"Training"
Mistake Sends Emergency Notification to Thousands
November 29, 2010Athens, Ohio — An automated phone call that went out to more than 23,000 county residents, informing them of a possible fire, was the result of a mistake on the part of an inexperienced dispatcher.
Read full articleWhen West Trains East
October 11, 2010In the August 2009 issue, we published an article by Mark Boudreaux called “9-1-1 Instructor for Hire: When West Trains East.” The article was a first-person account from an APCO adjunct instructor who traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide public safety telecommunications training at King Abdullah’s University of Science and Technology (KAUST) — a brand new, state-of-the art facility on the coast of the Red Sea in Thuwal. Here, Boudreaux continues his story.
Read full articleState Training & Certification Survey
September 1, 2010Despite the need, there are no national minimum training standards for 9-1-1 telecommunicators. There’s little consensus on how much training in what subjects is necessary and how—and whether—to fund such training. Each state has taken its own path. This article discusses the results of a national survey to determine what each state requires with regard to training.
Read full articleAPCO Candidate Standards Open for Review & Comment
September 1, 2010The APCO Standards Development Committee has been working hard to create and revise national standards for public safety communications. Here…
Read full articleAPCO Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to Draft Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators
August 31, 2010The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments proposed changes to the draft of a candidate American…
Read full articleYour Conference Companion
July 30, 2010This year marks APCO International’s 75th anniversary as an association and its 76th Annual Conference. If you want to be inspired and invigorated and give your career a boost, then Houston is the place to be this week! Coincidentally, this year also marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 13, and Captain Jim Lovell, who commanded the Apollo 13 mission and brought her crew safely home, will be the opening keynote speaker (Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, 8:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.). With the words, “Houston, we have a problem,” Lovell demonstrated a calm command presence in the face of the oxygen system failure that could have doomed the mission.
Read full articleStandards Calls to Action
July 16, 2010Be proactive. Learn how to comment and participate in the standards development process. The review and comment periods are open for three standards.
Read full article8 Organizations Have Achieved APCO Project 33 Agency Training Program Certification
June 25, 2010Eight agencies will be honored during the 2010 APCO Annual Conference & Exposition in Houston for their achievements regarding training for public safety telecommunicators.
Read full articleFlorida Passes Training Law for 9-1-1
June 11, 2010On June 3, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law SB 742 Public Safety Telecommunications/E911
Read full articleHook ‘Em While They’re Young
April 26, 2010An interview with program coordinator Frank DeRusso about the creation, development and implementation of Fort Lauderdale High School’s Public Safety Telecommunicator Course. The course uses APCO materials and certifications for police and fire dispatch, as well as training simulators.
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