Blog | 911 Emergency Dispatcher | 911 Emergency Dispatch

Vancouver, B.C.—Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained are one of the best defences in the event of a fire, dramatically reducing deaths and injuries. As part of Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), E-Comm’s fire dispatch team is reaching out to the public to help raise awareness of the importance of regularly testing smoke alarms and understanding what to do in the event of a fire.

E-Comm Fire Dispatcher Jeanine Gibson explains that whether you live in an apartment, house or condo, smoke alarms are a key part of any home escape plan.

“There’s a good chance you will hear the smoke alarm before you smell or see smoke, which means escaping earlier and potentially avoiding devastating circumstances,” says Gibson. “Smoke spreads fast where there is fire, and working smoke alarms provide a critical early warning so you can get outside quickly.”

Important fire safety tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe:

• If your smoke alarm sounds due to fire, evacuate the building and call 9-1-1.
• If you see or smell smoke, don’t wait for your smoke alarm to sound, get out of the building and call 9-1-1.
• Don’t assume smoke alarms are connected to an alarm service or that someone else has already called the fire department. Call 9-1-1 yourself to confirm help is on the way.
• If you’re cooking and the smoke alarm goes off and the situation becomes too much to handle, evacuate the building and call 9-1-1.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area.
• Test your smoke alarms every month by pushing the test button; replace batteries regularly and don’t delay with replacing them if you hear warning chirps indicating low battery.
• All smoke alarms in your home should be replaced every 10 years.

“Talk with your family about fire safety tips on a regular basis so they will be prepared in the event of a fire emergency,” adds Gibson. ”Create an escape plan that lists ways out of every room in your home and designate an outside meeting point as a safe place to meet.”

The theme for this year’s National Fire Prevention Week is Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives; Test Yours Every Month. For more fire safety tips and information visit www.fpoa.bc.ca.

-30-

E-Comm answers more than 860,000 9-1-1 calls each year for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast Regional District, Whistler, Squamish and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (south) and dispatches for 18 fire departments. For tips on using 9-1-1 and more information about E-Comm visit www.ecomm911.ca or follow E-Comm’s Twitter feed @ecomm911_info.

Media Contact:
Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-5023 or 604-640-1342 (pager)
[email protected]

This fall, 9-1-1 call answer services for nine interior regional districts will move to a new service provider.  Read the news release from the Regional District of Central Okanagan here.

The North Island 911 Corporation will be using a new model to delivery primary 911 call answering services, following a study of options for 911 call-taking and fire dispatch. Read the news release here.

Vancouver, B.C.—E-Comm, the regional emergency communications centre, is pleased to announce its 2014-2015 board of directors. The announcement follows today’s Annual and Special General Meeting (ASGM).

“On June 8 E-Comm celebrated 15 years of service and I’d like to commend our board of directors past and present, for their leadership and expertise in achieving this milestone and for their contribution to E-Comm’s vision of safer communities in B.C. through excellence in public-safety communication,” said David Guscott, E-Comm president and CEO. “We are pleased to have such accomplished professionals govern our organization.”

E-Comm’s board is comprised of 19 directors and includes elected officials, representatives of emergency services and the provincial government, along with municipal staff and local community and business leaders.

2014-2015 Board of Directors:

• Jocelyn Kelley, Independent Director, remains as Board Chair
• Penny Ballem, representing City of Vancouver
• Gary Bass, representing RCMP
• Councillor Alan Campbell/Fire Chief Len Garis, representing City of White Rock, City of Surrey and Township of Langley
• Mayor Mike Clay, representing Independent Police Boards (Port Moody, West Vancouver, Transit Police, Abbotsford, New Westminster)
• Mayor Ernie Daykin, representing Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows
• Councillor Diana Dilworth, representing Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Belcarra, New Westminster
• Barry Forbes, Independent Director
• Linda Lupini, representing Emergency Health Services
• Councillor Gayle Martin, representing Metro Vancouver
• Councillor Bill McNulty, representing City of Richmond
• Mayor Darrell Mussatto, representing District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, Village of Lions Bay
• Clayton Pecknold, representing Ministry of Justice
• Karl Preuss, representing The Corporation of Delta / Delta Police Board
• Patrick Quealey, representing Ministry of Justice
• Bob Rolls, representing Vancouver Police Board
• Sheldon Stoilen, Independent Director
• TBD, Independent Director

-30-

E-Comm 9-1-1 answers approximately 860,000 9-1-1 calls each year for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Whistler, Squamish and the southern portion of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, provides dispatch services to 32 police and fire departments, and operates the wide-area radio system used throughout Metro Vancouver by police, fire and ambulance personnel.

Media contact:

Jody Robertson
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-4956 or 604-640-1342 (pager)
[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.— Recognizing the dedication of 9-1-1 call-takers, dispatchers, technology specialists and support personnel, the Province of British Columbia has declared April 13-19 as Emergency Service Dispatchers’ and 9-1-1 Awareness Week. As part of the week’s recognition, E-Comm—the emergency communications centre for southwest British Columbia—is reminding the public of the proper use of 9-1-1 and ways in which callers can support the efforts of call-takers who are here to help 24/7.

“Those who answer emergency calls and dispatch first responders during times of crisis are often the unsung heroes working behind the scenes to help those in need,” explained E-Comm CEO David Guscott. “Our staff are highly trained, dedicated professionals and we want to take this opportunity to recognize their important contributions to public safety.”

E-Comm has answered more than 13 million 9-1-1 calls since 1999, and while the vast majority of people use the system responsibly, there are many ways the public can help ensure important lifelines are not misused.

E-Comm 9-1-1 call-takers’ top five tips:

• Know when to make the call. 9-1-1 is for police, fire or medical emergencies when immediate action is required: someone’s health, safety or property is in jeopardy or a crime is in progress. Use local non-emergency numbers for police matters that don’t require immediate response. You can find non-emergency numbers at ecomm911.ca.
• Know your location. Cellphones provide general information but they don’t pinpoint an exact location for 9-1-1 call-takers. Callers are always the best source of information, especially during an emergency when time is of the essence. Always know your location including what city you are in, building or home addresses, cross streets or any other landmark information that will help emergency personnel find you.
• Be prepared to answer questions. It’s the job of 9-1-1 call-takers to get you the emergency response you need. To do that, call-takers are trained to ask specific questions in a priority sequence, relaying information via computer to dispatchers and first responders. Listen carefully, speak clearly and try to remain calm.
• Lock and store your phone carefully. Each day E-Comm receives hundreds of accidental 9-1-1 calls – from pocket dials to hang-ups – all of which tie-up emergency resources. Never pre-program 9-1-1 and don’t let kids play with your cellphone. Keep cellphones locked, stored safely and preferably in a case.
• If you accidentally dial 9-1-1 stay on the line. Do not hang up. If you do, the system will record your call as “abandoned” and call-takers are required to call you back further tying up emergency lines. In instances where your location is known police may be sent to confirm you are safe.
  

Got questions for a 9-1-1 call-taker? On April 17 starting at 4pm E-Comm will be ‘live’ tweeting #911Awareness.

E-Comm answers close to 900,000 9-1-1 calls each year for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast Regional District, Whistler, Squamish and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (South) and provides dispatch service to more than 30 police and fire departments.

For tips on using 9-1-1 and more information visit www.ecomm911.ca or follow @EComm911_info.

-30-

Media Contact
Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm Corporate Communications
604-215-5023
604-640-1342 (pager)