MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Nov. 10, 2018) — Manatee County has integrated several new potentially lifesaving advancements to its 9-1-1 services to improve emergency response efforts.
The 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center now receives more accurate cell phone location information from any updated iOS and Google phones that dial 9-1-1 through RapidSOS, an emergency response data service. The new technology provides a location within six meters of accuracy, much greater than the existing location data provided by cell phone carriers using tower location technology.
The Emergency Communications Center also installed a new technology called Automated Abandon Callback. If a 9-1-1 caller hangs up before a telecommunicator answers the line, the system automatically calls the number back and asks if they need assistance.
Manatee County Public Safety will also soon be the first in the nation to be able to send out an outbound text directly from its call handling equipment. This would allow telecommunicators to send a text to the number of an abandoned call rather than calling, freeing them up to answer other calls and increasing the likelihood of a response from someone who made the call in error.
The County’s Text to 9-1-1 program is another recent addition that provides increased access to emergency services, particularly for those who are hearing or speech impaired, or are in a situation where it’s difficult or dangerous to make a phone call. While a phone call is always the best way to contact 9-1-1, Manatee County has received over 350 text to 9-1-1 requests since launching the initiative in October.
"9-1-1 in the United States recently turned 50 years old and for most of that time the technology has remained the same," said Manatee County 9-1-1 Chief Jake Saur. "Now, much needed technology improvements are coming faster and faster to the 911 world and Manatee County Public Safety has made it a priority to bring whatever new technology is available to our area’s citizens and visitors."
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.