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Government Services Center
601 Westtown Road | Suite 012
West Chester PA 19380
Public Safety Training Campus
137 Modena Road
Coatesville, PA 19320
The Responder
An informational source for the Emergency Responders of Chester County
April 2015
Chester County launches Text to 9-1-1 service
New service available when calling 9-1-1 is not possible
Earlier this month, the Chester County Commissioners and officials from the Department of
Emergency Services announced the availability of a Text to 9-1-1 service for situations when calling
9-1-1 in an emergency is not possible. Chester County is the first county in Southeastern
Pennsylvania to introduce Text to 9-1-1 capabilities.
“By adding a Text to 9-1-1 option, we’re providing equal
access to emergency services for residents with hearing and
speech disabilities,” said Chester County Commissioners’
Chair Terence Farrell. “However, our clear message for this
new service is ‘call if you can, text if you must’.”
“The growth of text messaging as a form of communication is
immense, and it is invaluable within the hearing and speech
disabilities community,” added Commissioner Kathi Cozzone.
“As importantly, this new service could be a safe option for
those who need to contact 9-1-1 in a domestic violence or
crime-related emergency situation.”
According to Chester County Department of Emergency Services Director Robert Kagel, the
county’s 9-1-1 operators currently receive around 775 calls every day, and two out of three of those
calls come from wireless (cell) phones.
“Our Department of Emergency Services and the greater 9-1-1 community strives to meet the
evolving needs of the public, and right now that means implementing a Text to 9-1-1 service,” notes
Commissioner Michelle Kichline. “This is part of a larger nationwide
More information on
initiative known as Next Generation 9-1-1, aimed at maximizing
emergency services in a growing wireless mobile society – an
Text to 9-1-1 on Page 2
initiative that Chester County is committed to investing in further.”
In December 2012, an agreement was reached nationally among the four wireless carriers – AT&T,
Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon – to provide a nationwide SMS Text to 9-1-1 solution. Chester County
researched options for implementation and signed an agreement with TeleCommunications
Systems (TCS) in February, at no cost to add the Text to 9-1-1 capability. Three of the four major
carriers – Verizon, Sprint and AT&T – are fully deployed. Testing with T-Mobile is scheduled to be
completed by mid-April.
Call if you can,
Text to 9-1-1 FAQ

When voice calling 9-1-1, your cell phone
connects to the closest tower and your handset
location is sent to 9-1-1.

Call if you can; text if you can’t.

Whenever possible, people should always call
9-1-1 instead of texting.

Texting isn’t a replacement for calling 9-1-1; it’s a less
accurate alternative.

Text calls do not have the same location accuracy as
voice calls.

You will need to be able to provide your exact location
(an address and municipality – not postal city) if you
are texting 9-1-1.

Text-to-9-1-1 will take longer to process than voice

calls because of the back-and-forth messaging instead
of instant voice conversation. Because of that:
With texting 9-1-1, your cell phone connects to the
closest tower and the tower – not your handset location is sent to 9-1-1. This means we’ll know
what tower you are texting from but we won’t
know where you are.

If you are on the border of the county you might
get a “bounce back” indicating 9-1-1 isn’t available
via texting or you might reach a 9-1-1 center that
isn’t Chester County. If this is the case you will
need to call 9-1-1 so you can be transferred to the
correct 9-1-1 center.

You must have active service on your telephone
to text 9-1-1. This includes a text message plan,
although text message charges do not apply
when contacting 9-1-1.
Be brief. Do not use abbreviations.
Do not use “texting” language.
Just answer the
telecommunicator’s questions.
If the situation changes and you can make a
voice call, let the telecommunicator know and
then dial 9-1-1.
Text if you can’t.
From the Director….
Project Updates & Monthly Stats
Computer-Aided-Dispatch System (CADS):

The software upgrade to Version 9.3 was
completed. There was a problem with the delivery
of the upgraded Mobile for Public Safety (MPS).
Intergraph is working the problem internally and has
yet to determine a new date for delivery. At this
time the problem does not affect the project
schedule.

Work continues on the interface to Glenayre (Fire/
EMS Paging), as well as the Harris radio integration.

The new agreed upon cutover date is September
2015 with final project completion estimated for May
2016.
April 2015 Stats
710 Per Day
9-1-1, VoIP, 10 Digit Calls
812
Fire Incidents
3,319
EMS Incidents
1 Minute 27
Seconds
Fire/EMS Average Dispatch
29,237
Police Incidents
1 Minute 27
Seconds
Average Police Dispatch
98%
Average of Quality Reviews
Voice Radio Project:

Of the 27 tower sites we will be using, we have
completed the legal and financial process at 24
sites and have released the sites to Harris for their
work to begin.

Cutover is scheduled for 1 January 2016 with Final
System Acceptance 21 April 2016.

Construction at Bucktown, Malvern, and Norco has
been completed.
Training Facility:

The remaining work at the Tactical Village involves the
electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. The gas pumps
which operate propane burn props and water heaters have
a 12-week lead time. The Tactical Village is on track to be
partially-operational in April. We must await the gas pumps
before a final completion date can be provided. The
Tactical Village is on track to be partially-operational in
April.

We reviewed the final lighting plan for the firing range.
We are awaiting a geotechnical study report before we can
go before South Coatesville Borough for Land
Development. Manns Woodward hopes to have final
construction bid documents prepared for the summer but
that depends on South Coatesville.

Last month we hosted 1,784 people at 63 events.
EMS 2015 – A Time of Transition
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in
Pennsylvania is currently in a period of transition.
Never before have there been so many vital
foundational elements of EMS changing in such a
short time frame. The following is a very brief
overview of the recent and currently changing
aspects of EMS.
It all started with a new Pennsylvania EMS Law.
The Emergency Medical Services System Act of
2009 (Act 37) is the legislative basis for all things
related to EMS in PA. Signed by the Governor in
August 2009, it replaced the previous PA EMS
Act (Act 45) from 1985. The EMS system has
obviously changed significantly since 1985, and
the new law was long overdue. But the law only
provides general information, and is not overly
detailed. The details come in the form of
regulations. From 2009 until 2014, providers
operated under the EMS Act, with old outdated
EMS Regulations.
Due to an exhaustive comment and review period
and the overwhelming support of affected
stakeholders, Pennsylvania’s new EMS
Regulations (PA Code – Title 28) were approved
in October 2013 and effective April 10, 2014.
Currently, there are more detailed regulations
that are in sync with the new EMS Act. The new
Act and Regulations brought with them many
administrative and operational changes that
affect EMS. Examples include: granting the
Department of Health the ability to levy monetary
fines to organizations and individuals governed
by the EMS Act; adding new EMS certification
levels including Advanced EMT and Pre-hospital
Physician Extender (Physician’s Assistant); and
adding new operational levels including
Intermediate ALS and Critical Care Transport.
Despite the Legislative and Regulatory pieces
being in place to enact these changes, additional
work on the system infrastructure is still needed
to make some of them operational.
One of those changing key infrastructure pieces
that is in the process of implementation currently
is the Statewide BLS Protocols. Applicable to all
levels of EMS providers in PA, these protocols
are the basis for all basic level patient care
provided to all of our patients. The current
update that is effective July 1, 2015 includes a
total cultural change on how spinal care (no
longer termed immobilization) is offered, and the
ability for EMTs to administer aspirin and
naloxone. Revisions to the Statewide ALS
protocols are also due to be released later this
year, as are the new AEMT protocols and Critical
Care Paramedic protocols which will guide the
care of these two new levels of care.
Closely linked to the protocols is the EMS scope
of practice. Think of the scope of practice as
defining what you can do, and the protocols
defining when you can do it – patient care
depends on both being in place. The EMS scope
of practice was updated in January of this year to
reflect the new AEMT level, and to add some of
the other changes such as EMT administration of
aspirin and naloxone.
The final changing piece is the educational
blueprint for EMS. In January 2013, all EMS
certification courses (i.e. EMR, EMT, and
Paramedic) switched from being based on the
former National Standard Curriculum to being
based on the new EMS Education Standards
(NEMSES). The NEMSES are a shift to more
competency based education as opposed to the
former hour based education. As part of that
shift, we also moved to a new certification testing
platform as well. At the BLS level, the
psychomotor (practical) exams remain a PA
specific exam based on the National Registry of
EMTs (NREMT) exam format. The BLS cognitive
(written) exams are now NREMT computer based
exams. At the ALS level, both the psychomotor
and cognitive exams are NREMT exams.
So, as you can see, there is a tremendous
amount of change currently in the PA EMS
system. CCDES will continue roll out new
information as it becomes available, and are
always available to answer questions as they
arise.
Questions can be directed to Harry Moore,
Deputy Director Field Services/EMS at
hemoore@chesco.org or 610-344-5049.
Pictometry Online is Now Available to Chester County First Responder
Community.
Pictometry Online (POL) provides web-based access to high-resolution oblique imagery and
analytical tools via a web browser. Oblique images are aerial images captured at an angle to
provide a more natural perspective, making objects and buildings easier to recognize. The images
were taken in the Spring of 2014 from the north, south, east, and west directions providing a virtual
360 degree view of any location in the county. Chester County DES would like to make this product
available to every Emergency Management Agency, Fire, EMS, and Police department in the
County. Attached are a few sample screen shots to give you an idea of what Pictometry and the
images look like.
User accounts are limited, so please respond with only one point of contact per agency. This
account can be shared within your organization; however, only one person can be using the account
at a time.
To request an account,
please provide Dave
Sekkes with the following
information:

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Department/Agency

For any questions
regarding POL, please
contact Dave Sekkes at:
dsekkes@chesco.org or
610-344-4485
The Fire Marshal’s office warns residents about fireplace ashes.
Fireplace and woodstove ashes when removed should be
discarded in a metal container with a lid and placed
outside away from the home and any combustible
materials. Never put ashes in a paper / plastic bag,
cardboard box, or combustible container. Never dispose of
ashes in your plastic trash container. Never place
discarded ashes in a container on combustible material
such as wood or composite deck, mulched area, or in a
building including a garage. Fireplace ashes may contain
HOT EMBERS for many days after the flames are out.
There are numerous destructive house fires caused by
improper disposal of fireplace and wood stove ashes every
year.
Hazmat Team Members Receive Specialized Training
Three members of the Hazmat team recently traveled to Pueblo,
CO to attend a three day awareness training program on Crude
Oil By Rail. Deputy Chief Don Herb; Technicians Mark Koenig
and Steve Pelna along with other first responders from around
the county received training on the characteristics of Crude Oil;
how it is transported and how to deal with a rail car on fire during
the three day program.
The training was held at the renowned Security and Emergency
Response Training Center (SERT-C) located at the American
Association of Railroads Transportation and Training Center
Incorporated (TTCI) in Pueblo. Hazmat Chief Tom Glass and
Chief Jason Cole from Valley Forge Fire Company attended the
training in 2014. The training allows attendees to bring back
information to share with other responders on this new risk
coming through our county in the Phoenixville area. For more
information on this training go to: www.sertc.org.
Community Outreach
Program
Provides 9-1-1 educational
and preparedness programs
for all ages.
For more information call Amy
at 610-344-5093 or
aamer@chesco.org
Two DES Employees to Present at National
Conference
On Wednesday, June 10, 2015, Chrissy DePaolantonio
and Stacey Songer from the Chester County Department
of Emergency Services will present at the National
Homeland Security Conference in San Antonio, TX. The
topic of their presentation will be Family Reunification
Centers: Do you know your involvement? As a
consequence of emergencies and disasters, family
reunification becomes one of the most challenging events
to plan for, implement, and accomplish. Family
reunification is a process to reunite children with their
parents/guardians after an emergency or crisis has
occurred due to school threats, hazardous material
accidents, fires, natural gas leaks, flooding, earthquakes,
bomb threats, terrorist attacks or other local hazards.
Currently, a national document which would outline
standards, strategies or resources required to coordinate a
family reunification site does not exist. The Chester County
Department of Emergency Services collaborated with
several response agencies within the County to develop a
guidance document. In October of 2014, Chrissy and
Stacey were able to test this document during our Family
Reunification Functional Exercise. They will facilitate a
discussion on how other regions can use our findings to
build from and form their own reunification plan for their
jurisdiction.
ReadyNotifyPA Changes
Chester County Emergency Services is switching software platforms used for text notifications to
partner agencies and public alerting to a company called Everbridge. This
change will bring an integration with newer technology and more efficiency
in providing alerts.
Using Everbridge as our backbone for the alert system for both the Public
and Responder side will give users new and better options to receive
messages. They users will be able to select multiple methods as to how
they want to be contacted (email, phone calls, text message, fax, etc.) and
their preferred order of contact. This system will also rely heavily on the
mobile applications for the users to enroll.
This system is scheduled to be operational by July 1st of this year.
Information from people who have signed up for public alerts in the old
system will be moved into the new system. Once information has been
moved over, people will be asked to go to the new system to create a new
username and password, update their contact information, and select the
optional government information they wish to receive.
The capabilities of Everbridge will allow the county, municipalities, and responder organizations to
provide notification about emergency situations that could impact the citizens and visitors of Chester
County as well as provide a method to send out non-emergency information to those who are
interested.
Training sessions and public relations materials will be available prior to the launch. If you have
further questions as to how the changes will affect your organization, please contact Jeff Emmons at
610-344-5042 or jemmons@chesco.org