Case Histories › Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service

Automatic messaging improves fire service response times and frees up control centre staff

Speedy and co-ordinated dispatch of information can mean the difference between life and death for those served by our fire and rescue services.

Problem

Whilst Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service's mobilising system sends fire crews out at a moment's notice, it became apparent that a faster and more effective means of communication was needed for alerting officers. The organisation took the decision five years ago to install an Autopage for Windows system.

Solution

Attached as a peripheral to the mobilising system, which handles all calls from central control out to officers, Autopage has been configured to relay the messages automatically. It can call up groups of officers with pre-set messages or it can alert individuals on their specific call signs.
Plain text messages can also be sent, detailing administrative or other information, while personalised messages can be relayed by simply tapping them into the screen.

Group Fire Control Officer John Farndon explains: "Previously, we used a radio bearer system and all calls had to be activated manually by our control centre staff. They had to physically tap in a code. Now with Autopage, all calls for our officers come into central control and are automatically transferred out. As it works automatically and doesn't need staffing, the system has freed up control centre staff to get on with other things. The only input needed is maintenance of the database."

Messages are usually relayed in under a minute to staff with both pagers and phones, so officers aren't wasting valuable time having to reply to a voice call. Messages can also be sent to officers' personal mobiles - a versatile option which acts as back up and gives central control "two bites of the cherry to get hold of them", Mr Farndon says.

"I am very pleased with our Autopage system. It works very efficiently and because it's automatic, we almost take it for granted." An additional benefit of using mobiles is that messages can be transmitted countrywide, unlike the old radio bearer system which was limited to Derbyshire only. Says Mr Farndon: "We can get hold of our officers now, even when they are 'off-patch!'

 

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