Enhancing Emergency Response with Cloud-Based Communication Systems

During a crisis, every second counts. Accurate information, shared quickly and reliably, can be the difference between life and death. 9-1-1 dispatchers and first responders understand this better than anyone.

The effectiveness of emergency response hinges on your communication technology. The traditional systems used by many ECCs have a key shortcoming: they lack true interoperability. When incidents require the fastest possible response, disparate systems don’t allow for seamless data sharing.

With a cloud-based communication system, like CAD-to-CAD, 9-1-1 centers can enhance real-time communication across emergency and non-emergency entities – regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. You can coordinate and share data with PSAPs, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and even community organizations.

With the cloud at their fingertips, emergency responders can access real-time data while driving to a site, ensuring a prepared response. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the five ways cloud technology improves emergency response.

How Cloud Technology Improves Emergency Response

Almost every ECC in the U.S. uses a CAD system, but most systems are disparate. Developed by different vendors, their computer-aided dispatch systems can’t communicate effectively. In other words, they lack interoperability.

Disparate systems make it difficult to share critical emergency data with other PSAPs and first responders. Although Next Generation 911 improves communication between these entities, it lacks the full functionality of a cloud-based communication system, like CAD-to-CAD.

A CAD-to-CAD network harnesses the power of the cloud. It lets emergency responders share (and access) real-time data simultaneously to multiple CAD systems. It lets you send alerts to and receive alerts from non-PSAP and non-public safety organizations.

There are several ways that agencies can share data and collaborate via CAD-to-CAD networks:

Shared portals that provide real-time incident details
Incident-sharing through configurable pop-up alerts
A unified system that allows bidirectional incident- and unit-sharing from each CAD

These capabilities empower every first responder, regardless of jurisdiction, to make informed decisions with the most current data. At the end of the day, cloud communication helps you serve the community and save lives.

2. True Interoperability Between Agencies

During a crisis, some things matter more than others, like safety, responsiveness and communication. When lives are on the line, one thing that can be deprioritized is jurisdiction. Sometimes one agency is geographically closer to the site of an incident than another, or an officer could be driving through an area outside her jurisdiction.

Of course, emergencies can also impact entities outside of public safety. In the case of a fire or shooting, neighboring organizations must be alerted, not just first responders. How do you alert and share critical information with schools, hospitals and others? Is your method reliable and time-efficient?

As dispatchers understand, most emergencies aren’t cut and dry. Unexpected challenges often arise, and you need to be equipped with the latest cloud technology to update first responders on the fly.

Responding to an emergency effectively requires interoperability and coordination between agencies. So when a crisis crosses jurisdictional borders or impacts community organizations, CAD-to-CAD systems help you share life-saving information with PSAP and non-PSAP entities more efficiently. They help you protect citizens and responders alike.

3. Scalability During Emergencies

In your line of work, quickly sharing up-to-date information with the right people is a necessity. With cloud-based communication, your emergency response can scale to meet the needs of any emergency.

The right CAD-to-CAD software automates communication (as much as possible) to partner agencies, towing companies, ambulance services, hospitals, schools, universities, state DOT road crews and more. Such a system alerts and mobilizes these units without wasting time on phone calls or back-and-forth communication.

A CAD-to-CAD network also lets you dispatch the most appropriate units across jurisdictional boundaries. So if one agency doesn’t have enough resources to properly respond to an incident, a neighboring agency can help.

4. Improved Efficiency & Faster Response Times

When seconds can save lives, cloud communication systems can help you improve efficiency and save time.

Phone calls waste valuable minutes in your PSAP. Eliminate the back-and-forth communication in joint response with an intelligent CAD-to-CAD network that can identify the appropriate unit and keep communication about the call in your CAD. Agencies using the right tool see a reduction in call processing – sometimes as much as two minutes per call.

5. Remote Access for Field Responders

Cloud communication gives first responders remote access to critical data. For example, the best CAD-to-CAD systems offer two-way sharing through mobile devices and tablets, letting first responders in the field access the most accurate information: location details, incident severity, resource availability and more. Such a system provides updates while responders are en route so they can prepare effectively before arriving at the scene.

How to Get Started

Your community relies on an important belief: when they call emergency services for help, someone will answer. With the right technology, you can coordinate response efforts and share critical incident information with those who need it most. You can make their belief a reality.

Unify™ is a CAD-to-CAD interoperability network by CentralSquare, connecting you to the systems you already use to save time and save lives.

Schedule a discovery call today to learn how Unify can help your 9-1-1 center operate more efficiently and seamlessly dispatch the most appropriate unit, even across jurisdictional boundaries.