Nextel to shut down on June 30

Sprint has announced it will shut down the Nextel National Network on June 30 of this year.  For more information, view the letter on-line at http://sprint.m.delivery.net/w/webView?cid=15369927190&mid=1857913857&pid=1333338&vid=1053&ee=bWljaGVsZS5hYmJvdHRAcmVub2xlYy5jb20_&si=&mv=H&bv=H&oc=N&sc=&k=1klOG1
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Grant deadline extended

The 2013 grant filing deadline has been extended to July 1, according to Scott Ekberg, 911 Liaison to the 911 Coordinating Council.  Check the Kansas 911 website at http://www.kansascounties.org/index.aspx?NID=245 to keep updated on 911 Coordinating Council activities.

Wearable Tech is coming.....

From the "Dispatch Monthly" newsletter

 

May 18, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    

While public safety communications centers and government regulators are focusing on the future of texting 911, technology companies are creating even more exotic methods of dialing 911, including a computer worn as eyeglasses. The fast pace of new tech makes it impossible for comm centers to keep up with the inventions of creative minds, it seems. The latest tech invention is Google Glass, a tiny computer, camera and video screen worn like a pair of eyeglasses, and linked to the Internet. The device is in limited public release now, and has sparked discussions about privacy, social interaction and “dorkiness.” Beyond the cool-looking hardware, Google and others have been promoting what users can actually do with the product, including commerce, email, reference, voice calls, taking photos and videos, and linking to social Web sites like Facebook and Twitter. A Canada-based creative agency has created a video to showcase some of the everyday activities that Google Glass might improve, including a medical emergency. In the hypothetical video, a Glass user discovers his father unconscious and makes a voice call to 911 for help. The user then performs CPR on the patient, using instructions displayed on the Glass video screen. Meanwhile, the dispatcher provides updates on the arrival of an EMS unit. Watch the video after the break.

At about 1:50 in the video, a Google Glass user discovers his father unconscious on the the floor and “dials” 911.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S80mE3kQTJ0#!

 

State Grant Fund open - May 1st thru June 7th

911 State Grant Fund  “OPEN”    ----    May 1^st thru June 7^th .  Primary focus of the grants are:
1)      consulting and planning activities by regional groups and PSAPs,
2)      urgent 911 equipment requests necessary to preserve E911 operations in PSAPs”

To the Kansas PSAP Directors,

The application to request a 911 grant from the Kansas State Grant Fund is online and available for submission.  The application is due to the Kansas Association of Counties by June 7, 2013.  The application has submission instructions included.  The application is in Microsoft Word format; if you have difficulties with the file please contact me and I can supply it via PDF or another way.  Let me know if there are any questions , thanks!

Dennis Kriesel

Senior Policy Analyst
Kansas Association of Counties
300 SW 8^th Ave, 3^rd Floor
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 272-2585x308
kriesel@kansascounties.org

APCO launches APPCOMM

APCO has launched a new application community website (AppComm) with applications useful to public safety.  The announcement can be read at http://psc.apcointl.org/2013/04/23/apco-launches-application-community-appcomm-website/ and the app site can be accessed at http://appcomm.org/.

Are dispatchers at risk for PSTD?

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Stress/ptsd-911-emergency-dispatchers-risk/story?id=16020576

Ekberg named 911 Liaison

Scott Ekberg has been selected for the position of 911 Liaison and he will begin his service to the 911 Coordinating Council on May 13, 2013.   Scott has extensive public safety experience in Kansas, including Director of the Barton County Communications Center, and he most recently was employed in the Kansas Office of Emergency Communications for the past four years.

 

Scott lives in Great Bend, Kansas and will continue to work out of the Adjutant General’s Department.  Scott will receive direction on Council related activities and programs from myself and our Committee Chairs. 

 

This collaboration between the Adjutant General’s Department and the 911 Coordinating Council will provide a cost-effective approach to staffing this position as well as to ensure continued coordination of 911 and public safety communications initiatives in Kansas.   I very much appreciate the willingness of the TAG and of Col. Stratmann in working with the Council to enhance our support services to Kansas PSAPs.

State of Kansas conducts needs assessment

The State of Kansas recently received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women to identify training needs of criminal justice professionals in Kansas. The Governor’s Advisory Council for Domestic Violence Training will guide a domestic violence and sexual assault training project to provide trainings to criminal justice professionals in Kansas.

The Advisory Council is conducting a needs assessment survey to determine the training needs of communication specialists regarding the response to domestic violence.  

 

The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Please respond by May 30, 2013.

The Advisory Council will use the information you provide to update and expand previously developed curricula, best practices, and training materials. Additionally, training for criminal justice professionals will be held across Kansas using the updated materials.

Thank you in advance for providing this valuable information.

The survey is accessed via this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CommunicationsAssess