Un bon croquis vaut mieux qu’un long discours.

Supposedly it was Napoleon Bonaparte, who said “A good sketch is better than a long speech”

Sometimes we don’t know fully how to describe what we’re seeing. Words can be subjective. But live streaming video puts the person on the receiving end in the moment, in the thick of the action. They are able to ask questions about what they’re seeing to gain clarity, rather than interpreting some else’s words. A video should complement, not replace voice but to reinforce and give depth to the spoken word.

Resolve Incidents Quickly

Additionally, to the first point, the video conveys more in a minute than words alone can, so by sharing video from the scene of an incident, the dispatcher or emergency room personnel can engage more fully with what first responders are telling them. In addition to what they’re being told they may see something that will aid in their evaluation of the scene or patient and enable more appropriate action. With the proliferation of the public CCT cameras and private CCT management systems, plus personal smartphone, the video is more available than ever. By making available video from an incident brings everyone involved in the incident closer to the problem of achieving resolution. The better the situational awareness leads faster resolution.

Leverage Existing Resources

In today’s environment people increasingly turn to their mobile device for sharing information which often comes in the form of video. Virtually every person today is equipped with a video camera in their smartphone and first responders are relying more on body worn cameras and in vehicle camera solutions for communications.

Also, CCT surveillance video is often used for forensic reconstruction, this could also be shared in real time with current technology, doubling the value of the investment in cameras and video management systems.

Currently, in Australia, we do not have available a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (PSMBN) to share video among public safety agencies which would further be enhanced with a dedicated bandwidth availability to first responders.

Provide Advance Situational Awareness

Advance intelligence provides not only information but instils confidence.

When First Responders have greater knowledge of an environment (office building or shopping mall) that reported an emergency situation, they can better predict threats and be better oriented on arrivals. Video shared from CCT, body worn cameras or personal smart devices showing the relative position of dangers or blockages, responding officers are able to visualise the needed action better than just the voice description ‘the blue door to the left goes to a store room, the red door goes straight to the lower level car park” The voice description and the video together provide a better picture.