Culpeper’s E-911 emergency response system receives praise

What could be more frightening than calling 911 from your cell phone after a bad car accident but not knowing your exact location – and as a result emergency rescue efforts are delayed?  Contrary to what you might think not every cell phone – and not every emergency response center – is equipped to transmit or ascertain cell phone location information.

Fortunately for residents of Culpeper County, the local E911 center recently received state recognition for a newly implemented program intended to save lives and better manage emergency resources.

This past January the county’s new E911 system was implemented, and already at least one life has been saved according to Culpeper County’s director of emergency services.  The system that was implemented - The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials’ Emergency Medical Dispatch Program – uses a combination of software and training to improve dispatcher’s ability to provide medical assistance while trained emergency responders travel to the scene.

County officials hope that the new system will not only improve the odds for accident and crime victims but will also cut expenses.  A more timely and efficient emergency response means less cost, and in these strained economic times that is a great thing.

Culpeper County is one of 24 municipalities across the state to have implemented this system.  County E911 dispatchers handle about 80,000 calls each year for Culpeper town and county.

You can read more about challenges facing some E911 programs in our library article, “Will Emergency Responders Be Able to Find You After a Crash?”