Iamresponding.com - call-in services

jantman

My department is just starting a trial of iamresponding.com - it's a service where you register all of your members' phone numbers, and when a page goes out, they (speed) dial a given toll-free number, and the computer at the other end checks the caller ID against your roster, and updates a web page (in real time) with a list of who's called in.

Has anyone used them? Any opinions? More importantly, does anyone know of any other companies offering this service?

To dispense with the questions - most of our dispatchers can't do their job, so we have to go with something like this. We're dispatched by another town, and have no way of changing that, so getting them to do their jobs isn't a solution. We don't have the money to issue our members portable radios, so that's not a solution either. My biggest reservation with this company is lack of reliability (they talk a lot about \"redundancy\" but when I asked them a few specific questions, they tap-danced around all of them) and also that they won't give us access to the raw data from the schedule or call-ins, so there's no way to process the schedule like we currently do (cross-referencing call sheets to see who was in duty and who came out on a general, etc.).

I briefly thought of doing this in-house, but don't think that the cost of an additional 3-4 phone lines and the hardware would be less than the $60/month iAmResponding charges.

PolarBear

I was looking into this exact service for a local department. Please let me know your thoughts about it as the trial goes on. You can update the thread or just PM me.
Thanks

Druidman227

please update the thread because i'm curious about this system as well.

Mike F

We looked into it too, but because of our budget situation, they opted to just continue to complain about the dispatchers. We never even tried the free 2-month trial that they offered. Here is the pricing info that they sent us:

emtnfirefighter

we looked into http://www.publicsafetydesk.com/ same concept, both seem pricey

Bonanno

I heard my town is getting through a grant all the First Aid Squads (4) are getting a similiar system that one of the Fire Companies already has.

Instead of calls, its over text messaging. You get a text message of a call(in addition to standard Pagers and Radios) and can respond if you are responding or not. Everyone's name is then shown on a LCD Screen in the bay to show who is responding.

xfirefighter484x

My FD began using Iamresponding.com about 2 months ago. It works for what its worth. Not everyone always uses it, and not everyone always looks at who is coming before they hop in the rig.

If people adhere to its usage, it can really prevent ppl getting left behind, passing the rig right as it pulls out, also, taking out of the factor, wondering if anyone is going to show up.

Also, if going to the scene, say you are the apparatus driver, and you notice 6 people who are going to the scene, no sitting and waiting for people to show up, who never show.

I think overall, so long as people use it appropriately, it can SERIOUSLY alter response times, and improve functionality in that one respect.

firemannelson37

My county was going to purchase it for every fire dept and rescue squad, but then like everything else here they have slowly lost interest in it, most squads around here have portables anyway. I know a few squads in Warren county NJ have it and it works well for them.

firemannelson37

My county was going to purchase it for every fire dept and rescue squad, but then like everything else here they have slowly lost interest in it, most squads around here have portables anyway. I know a few squads in Warren county NJ have it and it works well for them.

Rofocowboy84

My SAR team uses a system sorta like that, though I'm not sure of the name. Basically we get a call with a message that my chief records with info about the callout, and then we can press certain numbers for certain things, like responding now, responding later, not available to respond, etc. We can also call a certain number to reach an officer or get more information about the callout. It's a bit less \"hasty\" than this program, but it works for us.

engine69

My dept uses Iamresponding...the older guys dont use it as much, but the younger guys always use it. we also can post when we are out of town or busy. we also have a setting that lets us punch a number and say were going to one of our 4 firehouses the scene or staging...
the drawbacks are that not everyone uses it or that the driver doesnt look. most of the time though one of us will walk into dispatch and check the screen before we leave.
this can be done away with if the technology people feel like flippin the bill for a screen in the bay (waterproof hopefully)

dshannon

My dept uses this system as well. I'm not entered into it yet as far as I know, since I'm very new on the dept. It works very well when its used. Were a small rural dept with only a few guys that cover the majority of calls. Usually it tells us if we should wait a couple more min before rolling or not for that extra man. I would recommend it to any dept where personnel is limited, and there isnt enough money for portables.

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