West Metro Fire Deploys Next Generation Wireless Mobile Communications System by In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that West Metro Fire Protection District (WMFPD) has deployed In Motion Technology’s solutions to manage mobile operations and improve emergency services for the residents of the cities of Lakewood, Morrison, Littleton, and Golden, and Jefferson and Douglas Counties.

The onBoard Mobile Gateway turns each emergency vehicle into a secure, high performance, local area network. This enables emergency personnel to access critical information – digitally, wirelessly and instantaneously -- while they are in the station, in transit, and at incident scenes. West Metro Fire is deploying In Motion Technology’s onBoard Mobile Gateway in its entire fleet, which consists of 10 ambulances, 56 fire trucks, and 7 command vehicles.

“With the Gateway, our crews have information at their fingertips that we could never have imagined just a year ago,” said Patrick Purdy, IT Director for West Metro. “And, unlike other solutions that must be replaced as technology changes, the onBoard Mobile Gateway was designed to be easily upgraded. This investment will improve our emergency responses today and into the future.”

With In Motion Technology, by the time WMFPD crews are in their vehicles, they have access to all the information they need to get to scene faster, respond more effectively, and save lives and property as never before. When a call comes in, the Gateway enables dispatch information -- including digital maps and turn-by-turn directions to the scene – to be digitally downloaded, wirelessly and instantly, to vehicle computers. Prior to deploying In Motion Technology, the information available to WMFPD crews was provided by analog radio, paper tear-sheets, and paper map books. Now, detailed incident scene information – including aerial photographs that indicate points of access and the location of the nearest hydrants – enables firefighters to plan their attack before arrival.

At the incident scene, each Gateway functions as a mobile, high-performance, wireless hotspot, providing all first responders with reliable, secure connectivity. Crews at the scene can communicate using IP voice, email, mobile fax, video and other devices. Firefighters can begin the patient care immediately, and electronically send information to medics when they arrive. Medics can send ECG and other patient information to the hospital from the field, improving patient care, and saving time – when seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

In Motion’s onBoard Mobility Manager provides headquarters staff with a virtual birds-eye view of operations and incident scenes. Operations command can access incident scene and patient records remotely and in real-time. Fleet managers can access vehicle information – including fuel and coolant levels, engine idle times and speeds, and other statistics – to prevent breakdowns before they occur. And IT staff can remotely trouble shoot software and hardware, and monitor the wireless network.

The West Metro Fire Protection District is the second largest fire and emergency medical services provider in the State of Colorado, serving 250,000 residents, over 110 square miles west of the City of Denver. WMFD is a special, multi-jurisdictional district within the state, providing mutual aid to surrounding communities, and supports the Colorado Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Response Team. The deployment is a part of a $3 million public safety improvement program that was funded with the support of local taxpayers.

“Local taxpayers have supported our efforts to invest in our infrastructure and technology, and now the community will begin seeing tangible results,” said Purdy. “We have new stations and a new training center. And our upgraded communications – which includes In Motion Technology’s mobile wireless communications solutions -- will improve our responses and the service we provide to the residents of the West Metro Fire Protection District.”

“We are honored that West Metro Fire Protection District chose In Motion Technology for their mobile emergency communications, and we are pleased they are realizing early, dramatic results,” said Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion Technology. ”West Metro is one of more than 185 organizations across North America using our technology to improve response times, communications and operations and serve their communities."

Read about In Motion Technology and West Metro Fire Rescue on the Denver Post's Neighbors Blog.

Life EMS Ambulance Implements State-Of-The-Art Data Communication System

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, announced today that Life EMS Ambulance is the first emergency response company in West Michigan to use the onBoard™ Mobile Gateway to improve emergency operations, communications and response times across the communities it serves. The purchase of this equipment was partially funded through a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in cooperation with Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Region 6 Hospital Pre-Hospital Preparedness Coalition.

The onBoard™ Mobile Gateway, designed by In Motion Technology, is installed in emergency vehicles to create a “vehicle area network” that provides connectivity for all on-board data communications, including patient tracking, medical monitoring devices, patient care records, GPS ambulance tracking and Control Center systems. The Gateway enables the transmission of information with high levels of security and reliability among these systems in the field as well as operations command and hospitals. The benefits include improved communications, real-time information management, reduced operating costs, including lower fuel consumption and shorter response times.

“With this state-of-the-art communications technology, we are able to incorporate a number of critical operations into one system,” said Mark Meijer, president of Life EMS. “We can monitor the progress of an ambulance to an accident site, upload patient information to communicate with hospitals and even access emergency preparedness plans, all with this system.”

Life EMS Control Center staff can access real-time fleet information, including the location and status of ambulances, pending and in-progress calls and driver safety information. Crews will be able to send and receive e-mail and perform online training between calls from laptops in their vehicles without returning to a station.

“This will increase our efficiency, reduce costs and, most importantly, improve service to the community,” said Kevin Walk, Director of Information Technology for Life EMS. “Because we provide primary paramedic ambulance service to communities throughout 3,000 square miles of Western Michigan, it's important that our crews in the field are able to access information as simply and reliably as if they were in our own Control Center. The onBoard™ Mobile Gateway allows them to do that.”

Life EMS will continue to use technologies available as add-ons to the Gateway in order to improve patient care, such as patient tracking during disasters using bar-coded wristbands that allow hospitals and operations command to track patients at all times while in Life EMS’ care. Life EMS expects that all aspects of the new communications system should be operational by the end of the year.

“Emergency organizations such as Life EMS are seeing real results with In Motion Technology solutions, including improved communications, real time management information, reduced operating costs and shorter response times,” said Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion Technology. “Our products have been proven in the field by more than 130 public safety organizations, including by some of the most demanding agencies in North America.”