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A smart phone filming a fire. Photo by Björn Ulfsson / CTIF.org
12 Dec 2022

New technology allows callers to stream video to emergency dispatch from their phones

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It is now possible, with the callers consent, for 911 / 112 dispatchers to see live video of what is happening from a callers´smart phone. It can help with situational awareness and to determine the level of danger the caller is in. 

London Fire Brigade rolled out the technology already in late 2021, and parts of the United States are starting to use it now. 

In Colorado, LETA 911, an organization which helps organize and oversee dispatch communications throughout Larimer County in northern Colorado, has recently partnered with a company named Prepared Live, which allows dispatchers to use the video aspect of 911 calls. 

"Dispatchers were able to send the man a link where he showed his home on fire. The dispatchers were able to send the live video link out to responding agencies and firefighters who quickly determined the fire was serious but was not large enough to threaten a wildfire", states an article on BCS News. 

A video interview in the same article tells the story of how search and rescue were able to pinpoint the exact location of an injured mountain climber, by looking at the horizon and shape of surrounding landscape streamed in the video through the caller´s phone. 

 

The caller decides how long to stream

According to the CBS article, the live feed of the video is ended when the user decides to end the call, and dispatch is unable to access the live cameras again without a new user agreement being made. Also, at this time, the video does not record audio.

However, the user can remain on the phone with the dispatcher during the video chat. Users can also upload old videos they already recorded in case the individuals need to upload evidence or a report. 

 

Grenfell Tower inspired the development of the  "999Eye technology"

"999Eye enables callers to send live stream videos of incidents straight into the Brigade’s 999 control centre without the need for an app", the London Fire Brigade wrote on their homepage in October of last year. 

In London, what inspired the use of the new technology was the 2017 Grenfell Tower high rise fire.

Assistant Commissioner for Operational Resilience and Control Jonathan Smith said:

“We accepted all of the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 report and are committed to making improvements in our ability to capture 999 and fire survival guidance calls. "

“Control Officers work tirelessly under extreme pressure... 999Eye provides better situational awareness and allows us to offer the best advice based on live footage...  It is one of many wider improvements we are implementing to improve safety in London.”

 

Photo Credit (Above): A smart phone filming video of a fire. Photo by Björn Ulfsson / CTIF.org