Palm Beach has introduced new emergency response technology: Here's what it does
New technology introduced by Palm Beach's police and fire departments will help improve the town's emergency response capabilities.
“Prepared Live,” a new technology acquired in partnership with the Palm Beach Police and Fire Foundation, allows callers to text and livestream with the Town of Palm Beach 911 Dispatch Center during emergency situations.
The technology, which the town has been using for about two weeks, will significantly improve its public safety response time and deliver swifter and better aid, Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. Will Rothrock told the Daily News.
Palm Beach's police and fire departments are believed to be the first in the county to use the Prepared Live technology, Rothrock added, though it is used elsewhere in the state.
"This technology will allow our 911 dispatch center and our first responders to obtain vital and timely information about emergency incidents and scenes that we’ve never had before," Rothrock said. "Having that information will better prepare our responses and hopefully ensure better outcomes for any emergency in a manner that directly benefits the safety of our town."
Here are some important things to know about Prepared Live:
How does Prepared Live work?
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Call 911 from a cellphone
A 911 dispatcher will text the caller a Prepared Live link
The caller clicks on the Prepared Live link and hits “play” to begin live streaming
Callers can then text with the 911 dispatcher and send photos and videos of their situation
Being able to access a caller's cellphone camera before the arrival of first responders will provide crucial visual context and enable 911 dispatchers and first responders to swiftly assess situations and provide appropriate instructions to callers in distress, the town said in a release.
In what types of emergency situations can Prepared Live be used?
Reporting a crime in progress without intervening
Texting with a 911 dispatcher if it isn't safe to speak
Reporting a missing person
Showing injuries when in an accident
Sharing GPS location and livestreaming surroundings if lost
Seeing and livestreaming a fire
Performing CPR with the assistance of a 911 dispatcher
Alerting 911 dispatch in the event of an accidental 911 call
Delivering time-critical information to first responders during a medical emergency
Does an app need to be downloaded?
Downloads are not required from a Prepared Live caller before or after the call. Once a caller clicks on the shared link, Prepared Live will open in their default web browser. When the emergency situation is resolved, the interface will prevent callers from continuing to livestream, and instruct them to call 911 if they need further help.
Does Prepared Live take data from a caller's phone?
Prepared Live is only able to access media that callers share with the 911 dispatcher. It does not access settings, private data, personal information, or any stored media that isn't shared directly with the dispatcher.
Does Prepared Live track a caller's location?
Prepared Live can track a caller's location only while a call is active, and if the caller consents to sharing their location. A caller's location cannot be tracked after the emergency is resolved.
What if a caller doesn't want to livestream their emergency?
Prepared Live callers are not obligated to livestream if they don’t want to, and neither will the dispatcher force them to do so. The dispatcher will only request a livestream if they believe that doing so will not endanger the caller or any bystanders.
The town acknowledges that some callers may hesitate to use the technology because of privacy and security concerns. To alleviate those concerns, the town's police and fire departments have launched an educational campaign in conjunction with local media partners that will explain how Prepared Live works.
"We are appreciative of our education partners for their continued support in getting our safety-related messages out to the community," Rothrock said.
Tim Moran, co-founder of the Palm Beach Police and Fire Foundation, said his organization has supported the town's police and fire departments for the past 18 years by helping to equip and empower first responders to deliver services to the community at the highest level.
Prepared Live is the latest example of that commitment, he added.
"We are proud to support the implementation of this innovative new technology, which enables them to communicate with callers using a cutting-edge platform designed for handling modern-day emergencies," Moran said.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Police and Fire debut new emergency response technology
