Just in the nick of time – the deadline is Feb 1 – Canada’s wireless providers have better and more accurately ways to identify the location of emergency 911 callers.

Under the new system, the location from which an emergency 911 call is placed can be more precisely plotted and transmitted to emergency responders.

Before, systems could only provide to e-operators a caller’s phone number and the cell phone tower being used – and that’s only accurate within, say, four clicks.

The new idea is to first check if the phone is equipped with assisted GPS technology – if so, location can be determined to within about 50 metres. With no GPS, the new system will triangulate location based on cell phone towers – good to around 300 metres.

Now, that’s under “ideal conditions.” And the providers always say something like “should be” able to locate a caller.

So, despite the new technology, cell phone users and emergency system callers should always be aware of their own location, and know how to best communicate the situation to an emergency responder over the phone.

See a list of tips below, and please feel free to add your own best advice.

The so-called Phase II of enhanced wireless 911 services in Canada has been implemented, with a lot of tech and support from Telus.

The company says Phase II enhanced wireless 911 (e911) services are now online across its three wireless networks, based on HSPA, CDMA, and iDEN (Mike) technologies and tested with individual 911 operations centres across the country.

“Through our partnership with 911 and emergency services operations centres across Canada, this new enhanced 911 service will make mobile devices an even better public safety tool in an emergency,” explained Eros Spadotto, executive vice-president of Technology Strategy at Telus. “This is a complex and technically challenging project, involving new technology that needs to be tested in every local 911 operation centre, each with its own technology and approach.”

The new technology lets Telus and other wireless carriers to pass enhanced location information to 911 operators, helping them better locate an emergency 911 caller – as long as the caller’s using a wireless device with the applicable technology.

Most handsets already in use and all new handsets offered by Telus have the GPS or other technologies required for Phase II e911.

Check the compliancy of your handset or cellular device at www.telusmobility.com/e911.

Phase I wireless e911 was launched in 2005, giving emergency operators a wireless caller’s phone number and the location of the cellular site carrying the call. Some older handsets lack the technology to provide the more precise Phase II location information, and will fall back to providing 911 operators with Phase I information.

Phase II e911 is a complex project requiring coordination between wireless carriers, and third party 911 operator centres (called public safety answering points or PSAPs), and emergency services. While Telus is offering this enhanced service across its networks, a small number of PSAPs have not yet integrated the required technology or training. Telus is continuing to work with those PSAPs to implement the new system as soon as they are ready in the coming weeks.

As a result of these efforts, the February 1st deadline set out by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is being met – barely.

 

Some Tips for Making Emergency 911 Calls

• You are still the best source of location information, despite GPS and the new technology. Know your location at all times, be ready to communicate detailed information to an emergency operator right off the top. If the cell signal is lost or if you can no longer speak, you want responders to know where you are.
• Location details can include more than just an address – think about being on the 20^th floor of a building, say, or outside in public park or open area.
• If you have a choice between wired or wireless, a landline is always best. The connection is secure; the location data is more specific and available to e-operators immediately.
• Make sure your cell phone is always fully charged and make sure young children or the elderly know how to use the phone and how to make an emergency call.
• When you’re on the road, pay attention to your surroundings. Exact addresses are always best, but communicating cross streets, highway exits, local landmarks and the like can also help emergency responders locate you.
• There are still issues with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones which will not provide location information under Wireless Phase II. VoIP calls are often routed to a call centre before they get to 911, and any delay is dangerous.