Pre-alert systems

[Odie23]

I saw a discussion about pre-alert systems on a thread somewhere and now I can't find it. Can someone give me some information on how they work and the cost. Thanks for the help.

Odie

[Jolly Roger]

There's no cost... it's a question of training the dispatcher to set a tone off and announce a quick incident type and location. Then take the rest of the info and do a proper tone out. Properly done, it can save a response by a minute or more.

Stay safe.
Ken

[Smell My Coat !]

Oh BULLSHIT ! pre alerting is not only stupid but a waste of time.
Just set the tones off and say what you have to say. :mad:

[Viper911]

We do it so we don't startle the crews during the night. It gives them a warning before the tones go off

[11927]

Odie, try calling Phil Techau (Teck-ow) from Co. 10, he used to do it for PG County. I believe there is a guy from 14 also, don't know his name.

[StrikeTheBox]

PM me for details

[RFCHazMat-1]

Oh BULLSHIT ! pre alerting is not only stupid but a waste of time.
Just set the tones off and say what you have to say. :mad:


Some places have tones going off for nearly a minute before you can dispatch a call. Better letting everyone know what they have ahead of the tones, especially during the daytime. IF you only have a few sets of tones pre-alerts are useless.

[Forcing Entry]

I disagree....I feel pre announcing the call helps. You get the address twice, you are not trying to listen to the address while your in house systems (horns,bells,buzzers) are going off.

And it keeps from scaring the hell out of someone in the middle of the night.

[5inchLDH]

Odie, try calling Phil Techau (Teck-ow) from Co. 10, he used to do it for PG County. I believe there is a guy from 14 also, don't know his name.

Techau did my station's system; we have several single line signboards which display the date and time, but display prealert information when a call comes in. This is done in 2 stages.

The first stage is to flash what piece is due in a color coded manner. For example, a green "ENGINE" flashing indicates that it's an EMS call. Amber would indicate a local, be it an investigation or a rescue. Red would indicate a street assignment or box. "DUMP THE HOUSE" would indicate a first due box assignment.

The second stage is for the sign to scroll the nature of the call, followed by the location with the closest cross street(s). For example, :TOWER: 555 MAIN STREET (1st & 2nd), or something of that nature.

Perhaps Techau can provide more information. I'll pass this thread on to him.

[helmet1]

Hey if you really need info on the system and how it works call PG station #28 or stop by and talk with the guys there on how well there system works. it will give you almost a three minute jump. those guys have it going to the nextel phones also at the same time. This gives them something to double check the address going down the road without taking up air time or space.

[Truckman22122]

Some pre alerts in PG County have been made by Techau (sp?) from company 10. Other pre alerts have been set up by 2nd Alarm Solutions, Inc. from Silver Spring, MD. Their website is www.2ndalarm.com and their e-mail is contact@2ndalarm.com. They should be able to answer any questions you may have.

[emtrichie]

I have to agree with all that like the pre-alerts as for myself we are allegheny county 911 and it is automatic but it also now think about this a pre-alert clears the air also so their is no one stepping over the dispatch of the call and for me now in ems when i hear one alert tone i roll over when i hear two tones i get out of bed cause i know we are getting dispatched for that call cause in allegheny county one tone is for other types of calls and 2 tones are within a structure or involving a structure so i think it is good and i like it as far the scaring part any tone scares ya when your sleeping lol just my 2 cents

[S.MINERD]

I think you guys are talking about two different things.

[SuperTICK]

A little piece of PG right here in the Steel City!


Dude, you are fuckin gay for PG County. Why would you want some place nicer to be like this fuckin shit-hole? Get a life man, fuckin Pa. guys don't know what the fuck you are getting into coming down here...

[S.MINERD]

This place is a giant shithole. What the Fuck are you smoking?

[stormgod]

In our county, I have been trying to get them to use an alert tone on at least the first annoucement but all they will do is use it for any updates on the original call, such as size up info etc. I think a pre-alert tone and annoucement is time saving especially in an area where there might be as many as 8 sets of tones for a call. God forbid you miss the first dispatch of the scuba team where they tone out every single company in the county with divers! YIKES! In noisy environments, I think a pre-alert tone also makes you take notice that the following messege is not routine traffic and needs to be listened to.

[EMT/FF99]

I could not agree with you more here about it. In fact the best screw up for divers dispatch I could think of right now, would have earlier this summer @ UC Resevior. Erie Co toning out for UC Dive Team, Elgin-Beaverdam's Dive team, Crawford toning BVFD Dive team (All for Divers not Tenders), nothing but a serious cluster to hear on the radio at all. In our county, I have been trying to get them to use an alert tone on at least the first annoucement but all they will do is use it for any updates on the original call, such as size up info etc. I think a pre-alert tone and annoucement is time saving especially in an area where there might be as many as 8 sets of tones for a call. God forbid you miss the first dispatch of the scuba team where they tone out every single company in the county with divers! YIKES! In noisy environments, I think a pre-alert tone also makes you take notice that the following messege is not routine traffic and needs to be listened to.