What does it do?

The Firebar feature dials out to emergency personnel and simultaneously sends text messages, locating them at their different phone numbers (landline, cell etc.), pulling them into a conference, either directly or by call-back, all in a very short time frame.

Bring management into a conference very quickly when faced with an emergency situation, for faster assessment, response and business continuity management.

How does it work?

Pre-emergency Setup

A Telco administrator creates ‘emergency groups’ (for multiple responder teams) containing the following information per person (fire chief, policeman, mayor, etc.).

• Up to 4 telephone numbers
• Pager address
• SMS address (Mobile Phone short message)
• Email address

Emergency Actions

The Initiator (Typically, a 911 dispatcher)

• Calls into the server
• Enters a service code (*789#) and group ID + #
• Records a brief emergency message and either hangs up or stays in the call
• DTMF message acknowledgement codes

The Blast-911 Server

• Flash dials all members of the Emergency Group
• As the calls are answered, delivers the message recorded by the Initiator
• Waits for ‘99#’ and, upon receipt, adds the party to the conference
• Sends SMS, Pager & Email messages with information needed to dial back into the conference
• Records the audio

Post- emergency Report

The server emails an end of session message to the 911 dispatcher, providing:

• Date, Time and Duration of the Firebar session
• Number of participants who joined the Firebar conference
• A link to the emergency announcement recorded by the dispatcher
• A link to the audio recording of the Firebar conference
• A link to the Call Activity Report shows a list of call processing events with per second resolution.

The Blast-911 server now include "message acknowledgement," the ability to enter a DTMF code to acknowledge receipt of an emergency message and indicate their preference. For example, the call recipient may be asked to press '1' if he/she will attend a meeting, press '2' if not. The server automatically tallies the digits and summarizes the results and posts them for easy access.

Forum continues to work with all levels of first responders to provide our full menu of emergency communication, notification and first responder options.

Security

Requires group-ID to initiate blast-dial. Authorized members of the group can call in and initiate the alert event from any location. Ideal for volunteer response groups and on-site business security teams. Dispatcher can initiate blast dial to the group or groups that match
the type of response needed.

System automates ability to locate right personnel at any time. PIN-based authentification is standard.

Ideal for Urban or Rural Communities, business or manufacturing campus.

Flexibility

Record/enter customized message for dial-out and instant messaging/ paging based on situation and required response.

Members can call into the conference call if they need to switch from cell to landline or from landline to mobile number. Reduces burden on radio network traffic.

System lets you define prioritization of calls by type.

More Immediate Response

Designate duty shifts and day part for immediate “find” me. “Availability” function programs personnel by shift/on-call schedule to shorten response time; unlimited number of team members.

For each individual, the system can store up to four telephone numbers, email address, Short Message Service and Pager address.

The system blast-dials all the “available” group members immediately. If a group member is not available at the first number, it will then try the 2nd, 3rd and 4th number respectively. The system will simultaneously send out an emergency alert message to the member’s email, SMS and pager address.

Alert message contains info that a member can use to dial back into the on-going conference call. Brings as many team members together on a conference call as quickly as possible.

Supports Multiple Agencies

The system assigns a unique 5-digit group ID to each emergency group. This group ID remembers all the contact related details of the group members. An individual may belong to several groups.

Provides improved inter-agency coordination. Ideal for HAZMAT, fire, epidemic, natural or manmade emergencies. Call groups can be functional or geographic: local, regional, national or international.

Pre-planning means better coordination; better coordination equals higher efficiency for improved safety and reduced losses.

Programmable Message Notification

Spread the word immediately over a large area with specific warning information or instructions. Create custom announcements and text messaging for each event or event type.

Provides additional tier of communications when timely information is critical, but conferencing is not required.

Reporting Accuracy/Recording

Creates event log and time stamps; audio logging and system tracking of call. Pinpoints dial-out and response times. Digital recordings verify discussion, chain of events, recommendations, preserving snapshot of situation escalation or control.

Simplifies post-event analysis. Archive/Playback dialog. Ideal for legal records, training, evaluation, and event de-briefing. Critical in evaluating both response and planning for more effective contingency management.

Leading Edge Solution

T1 (D4/ESF, AMI/B8ZS encoding, ANSI T1.403 compliant), PRI (CAS), E1 interface. Remote software upgrades via Internet. Linux operating system, Intel Xeon Processor.

Blast911 | Firebar Whitepaper | Nuclear News