MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Monongalia County is the first in the state to use the 911-eye system. The system allows someone involved in an emergency to share photos or video from scene to 911 dispatchers that can be forwarded to first responders.
Assistant director of MECCA 911 Brad Wilson said they can get those images to first responders or they can interpret the images so they’ll have as much information as possible when they arrive to the emergency.
“If they don’t have their phones with them we can actually tell them what’s going on and what we’re seeing so they can make the adjustments,” Wilson said. ” So, we have the right amount of units responding, right amount of personnel or the right type responding.”
People calling for help can sometimes confuse or omit important information about an incident. This system allows the trained professionals the opportunity to assess the situation at the time the call is dispatched.
“We have a lot of people call in on a vehicle crash that it’s on fire and it may just be a radiator busted and steam coming out of it,” Wilson said. ” That way we’ll have an actual visual of it and we can tell the first responder.”
House fires can be a very rural areas and can be very unpredictable. Having as much information as possible while responding to a developing situation could limit damage and enhance safety for those involved.
“You may only have one or two units on the road and they won’t know that until they get on scene in the regular way,” Wilson said. “This way, if we have video they can see it progressing as they’re responding and they’ll know if they have enough trucks or water in an unhydranted area.”
The dispatcher will text or email a one-time URL link that will allow the information to be uploaded. After use the message with the link can be deleted.
“You do not have to download an app and we don’t access your phone,” Wilson said. ” The only thing we’re accessing is what you’re sharing at the scene and it’s a one-time use.”