Trends Archives - Page 3 of 4

13
Feb 19
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Delivering Preplans Quickly and Efficiently

How are you delivering your preplans? Many fire departments are moving from those cumbersome binders to digital preplans and the advantages are huge.

Access: Time is crucial in an emergency and every second matters.

Binder preplans can leave responders a step behind in emergency situations and many times there’s only one set of plans. In a live emergency, MULTIPLE responders dispatch from MULTIPLE locations and even from MULTIPLE departments and/or jurisdictions. EVERY responder needs to access the preplan. However, this is difficult with an outdated paper binder.

In contrast, prevention software that incorporates preplans solves this problem. Responders can easily search an address or link directly from their CAD systems. Easily pull up emergency contacts, hydrant information, shutoffs, building photos, roof structure, exits, and hazardous materials that may be inside the building. With this in mind, leaders can confidently plan the right strategy with all the information they need to save lives and keep the responders safe.

Updates: Is your information up to date? Good question.

Occupancy data is always in flux and bad information puts responders in a dangerous situation. Is the hazmat accurate? What about the occupant? Emergency contacts, changes in occupancy, and renovations? With electronically stored preplans updates are simple and fast. For instance, property details can be updated while any user is on site for any variety of reason. Data is dynamic and available to everyone. No need to print and store in the binders.

Keeping preplans up to date is a daunting task. Who’s responsible? The companies, the prevention department, both? However, giving access to more staff in a web environment makes this task becomes much less daunting by allowing companies and prevention to work together easily.

ISO: Storing and delivering preplans electronically may increase your ISO rating!

With our new preplan viewer and updater our customers are able to access preplan data in seconds.

Sync to CAD– Encrypted auto login directly from most CAD software
Device independence (phone, tablet, pc)
Secure login to edit occupancy data easily
Unlimited Users

Let us help you get your preplans into the hands of your responders.

For more information about Codepal – click here.

05
Feb 19
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Drone Use in Emergency Management Services

Category:Trends Tags : Drone Emergency Managment Investigation Scene Documentation

Technology has come a long way in arming first responders with the tools to combat any situation. UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or better known as drones) are proof of that. With the ability to capture key footage (video or photo) easily without the use of more expensive equipment (i.e. helicopter and pilot) from any angle, drone use is widely utilized in emergency management agencies.

Drone Search and Rescue

Search and rescue efforts can be expedited through the efforts of a drone, gaining vision from an aerial view of the search area. Scan areas faster and get to areas that are unsafe for personnel. Some drones even can carry items, such as emergency kits, medication, first aid kits, and two-way radios. Drones can act as communication platforms delivering wi-fi and cell service. Drones can be outfitted with infrared cameras or night vision to aid in quickly finding a subject.

Drone Scene Documentation

Drones can digitally document damage created naturally or criminally which can be utilized for future disaster training or court testimony. They can serve as monitors for crowd control during large group gatherings. After a mass disaster, they can cover more area faster than multiple patrol personnel. UAV’s have the ability to monitor a larger area faster and have the ability to record its findings.

Drone Inspections

Drones are faster and cheaper than conventional inspection techniques in a variety of fields. We’re not saying every situation can or should be inspected by technology and not an experienced human inspector. What we’re suggesting is it could save you and your team time, money, and save lives. UAV’s can: Search and scan abandoned buildings for safety and security concerns; Document structure changes over time; Inspect and possibly repair leaks to gas mains; Inspect structures that otherwise would require scaffolding or lift equipment easier and quicker.

Damage and Risk Assessment

Use a drone to gain visibility during a fire, verify structure stability, access points and more. Drones are used for assessment of building damage after a collapse, when it is unsafe for personnel. Once the scene is controlled, use the drone to record damage. Utilize footage for ease of completing damage reports. FEMA approved. [source: FEMA].

Aerial Mapping/Data gathering

Utilize a drone to gather data for property planning and mapping. Drones can digitally map areas of land with high-resolution cameras. Utilize the maps for planning layouts, field and crop data gathering, plan reviews and land assessment. As drone technology improves, the use of these drones will also increase. The technology already exists to program drones before the flight. Lock on a subject and the drone will hover and follow, documenting their moves. This opens the door for documenting training simulations. These types of documentation are priceless. However, the cost of the drone is still a concern.

The cost

The average cost of a drone is $499 [source: MyFirstDrone], with the (rare) most expensive drone topping the scale at $250,000. [source: Dronesbuy] Depending on your needs, the cost range is obviously wide. However, when you compare it to the costs of operating a standard helicopter at $1600 per hour, or Coast Guard patrol boat at $1147 per hour, the cost of owning and operating a drone is considerably less. [source: Sharples] Between 1992 to 2007, on average, there were 11.2 SAR (Search and Rescue) incidents each day at the cost of $895 per operation. [source: PubMed] I think we’ll see these costs decrease, as drone pilots are added to the emergency force,

Resources exist to assist you in purchasing, training, and software to aid in the use of the technology as well as private contractors that you can hire. Drones are here to stay; the only question is how will their use continue to assist first responders? As the use of Drone technology increase, you can rest assured, Codepal is following. We already have the ability to document planning, procedures, assessments and delivery data. As technology needs change, so can we.

Tell us how you’re using Drones to assist in your field of expertise.

26
Jan 19
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Customer Centric Business and What it Means to Us.

Category:Trends Tags : Customer service

Customer-centric is a way of doing business that provides a positive customer experience before and after the sale. It is important for businesses to organize around providing complete solutions. Specifically, solutions to needs not just wants of our customers. With the intention of acting proactively, businesses create a win-win situation.

Time to change focus

In today’s world of social media and instant reviews, your business cannot afford to sit idle in an antiquated business model. Customers have a louder voice than ever and several platforms from which to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. This isn’t just a concern for your customer service department, but should echo through out the company. Every employee deals with a customer in one way or another. The reviews and recommendations can make or break a company.

The focus of the business needs to be on the customer, not just products or services. The need to understand the customer’s point of view from the inside-out is important. With this approach, customers will be a part of the solution.

For example, Best Buy has been known for this change in focus saving its business several times. Nick Egelanian, president of retail development consultants SiteWorks International told RetailDive, “By intensely focusing on consumer expectations both in store and online, the company found its footing and today is the unquestioned leader in its category.”*

In other words, Best Buy knows its customers needs and proactively changes business models to meet them. Resulting in the longevity of the company.

Solve the issues

Customer satisfaction is only part of the equation, solving issues is key. For us, it isn’t just about software that serves a purpose. It is about helping our customers work efficiently. Solving the issues that slow them down.

For this reason, we have a strategic approach to problem-solving. We partner with our customers to co-create a business plan that fits their needs. As a result, we can ensure the long-term customer experience is optimized.

Customer centricity is the cornerstone of what we do. It comes down to good people, doing good business.

* From RetailDive Dec 2017 article – How Best Buy is winning against all odds

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Feb 19

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