GPS Use by Emergency Responders

GPS Use in Emergency Response:

• Pinpoint Location of Emergency Reports: GPS equipped cell phones can transmit precise locations to 911 dispatchers. This allows the dispatcher to have an immediate and accurate location instead of relying upon descriptions of people who may be unfamiliar with the area or too distraught to explain their location. The same technology has also helped catch people who make crank 911 calls from their GPS-enabled cell phone.

• Speedy Arrival Thanks To GPS: GPS software can be used to quickly tell which emergency vehicle is closest to an accident or other emergency. With GPS coordinates associated with land-line telephone numbers, a 911 location can be quickly plotted on a map and the closest emergency response vehicle can be quicly identified, shaving precious minutes off of the response time.