|
Archives
High-tech Mobile Communication Vehicles Unveiled
BOSTON (AP) - One of the biggest problems at the scene of major emergencies is
a lack of coordinated communication between the multiple agencies responding
to the incident.
That can delay response times, cause confusion, and even lead to injury or
death.
With the purchase of six new mobile command vehicles, to be unveiled officially
in Wilmington, Massachusetts, public safety officials hope to provide better
coordination and response to emergencies, from major fires to terrorist attacks.
“The 9/11 Commission identified interoperability - the ability for commanders
to communicate with each other at the scene of a major emergency - as one of
the top issues for public safety managers,” said Edward A. Flynn, the state’s
Public Safety Secretary. “These six field communications units will be
used to address interoperability issues among all public safety personnel at
major incidents.”
The vehicles, worth $267,000 each and bought with a $1.6 million grant from
the Department of Homeland Security, will be distributed throughout the state
so
they can reach emergencies as fast as possible no matter where they occur.
The RV-sized vehicles will be stationed at fire departments in Pittsfield,
Holyoke, Worcester, Taunton, Lowell and Waltham.
State police, Boston police and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
already have similar units.
“These field communication units help to create a statewide safety net
that not only serves the public but also protects the public servants,” said
state Fire Marshall Stephen D. Coan.
Two people from each area where the vehicles are located will be trained
to operate the trucks, while 10 technicians from the state Department of Fire
Services will
also be trained to use the trucks and be on the scene of an emergency within
an hour. Their training will be paid for with federal grants.
The mobile command centers feature the ability to create talk groups by uniting
radios of different frequencies onto the same frequency; a downlink system
and video screen to display video images from aircraft; an on-board weather
station
and global positioning system; a dozen mobile radios; a 30-foot lighting tower;
and meeting space so commanders from different agencies can meet to coordinate
response.
Also, the Department of Fire Services will unveil its new incident rehab
vehicle, which will provide on-scene medical help for firefighters. The vehicle
will
help reduce physical and emotional stress on firefighters and catch minor injuries
before they become major, or even lead to death.
For example, heart attacks are the number one killer of firefighters, Coan
said. Making sure a firefighter’s blood pressure returns to normal can
prevent more serious complications.
Archives
|
