Does anyone use "IamResponding.com"?

[Jay911]

Hi folks,

As the subject queries, is anyone using this service? For those who aren't familiar with it, it is a pretty slick-looking tool to augment your knowledge of who's attending when the pagers go off. In addition to giving the membership the ability to mark themselves as being en route to the station/scene with one speed-dialed call, there are other features like logging who is on duty, sending messages to department members, and all the services being accessible by the dispatcher, etc., making it look very attractive to departments like mine.

There are tons of testimonials on their site, but none of them a) have any info about cost and 2) have any reference to whether or not Canadian departments are able to use the service. I saw a comment on another forum that one US department is paying $60/month for the service. There's a link on the site to ask questions/request info, and an opportunity for requesting a two-month trial, both of which I intend to do after my vacation is over; but I'm hoping someone from Canada has got this service so I can know if it's even available to us.

Thanks in advance!

[ssifire]

There is a department in my area (Vancouver Island) using either this system, or one very similar.

PM me with your contact info and I'll pass it along.

[braidjansen]

It looks pretty slick and a well thought out system. It allows us to continue to use our one way pagers (ie Minitor and Swiss Phone) and does away with one of the major rationals for issuing every fire fighter a radio by letting dispatch know who is responding without using the dispatch frequency. It also looks as if it has a scheduling program as well that would allow chiefs, deputies, and captains to know at a glance how many of their people are available to respond on say a long weekend or on Christmas day, times when many volunteers are away from home. How may of us maintain a white board at our halls necessitating a fire fighter to stop by the hall on their way out of town to check in and out? All in all it looks like a good system. I for one will be mentioning it to the rest of my hall next call or practice.

[Rescuecptn32]

I would like to answer your questions regarding iamresponding. First, full disclosure, I work for the company. I hope no one views this as spam, and if so, I appologize. I am just trying to answer a question that was posed here first.

My department in NYS has used this system for 2 years, and it really does work. There is nothing better than knowing who is responding, as soon as I walk into the station, or look at my phone, or a computer before I leave for the call. We know immediately if we have enough personnel, or whether or not we need a second activation. I know whether I can get 2 trucks out, if I have 2 drivers, etc. I don't leave members behind on calls any more, since I know that they are coming. My chiefs love the system, as we can see in seconds all of this information.

The messaging system has really improved communications in my department. We can create up to 50 different messaging groups, and send emails and text messages from anywhere we are to all of the groups. Every member keeps their own emails, text addresses and other info up to date, so there is no real administrative time spent.

The cost is the same in the US as in Canada (have to pay in US dollars). The system does work in Canada and is being expanded as we speak throughout Canada. We can explain that a bit more in person. If you call, ask for Elizabeth.

IamResponding.com, at most, costs $1,100 a year, but can certainly cost less. If you sign up for one year, it is an annual cost of $800 per year. If you sign up for 3 years, the cost is $725 a year. A 5 year subscription is $650 a year. There is a 1 time set up cost of $50 for the life of the program. The only additional cost, which has a maximum of $300 a year, is the calls to the toll free number. That cost is 2.8 cents per call (for 1000 calls into the system, is $28). Again, it cannot ever exceed $300 regardless of how many calls you make.
With iamresponding phone numbers, individual callers are not charged for a call. Those charges are picked up by the Department so that members won't have a reason not to use the system.


So, total costs of 1,100 a year, but usually much less.

The system has a scheduling program, vehicle tracker, full messaging system, and very, very soon, even more records management tools to assist your department... all included for free.

[intricate]

Ottawa is presently using it for a handful of rural stations as a trial. If it's successful it will be considered for all rural stations.

[CKL958]

There is nothing better than knowing who is responding, as soon as I walk into the station, or look at my phone, or a computer before I leave for the call. We know immediately if we have enough personnel, or whether or not we need a second activation. I know whether I can get 2 trucks out, if I have 2 drivers, etc. I don't leave members behind on calls any more, since I know that they are coming. My chiefs love the system, as we can see in seconds all of this information.


Something doesn't sit right with me here. I don't know about anyone else, I but I don't take the time to look at my computer, or check my phone, or such before I leave for a call. Tones go off over the pager, I'm grabbing a coat, and heading for the door.

I can see if it was tied to your dispatch center, and they were able to update responding officers of who was responding over portable radio enroute to the hall that it could be useful, just don't unerstand the looking at phone/computer aspect.

[CoryT]

My department uses the Firefighter response system, quite similar to iamresponding.com we are very happy with the use of it. Its now in our SOP``s, that you must call the number when you respond to a call. Most guys call on the way out the door enroute to the call. The phone will pickup and tell you which number you are (Ie. you are responder number 5) We have a large monitor set up at each station informing you of how many other ppl are responding and basic info about them. We have been using this for a few months now with no problems.

[Hacienda216]

...I don't know about anyone else, I but I don't take the time to look at my computer, or check my phone, or such before I leave for a call...


I think the reference to the computer means the computer set up at the hall specifically for the purpose of displaying this info, or I believe it can even be displayed on the truck's MDT, or on the responding officer's MDT. As for the phone many of our FFs along with a page, automatically get a text to our cell phones with the address, event info, and even maps and available hydrants if you're on a BlackBerry. Whether by text or on MDT, both would eliminate the need for dispatch to tie up the air updating the number of responding FFs...kinda the whole arguement behind not giving everyone a portable radio in the first place. Sounds pretty slick. Though I think a better solution would be to just hire maybe 16 or 20 of us full time. That way you've always got 4 guys responding...so, no need for the complicated computer system.

[CKL958]

I think the reference to the computer means the computer set up at the hall specifically for the purpose of displaying this info, or I believe it can even be displayed on the truck's MDT, or on the responding officer's MDT. As for the phone many of our FFs along with a page, automatically get a text to our cell phones with the address, event info, and even maps and available hydrants if you're on a BlackBerry. Whether by text or on MDT, both would eliminate the need for dispatch to tie up the air updating the number of responding FFs...kinda the whole arguement behind not giving everyone a portable radio in the first place. Sounds pretty slick. Though I think a better solution would be to just hire maybe 16 or 20 of us full time. That way you've always got 4 guys responding...so, no need for the complicated computer system.

Thanks. On dialup here. Wasn't able to check the video out. Got on some highspeed and took a look - all makes sense now. Just was thinking that it was kind of strange that someone would have time to sit down/log into whatever on the computer to take a look, but obviously I was not totally understanding the system.

Looks neat - think it would be a good thing at our dispatch center even - during the day, we are often low in numbers. With this system, they could maintain a minimum number of responders and get more stations rolling quicker - ie., wait 90 seconds for responding firefighters to call in, if # not sufficient for type of call, get another station rolling, instead of us telling them that #'s aren't sufficient and having them page another station 5 minutes later.

[SteveEWVFD]

We have been useing Iamresponding for about a year now. The only problem we have with it is that our members do not call it enough. Its a great tool for any department to have.

[Hacienda216]

We're using FirstResponder.ca currently. Not as slick looking as IamResponding.com, but it should take some of the guess work out of our current responses. We've been running into some staffing levels during the work day and on weekends every once in a while, and we're also running additional calls to augment another one of our stations that is seriously understaffed at the moment. Unlike IamResponding, we don't call a toll free number; my cell plan includes unlimited local calls, but this isn't the case for all our FFer's. We're still working out the details, but should be interesting.

[DeputyMikey]

I know the City of Leduc Fire Services is using it (Leduc, Alberta). When I seen it in their station they were only using it for a couple of week at that time. I thought it was a slick looking system, they couldn't remember what the program was called. I had actually forgotten about it until the other day when I seen this thread. I showed our Chief and he can see high value in it, as can I. We are seriously looking at it for our stations.

Mike

[Hacienda216]

I know the City of Leduc Fire Services is using it (Leduc, Alberta). When I seen it in their station they were only using it for a couple of week at that time. I thought it was a slick looking system, they couldn't remember what the program was called. I had actually forgotten about it until the other day when I seen this thread. I showed our Chief and he can see high value in it, as can I. We are seriously looking at it for our stations.

Mike

It makes a lot of sense. Basically our chief said that if it can help keep him from having to tone out another station once a year because he had to make a guess at available staffing levels, its paid for itself. Our station doesn't have staffing issues typically, but there's a built in schedule that can show when everyone's vacation time is stacking up on each other and you're left with only a skeleton crew. In these cases its nice to glance at your blackberry and know right away that you only have 4 FFs available to respond.

[Nagrom]

I've been watching this thread for a bit. It is now time to comment.

My department has had the system for approximately a month. I have not used the system a whole lot, but will speak of what I know.

Iamresponding itself-

Pros

Seems to be working ok. The first officer at the station seems to like it, and I have heard of our chief officers using it on their Blackberries. Seems very easy to use when responding. I managed to call in and select a response option while putting my shoes on at the same time.

Cons
As far as I know right now, a toll free number is not set up yet. According to the company, this translates into a +/- $0.30 fee to the phone, depending on your carrier. My theory is that they don't give you a toll free number untill you sign on with a contract. They have a 2 month free trial right now. I figure this is a way to recoup costs during this trial period. This is speculation on my part only.

Some members still don't seem completely sure of how to use the system. Education and training would be the key with that, however, I can see potential where some older people could have problems using the phone call system [ie speed dial... I know many older people would not even know how to use speed dial, let alone program it]

The current setup in our dispatch room seems to work slowly sometimes. I think this is because it was an older computer, that had been used for just about everything. I would suggest a computer specifically for Iamresponding. If using an old used computer, I'd have it wiped clean of any non-essential programs.

Text/Email Messaging-

Our account is set up so members get texted with events, messages, and sometimes even calls. The messaging works great. It is done in house. It gets rid of the need for pager test messages that are hard to hear.

As far as I understand, calls are supposed to be dispatched to our cell phones in a text message. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen too often. I have heard not all dispatchers know how to use the system. I know our dispatchers can be very busy sometimes. The way I see it, however, is that we are paying for the capability, and should be recieving it. [This has more to do with us and our dispatcher, not Iamresponding] If I called the shots, I would pay more for dispatch service if required, to include the call texting.


I have more, but that is all I can type right now.

If you want an opinion from me now: I like it, and think it will be a great tool provided everyone buys into it and uses it consistantly, without stopping when the novelty wears off.

[Hacienda216]

I've been watching this thread for a bit. It is now time to comment.

My department has had the system for approximately a month. I have not used the system a whole lot, but will speak of what I know.

Iamresponding itself-

Pros

Seems to be working ok. The first officer at the station seems to like it, and I have heard of our chief officers using it on their Blackberries. Seems very easy to use when responding. I managed to call in and select a response option while putting my shoes on at the same time.

Cons
As far as I know right now, a toll free number is not set up yet. According to the company, this translates into a +/- $0.30 fee to the phone, depending on your carrier. My theory is that they don't give you a toll free number untill you sign on with a contract. They have a 2 month free trial right now. I figure this is a way to recoup costs during this trial period. This is speculation on my part only.

Some members still don't seem completely sure of how to use the system. Education and training would be the key with that, however, I can see potential where some older people could have problems using the phone call system [ie speed dial... I know many older people would not even know how to use speed dial, let alone program it]

The current setup in our dispatch room seems to work slowly sometimes. I think this is because it was an older computer, that had been used for just about everything. I would suggest a computer specifically for Iamresponding. If using an old used computer, I'd have it wiped clean of any non-essential programs.

Text/Email Messaging-

Our account is set up so members get texted with events, messages, and sometimes even calls. The messaging works great. It is done in house. It gets rid of the need for pager test messages that are hard to hear.

As far as I understand, calls are supposed to be dispatched to our cell phones in a text message. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen too often. I have heard not all dispatchers know how to use the system. I know our dispatchers can be very busy sometimes. The way I see it, however, is that we are paying for the capability, and should be recieving it. [This has more to do with us and our dispatcher, not Iamresponding] If I called the shots, I would pay more for dispatch service if required, to include the call texting.


I have more, but that is all I can type right now.

If you want an opinion from me now: I like it, and think it will be a great tool provided everyone buys into it and uses it consistantly, without stopping when the novelty wears off.

Sounds more like problems with your dispatch and text system than Iamresponding. Our trial with FirstResponder doesn't include a toll free number either, but I do believe you're correct that its included when you pay for the system. Plus the fact that we're being paid $60 a call kinda offsets the $0.10 your phone call costs you if you don't have unlimited local calling.

[Nagrom]

Yeah, the current problems are not the fault of Iamresponding, but rather a factor of a lack of education, or possibly understanding between agencies. I suspect they will get better with time and training.

To continue on...

Iamresponding also has a schedualing feature. This is not used extensively yet, but basically it allows a member to post when they are or not availible. This shows up on the screen with the list of responding members.

From what I have seen the biggest obstacle to this system operating like it should is getting your people to buy into it. People have to use it consistantly. My departments experience with people using it have so far been good. There are some people who don't call in, but they live close enough to the station that for them calling in on the system is not doing a lot of benefit anyways.

The times I do foresee a great benefit is with members who live a distance from the station, like I do. There have been many times a truck with an empty seat has left as people were turning into the parking lot. With Iamresponding, that may not happen as much anymore, unless the officer makes a decision to go.

As for the cost of the phone calls, I don't have a problem with it. We don't run enough calls for me to notice it really. However, there are others who I am sure will raise a stink about it. Really I cannot blame them. Our number to call has a Georgia area code. Unfortunately, that means long distance charges.

I have limited experience with the system. We have had it for less than a month now. It still has kinks, but, I think it is a step in the right direction, and could be a great tool.

One common topic I have seen brought up with regards to this system is using it while driving. When responding from home, it is possible to call in while walking to the car, waiting for it to warm up, or even starting the car [I guess that depends on your multi-tasking ability]. If you happen to be out driving, you have a decision to make as to whether you call while driving or stop. The phone call generally takes about 10 seconds. I let others form their opinion on that one.

[NoJo]

My Department has been using this for coming up 2 months now. I think it is an extremely valuable tool.

The scheduling tool is being used more and more each week. We're getting a decent amount of guys calling in too. As a career member, when the tones come in, we start the truck, get our gear on, and check the computer. For all runs except medicals, we try our best to roll a full rig. With this program, we are able to roll sooner if we know we only have two additional guys showing up, and we can leave without waiting to see if one more guy is coming. Or, we know if we can roll and staff two trucks right away.

We have a computer set up right beside our radio bank, and it is used entirely for iamresponding.com, so a quick glance at the computer when the officer grabs the radios is simple. Effective soon, we will have a computer in the Chiefs vehicle to display this website so he knows not just what apparatus is responding, but who will be on it.

At our other station which has zero career staffing, the computer is in the alarm room and the page is left up for when the first member arrives to book the station on the air.

I think it is a great tool, and we've been able to maximize its effectiveness when we need to roll multiple trucks, and especially the quint which only has a handful of qualified operators.

I would recommend this program, and I think we will see some of the other departments in our region give it a try. If that happens, I think we'll have our dispatchers involved as well providing us with additional info.

Also, for those with concerns for calling and driving - there is a defualt setting. How the system works is that you dial the 1800 number, then press the corresponding number to what you're doing. IE: press 1 for station 1, 2 for station 2, 3 for delayed response, 4 for on scene, etc. etc. The default setting is whatever your preferred selection is. So, if you don't press anything, it selects #1 and automatically hangs up. For myself, when I use the program, I auto dial the number, then put my phone on the seat of my truck and forget about it. I press 1 button to dial, thats it.

[command]

would this be worth it for a dept who runs 130 calls a year between 2 stations? (stn 1 80 per year, stn 2 50 per year) ? im not even sure if our stn has the internet. our stn 1 might, but stn 2 does not. that would be an aditional cost.

[Hacienda216]

would this be worth it for a dept who runs 130 calls a year between 2 stations? (stn 1 80 per year, stn 2 50 per year) ? im not even sure if our stn has the internet. our stn 1 might, but stn 2 does not. that would be an aditional cost.

Its a pretty minimal cost. If you have staffing level problems it could help you to know sooner that you're going to need another station, or mutual aid, etc.

Unfortunately the system is of no use to me right now. I switched to a BlackBerry last week and I have a blocked number. By dialing *82 (I would just include this in the speed dial entry eg. *82-505-555-5555) on my old phone it would unblock my number for that call. For some reason my BlackBerry won't make the call if I prefix it with *82. And if your number's blocked, the system has no idea who's calling.

[DSeidberg]

Hi all . . .

Thanks all for the kind words about the IamResponding.com system, which was the first to ever offer automated, web-based, member call-in technology to the emergency services field, and which is now used by more than 73,000 of your peers.

I just want to take a quick moment to clarify one item posted above concerning the toll free numbers. This is not something where there is a difference in what is provided during the 2 month free trial. Rather, some of our Canadian subscribers are currently using regional call-in numbers (rather than toll-free or local numbers) because there is an issue in their region with the Canadian cell towers conveying inaccurate caller ID information from cellphone based calls to our network. When we receive inaccurate caller ID information, members' calls do not correctly post to your department's screen. That has not been an issue with the numbers that have been provisioned to users in those regions.

While we have worked on resolving this issue with the Canadian telephone carriers, we have provided significant discounts to any of our affected Canadian subscribers. The intent of this was that the departments could use the cost savings to reimburse their members for the cost of the phone calls made by the members (for those members who do not have free long distance calling plans).

We have developed a solution to this issue that will soon enable ALL Canadian subscribers to have either toll free, or regional call-in numbers, and we plan to have that solution deployed soon.

As far as what happens when members do call in, each member only has to program a single speed dial number per department. When responding, members simply speed-dial that single number, and then drop their phones. After connecting to our system (which does not require your department to pay for or host any phone lines), the system will automatically disconnect the call after 10 seconds. Each member can choose any of 9 pre-set "destinations" or "responses" as their default, which controls what posts on the screen when you call in. If responding to somewhere other than your default location, you speed dial the same number, and then simply press one additional button (any number between 1 and 9) after the call has been answered by our automated system, and a different destination apears on your screen.

As far as the blackberry issue goes with not being able to disable caller-ID blocking as part of a speed-dial setting, we have not heard of that being an issue anywhere else, and presume that should be able to be resolved directly with the phone service provider. If it can not be, please let us know directly, and we will work with you to identify a solution.

Testimonials from some of our 75,000 users, a demonstration video, and more information about IamResponding.com is available on our website. Please also feel free to contact us at any time at 315-701-1372, or to email me directly.

Thanks, and be safe!
Dan Seidberg
President, IamResponding.com
DSeidberg@emergencysmc.com

[Hacienda216]

...As far as the blackberry issue goes with not being able to disable caller-ID blocking as part of a speed-dial setting, we have not heard of that being an issue anywhere else, and presume that should be able to be resolved directly with the phone service provider. If it can not be, please let us know directly, and we will work with you to identify a solution...

Thanks for the helpful offer, but unfortunately I'm with your competitor, haha. I will get around to checking with my service provider though. I'm sure they have a fix for it.

Deevo, not gov't issued, and you should see our slick new black-on-black rides. Very secret squirrel looking. They might come with a Crackberry actually.

[Hacienda216]

Are they our old ones? Tahoes or the ones Fantino didn't like? ha ha ha!

F150. Brand new. Not that the rookie gets to drive it anyways, but it is nice to look at, haha.

[Hacienda216]

Okay..........Nice!

I keep thinking "Oh, some one has something new to say about Iamresponding.com". No, wait, just me and you hi-jacking the thread with our public private conversation...



Semi-related note for everyone else, I talked to my service provider, they have no idea why, and no idea how to fix, the fact that my BlackBerry won't dial out to the competitors service with the *82 prefix used to unblock my private number. So it looks like I'm outta the game for now.

[Nagrom]

I'll say something new about Iamresponding...

When I last posted, I had limited experience of the system.

I now have some more experience with it.

The issues that we are facing now are personnel related. Some people don't call in because they don't think it is worth it. For some, generally less than a minute or a minute and a half from the hall, it is not worth it. Some of the others that are not calling in probably should be.

Our cheif officers have blackberrys, and can access Iamresponding from those. They seem to use them a fair amount. This avoids them having to get on the radio during operations to ask who is at the station.

Call dispatching has improved, and has actually been working out fairly well. Our dispatch generally sends the address and type of call to our phones. This is helpful sometimes when people forget the civic number of a call. If the driver or officer in the truck (or others doing paper work at the station) need the address, someone usually has their phone handy so they can flip it out and give the address.

Another benefit of dispatch texts seems to be for people who are out of the area. Whether they come back to the area for the call, or happened to be heading back anyways, people will call in as delayed. This is helpful for determining if fresh firefighters are coming, or if we will shortly have a crew for coverage.

Non emergency messages used to be sent by dispatch on our nightly pager test. Now, they are sent through phone by our own members. I am sure the dispatchers like this feature.

We have had the system running for almost 3 months. It is such a part of our operations now it seems like we always had it.