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911 is all about saving lives, with seconds crucial in life and death situations.
With that said, a new Michigan law will help 911 dispatchers know where calls for help are coming from and get needed help there faster. The new regulations are aimed at places including businesses, schools and universities that use multi-line telephone systems. Emergency calls coming from these type of systems show dispatchers the physical billing address of the phone system rather than the actual location the caller dialed from.
Without the correct location information for calls from inside a large office building, emergency response can be delayed as first responders work to find the individual needing help.
Owners and operators of multi-line telephone systems need to review the State 911 Committee guidelines to make sure their systems comply.
Midland County Central Dispatch Authority Director Lisa Hall is sending letters to area businesses to inform them of the new regulations. Businesses also are being encouraged to take out the requirement of dialing “9” to gain access to an outside line when calling for help, again to make it easier for people to get almost instant access to 911.
For those needing to review regulations to make sure their systems comply, the rules can be found on the Michigan Public Service Commission’s website at www.michigan.gov/mpsc, under Documents/Library.
To further assist owners and operators in understanding the rule change and requirements, the State 911 Committee developed a guide available at www.michigan.gov/snc, under “Current Issues.”
– The Midland Daily News