Manatee: 9-1-1 Response To Improve By 2-3 Minutes

BRADENTON, FL – When responding to emergencies, every second counts for Manatee County 9-1-1. With new technology installed at the county’s 9-1-1 Call Center, first responders could have extra minutes to help save lives and property.

Manatee County 9-1-1 recently became the 25th agency in the United States and second in the state to adopt new technology that will save those moments when home alarms sound.

The Automated Secure Alarm Protocol allows outside alarm monitoring companies, like Vector and Brinks Home Security, to send information directly to call takers in the 9-1-1 Call Center. The direct connection is expected to shave up to three minutes from call processing time.

Home alarms for fires, medical emergencies, burglaries and more now will result in an emergency dispatch more quickly with fewer chances for errors, according to Manatee County Public Safety Director Robert Smith.

“Every second matter in an emergency, so it’s incredibly helpful when a new piece of technology can save on time,” Smith said. “I’m proud of our Emergency Communications team for keeping us moving forward to continually enhance our level of service.”

Half of all Manatee County property owners with emergency monitoring systems – an estimating 75,000 homes and businesses – will benefit from the new technology, said Manatee County Emergency Communications Chief Jake Saur. That number will grow to 75 percent of Manatee County homes and businesses with an alarm system when ADT Alarm Monitoring joins the new protocol.

“This new technology eliminates the need for alarm companies to physically dial into the Emergency Communications Center to relay alarm information,” Saur says. “They’ll now electronically send alarm info to the EEC, reducing call processing times and communication errors. We’ll also improve efficiency in dispatching first responders to the alarm.”

Although not all Manatee County alarm monitoring companies are part of the new program, Saur said he expects more monitoring stations to participate as the technology grows.

ASAP service is a computer-aided dispatch system for processing information from alarm monitoring stations that require an emergency dispatch. It was designed by The Monitoring Association and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.

Image via Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page