911 Call Processing Sped 50 Percent With New Protocol

Streamlining the county's 30-year-old 911 dispatch system has sped up call processing times by more than 50 percent, county officials said.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department said a new Rapid Dispatch Protocol has allowed for dramatically decreased call times for those in emergency situations.

“We have always done a good job responding to emergency calls,” said Fire Chief Cox, but when it comes to life-saving efforts, we want to make sure our residents receive the fastest and most efficient assistance that we can provide."

Under the previous system, Emergency Medical Dispatch, callers answered a series of questions to identify the kind of help they needed before resources could be sent out. 

Under the new system, callers merely confirm their address, phone number and nature of the call, and the closest resources are sent immediately. The caller then stays on the line to determine if additional resources are needed.
The station-alerting process and geographical response process have also been streamlined, according to a press release from the county.

“I applaud Chief Cox and Fire Department employees who formed a workgroup to study our 30-year-old dispatch system and recommended this change,” said County Executive Laura Neuman. “Our Fire Department employees were empowered to identify solutions that would better serve our community."