No one can predict when or where a serious emergency will occur. They can happen at home but also at school, in the workplace, throughout the community, and anywhere else. Regardless of where an emergency takes place, Americans expect to get help quickly if they call 911.
Unfortunately, location challenges can delay the swift response 911 callers expect, particularly when callers use mobile or wearable devices to contact 911. As these devices gain popularity among consumers, they are sometimes the only available option for contacting emergency services. It is therefore essential for emergency communication centers to have quick access to reliable location data, regardless of the type of device used to call 911.
Intrado conducted a survey of 1,018 U.S. consumers between the ages of 18 and 75, which indicated that 63 percent of adults worry about someone in their life potentially having an emergency while driving or traveling without access to a phone to call 911.
What if it is impossible to identify and share your location? Imagine a couple losing their way while hiking or a teen driver involved in a car accident. The hikers are unable to determine their whereabouts. The teen driver may be injured, disoriented, and may have trouble communicating. In either case, accessing a traditional phone to contact 911 is impossible.
63% of Americans worry someone in their life could have an emergency and not be able to get to the phone to call 911 when driving, traveling or out with friends.
Suppose the hikers have a smartwatch to alert 911, and the teen driver can call for help using the vehicle’s smart communication system. Could these devices send location details to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or Emergency Communications Center (ECC)? The answer is yes, assuming the devices are equipped with the appropriate technology.
Available Enhanced 911 (E911) technology mitigates location challenges to help improve emergency responses, regardless of the device. For example, Intrado’s E911 solutions allow call agents from a telematics call center to transfer a 911 call from an in-car navigation system to the appropriate PSAP or ECC. This technology enables the transmission of 911 calls with precise location data to 911 call takers.
The highly reliable and flexible Intrado infrastructure connects users of mobile devices—including cell phones, wearables, tablets and smart devices—to 911. Intrado’s cutting-edge technology enables the transmission of precise location information to the PSAP or ECC with speed and accuracy, helping to rescue those in emergency situations.
To learn more about how Intrado is solving 911 location challenges, download: Solving 911 Location Challenges at Home, School, Work and Beyond.