Although there is a lot of bad information on the internet, there is also a great deal of valid information out there.  When users browse or search the web for information, they need to be careful where they get their information.  One way that people can count that their information is valid is by knowing the author of the blog or site searched.  One site that I use to get “good” information about firefighting news is on http://www.firefightingnews.com/.  This site’s news articles and tips are constructed by professionals in field.  The site also happens to sell firefighter gear and there is a buyer’s guide link on the site in order to help people choose which gear is best for them.  I would much rather read about the opinions of professionals in the service than by random people on forums like in the last blog I wrote about.  The authors of the site are really on top of their game and write about 4 or 5 major fire incidents every day.  On another note, this site is great to compare firefighting in different jurisdictions.  The site even covers firefighter news in other countries. 

I think that one of the worst places to get valuable information about most topics is on forum type sites. Forums on the internet are sites where members can log on and comment (post) about pretty much anything they want.    Most forums are very loose as far as who can join so this means that anyone can join pretty much any forum and post anything they want despite how much they actually know about the forum topic.  An example of this is if I joined a forum about being a mother like the one my mom goes on.  I could join this forum and pretend I’m a mom and post all sorts of false information even if I know nothing about being a mom.  The most common forum in the fire service is thewatchdesk.com. This is a forum where firefighters and EMT’s (or so we think) talk about firefighting news and several other fire/EMS related topics.  It is unbelievable how many people sit on these forums and stir up trouble and spread false rumors.  Years ago there was an incident where one of my officers was trying to gain access into a car.  He ended up trying to kick the window with his steel toed boot, but the window wouldn’t break.  One of those people I was writing about earlier happed to have filmed the event and the video found its way all over the internet.  People online still bash our entire fire company because of this one insignificant event.  It’s unfortunate that people go on to these forums looking for valuable information when there are people who devote themselves in proving false information for others to read.  I caution all readers about using forums to find information.  They may be good for ideas and suggestions, but there a huge portion of the information on these forums is bogus.

Searching the web has been proven to be more effective than just “browsing” or “surfing” the web.  There are a million different ways to search the web, however there are tools and tricks to be more efficient at searching which can yield better search results. Search engines are used to help users surf the web. I recommend that everyone explore different search engines. Search engines are all set up a little different to meet different needs of its users. Some of the more common search engines include Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and MSN. I personally use Google because I find it to be very refined and simple. Another helpful strategy to help someone search is to use the Boolean search phrases and words. Most search engines support Boolean search inputs and can help the searcher refine their search and sort out the unwanted junk that might come up. Some words which can be used to refine a search include the words “and”, “or”, and “not”. When searching for two different things at the same time, a searcher can use the word “and” in the search engine which will narrow results to pages which include both words searched. Other symbols which can be used to refine a search include the “+” and “-“symbols. Often times searching the web can be frustrating because a lot of unwanted pages will pop up when trying to find something. Here is a link with some useful tips on how to search better to save time and sort through the “crap”.

Some more info in searching tips can be found here

http://www.learnwebskills.com/search/

History of Fire Alerting Systems

        The fire alarm telegraph box was invented as early as 1852 in Boston. The telegraph fire alarm box was created soon after the telegraph was invented to be used to alert fire fighters when to respond to an incident. Soon after Boston started using the new systems, other major cities such as Philadelphia, St. Louis, Baltimore, and New York all had telegraph box alarm systems. In the late 1800’s many improvements were made on the systems. Some of the major improvements which were made include a circuit system so that multiple alarms could be sounded simultaneously without scrambling the signal and also mechanisms which made creating the signal easier for operators. After World War II the telephone alarm boxed began to appear, and in the 1950’s and 1960’s the first radio transmitter boxes appeared. With the ease of maintenance of the radio transmitting system over the telegraph alerting system, the old alerting systems became a thing of the past.
            Most modern alerting systems work via radio and internet. In my fire department, a radio signal and information via the internet is sent from the Public Safety Communications center in Prince Georges County to our fir house in College Park. Once the signal is received via radio, the “bells” go off in order to alert responders of the call. Not only do we receive an alarm via radio, but our station also receives a message via the internet with important information about the call. This information is sent to a printer in the firehouse office which automatically prints out a sheet with important information on it. This information includes information life patient information, call back numbers, and more detailed incident locations. The information which is sent over the internet is very useful to responders because they know what to expect before arriving to the scene. A good example of the benefit of this extra information is on a call involving a child. If the EMT’s know that a child is involved on the call they will know to bring the child/pediatric bag out of the ambulance to the patient. One last benefit of the extra information sent to the fire house via the internet is the use of a “pre-alert” system. This system is independent of the radio based alerting and helps firefighters get an early “jump” on calls. At the PSC center, the internet information is actually sent about 30 to 60 seconds before the radio signal is sent out. Our firehouse has a program on a computer which intercepts this signal before it hits the printer. The system is hooked up to the speakers in the firehouse and sends out an early alert which lets us know a call is coming. The computer is also connecter to about 10 scrolling sign boards which scroll important information about a call so that responders can glance at the board while running for a call and know where the call is before they are even in the fire apparatus. The developments in fire alarm alerting systems have been huge and continue to grow. With every advancement in these systems, lives and property can be better served and protected.

Intro Post

I chose to blog about emergency responder technology and communications this semester.  I’ll start with a little background about myself first.  I am a Junior Communications major and also a full time Volunteer Firefighter at the College Park Fire Department.  Some of my interests include new technologies in the fire service and how they can be used to help firefighters better perform their jobs.  I will mainly focus on the fire side of the emergency responder field, but I will also blog about the law side of the field because many of the technologies used by policemen are also used by fireman.  Some of the technologies which I am already using on a regular basis in the fire service includes twitter to receive texts with call information on my phone, advanced radio communication, and also GPS laptops to log patient information and call information.   This topic is interesting to me because technology is used in a way which makes our jobs faster and more efficient.  A great example of this is in some jurisdictions such as the Washington D.C. Fire Department, the units are equipped with GPS units which are automatically updated with the location of calls.  This helps the drivers of the apparatus get to scenes faster because before GPS the drivers would have to remember every single street in their area and if they could not find the address they would have to take time to look up the location of the incident.  In the emergency service field, every minute could make a huge difference in the outcome of a call.  Whether the call is a burning building or somebody experiencing a stroke, technology is helping responders do their jobs better to that lives can be saved. 

                 Some of the goals which I have for this semester in Jour289I is to learn more about all different forms if technology.  The technology world is exploding and I’m just trying to keep up as best as possible.  The new innovations which are coming to the market are truly amazing and life changing.  I’m excited to explore some of these innovations and apply them to my own life and interests.  One thing which I would like to accomplish this semester is to maybe “invent” a technology or idea and bring that to the emergency responder field in order to better serve my community.  There are so many technologies out there today that haven’t yet made their way to the responder field so I hope that I can help that.  All in all I’m excited to take this class and I plan on learning a lot about new innovations and technologies with a hope of keeping up with our continuously evolving modern word.