Byesville Rotary gets report on essential 911 service

Pictured: Sheriff Paden, Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office, and Chuck Fair, Byesville Rotary President.

 

Byesville Rotary welcomed Sheriff Paden to the weekly meeting. Paden reported about the local 911 service and how technology innovations such as smart phones and wireless service are changing how the 911 service is provided.

Sheriff Paden explained that the 911 service provides a centralized site for requesting emergency assistance. A person who wants to report an emergency can dial one number instead of having to decide if she needs to call the fire department, the police or the emergency medical service.

Lots of people use 911. As use of wireless technology has increased, the number of calls the local 911 service receives has ballooned. Sheriff Paden reported that in 2016, the local 911 service received over 44,700 calls. Currently, all 911 calls go to the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Department no matter where in the county the caller is located.

“Currently, our 911 system is staffed by 1 person a shift,” stated Sheriff Paden. “That staff member is responsible for answering all calls and for forwarding each call to the right department.” Sheriff Paden explained that the state of Ohio has mandated that all 911 departments receiving wireless calls must improve service by increase staffing to 2 members per shift. Each staff member will need to be EMD (Emergency Medicine Dispatcher) certified and trained to use medical software so that the staff member can provide medical information over the phone.

By May of 2018, Sheriff Paden will need to double his 911 staff, purchase new software, and remodel office space to house the upgraded department. He has begun to look for the funds to meet this challenge.

Sheriff Paden explained that unfortunately not everyone who dials 911 has a true emergency. This means that people with a true emergency may have to let their phone ring for a while. He assured Rotary members that ALL calls are answered.

Community members can help the 911 service become more efficient by remembering that 911 is not a help line. It not intended to help people find a phone number or locate a lost pet or provide the address of a local business. It should not be used to complain about barking dogs or loud music, or a crash when someone is not hurt.

Callers should use 911 for emergencies such as: 1) reporting a crime in progress like someone hurting someone else or breaking into a person's house; 2) getting help when someone suddenly seems very sick and is having a hard time speaking or breathing or turns blue, or collapses or passes out; or 3) reporting a building on fire.

Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or Instagram Byesville.rotary.ohio@gmail.com , Twitter Byesville_Club, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.