Cumberland County 911 and Crossville Police Department expanding a survey program which can help first responders navigate the unfamiliar.
Cumberland County Emergency Management Director Travis Cole said the Family/Resident survey program benefits all local emergency responders. Cole said the survey asks homeowners to submit information that could affect first responders’ ability to access a property. Cole said this information will help first responders better access homes and provide faster services.
“Safety is always our first priority, the safety of our responders, the second is being able to efficiently respond to whatever cause it may be,” Cole said. “So having this added information or knowing what to expect or knowing what’s inside a building just helps us to more effectively be able to really any type of call.”
The Cumberland 911 has extended the program to commercial properties. Cole said property owners know items on site and safety precautions responders should take before entering a house or property.
Cole said information from this survey will help property owners access faster emergency care. Cole said dispatchers send information to first responders while on route.
“Anytime we are going to an address, its always an unknown,” Cole said. “The 911 dispatchers do a good job of extracting critical information from callers, but a lot of times, when we arrive on scene, the situation is still different than what’s been described on the phone.”
Cole said all information recorded in the survey remains confidential. Cole said the only time information is shared is at the time of dispatch.
