at the scene. All the members of a treatment or trauma team can collaborate to deliver the highest quality care possible.
UC as a Lifeline
Not all the work public safety organizations do is as high-risk as responding to a shooting scene. But even on a typical day, UC tools allow members of a public safety team to effectively respond to incidents. Fast and reliable communication is the key to preventing or minimizing risks to the public.
FirstLight can help your public safety organization give your community peace of mind. We have lots of experience providing public safety agencies with UC. Our offerings include 911 networks, video surveillance, and high-speed wireless through our extensive fiber optic network. We monitor the network 24/7 to ensure your organization can communicate effectively when an emergency occurs.
Stay connected in an emergency. Reach out to the UC experts at FirstLight.
