Public Safety First
The FirstNet Authority Podcast
The Public Safety First podcast takes a deep dive into public safety communications, highlighting the creative ways responders are using technology to serve their communities. Join FirstNet Authority experts and public safety leaders to hear success stories, best practices, and lessons learned related to broadband in public safety operations.
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Females are statistically underrepresented in public safety and in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career fields. At the intersection of STEM and public safety, there are women developing innovative solutions to make first responders’ jobs easier and more efficient. Working on this technology takes tenacity – but those who rise to the challenge are making an incredible difference.
Broadband infrastructure can be sparse and inconsistent across many parts of Indian Country. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, this lack of infrastructure complicated efforts to provide tribes with critical food supplies and personal protective equipment. FirstNet deployable assets enabled the National Tribal Emergency Management Council to coordinate logistics and deliver millions of pounds of food and resources to tribes across the nation.
Paul Patrick, FirstNet Authority Board Member and Division Director for Family Health and Preparedness at the Utah Department of Health, reflects on his career and how FirstNet has advanced capabilities for EMS, including telehealth. He also explains how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport Model is changing the field of emergency medicine.
The Milford Police Department in Delaware uses hundreds of gigabytes of data each month, uploading dash and body-worn camera footage and using ticket and reporting software provided by the state. FirstNet’s reliable, dedicated connection and priority and preemption features ensure officers can communicate, share data, and stay connected to data capabilities in the field.
Public safety K9s can be trained for a wide range of services, from search and rescue to bomb and drug detection. These dogs work across urban, rural, wilderness, and disaster settings, and can sometimes end up a mile away from their handler. As technology advances, handlers are exploring ways technology – such as trackers and live-streaming cameras – can enhance K9 operations, keep dogs and handlers safe, and improve situational awareness and mission success.