HISTORIC TRIANGLE — The Peninsula Regional Emergency Communications Center, which serves York and James City counties, and the cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg, recently announced the roll-out of new next-generation 911 tools that will help people better communicate with first responders during emergencies.
Now, 911 callers in the region can receive a prompt to share real-time video or photos from their phones to show first responders what they’re seeing and hearing.
“We’re modernizing our 911 system through next generation technology and infrastructure to better serve our York, James City, Poquoson and Williamsburg residents and visitors alike,” said Terry Hall, director of the PRECC. “When seconds matter, a clearer picture of an emergency can save lives. Letting a 911 caller share with first responders a video of an unfolding emergency will lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.”
For first responders, this new Citizen Input technology helps provide valuable context during emergencies and enables faster response, PRECC said. For instance, a caller can livestream video of a multicar crash or a fallen tree accident so that first responders can understand who is hurt and the right equipment to bring. Or if a family member with dementia goes missing, a caller can send a photo to 911 for help in locating them, it added.
An estimated 80% of the more than 240 million 911 calls made in the U.S. each year come in through mobile devices, according to the National Emergency Number Association. PRECC said its next-gen 911 transformation will help it better serve these callers.
Citizen Input is just the start of PRECC’s 911 transformation. The center noted it has also adopted technology that uses AI to create a real-time transcription and translation of 911 calls and can flag keywords such as “heart attack” or “robbery” for supervisors. It also uses advanced mapping software to pinpoint the location of the closest responding resources.
“In 911, saving seconds saves lives,” said Hall. “This technology is game-changing. It will help us better help people across the region when they need us the most.”