Chapter 3

Question 1

9-1-1

Answer 1

Emergency telephone number that provides access to the publici safety services in the comjunity, region, and, ultimately, nation.

Question 2

Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. (APCO)

Answer 2

International not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of public safety communications. Membership is made up of public safety professionals from around the world.

Question 3

Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)

Answer 3

System that utilizes GPS technology to pinpoint the location of an emergency incident as well as the response vehicle that may be closest according to a computerized map.

Question 4

Base Radio

Answer 4

Radio station that contains all of the antennas, receivers, and transmitters necessary to transmit and receive messages. Normally located in a station or communications tower.

Question 5

Basic 9-1-1

Answer 5

Telephone system that automatically connects a person dialing the digits “9-1-1” to a predetermined answering point through normal telephone service facilities. Number and location information is not normally provided in basic systems.

Question 6

Clipping

Answer 6

Term associated with the use of two-way radios that is used to describe instances when either the first part of a message or the last part of a message is cut off as the result of either speaking before pressing the transmit key or releasing the transmit key prior to the end of a transmission.

Question 7

Command Vehicle

Answer 7

Typically used by operations chief officers in the fire service.

Question 8

Communications

Answer 8

Sending, giving, or exchanging of information.

Question 9

Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)

Answer 9

Computer-based automated system that assists the telecommunicator in assessing dispatch information and then recommends responses.

Question 10

Database

Answer 10

Organized collection of similar facts.

Question 11

Deployment Plan

Answer 11

Predetermined response plan of apparatus and personnel for specific types of incidents and specific locations.

Question 12

Emergency Call Box

Answer 12

System of telephones connected by private line telephone, radio-frequency, or cellular technology usually located in remote areas and used to report emergency situations.

Question 13

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)

Answer 13

System designed for use by telecommunicators to assist them in evaluating patient symptoms using predetermined criteria and responses.

Question 14

Emergency Traffic

Answer 14

Term used to signify that a priority message is to follow on the radio.

Question 15

Encoder

Answer 15

Device that converts an “entered” code into paging codes, which in turn activate a variety of paging devises.

Question 16

Enhanced 9-1-1

Answer 16

Similar in nature to basic 9-1-1 but with the capability to provide the caller’s telephone number and address.

Question 17

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Answer 17

Government agency charged with administering the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 and the revised Telecommunications Act of 1996 and is responsible for nonfederal radio-frequency users.

Question 18

Fire Station Alerting System

Answer 18

System used to transmit emergency response information to fire station personnel via voice and/or digital transmissions.

Question 19

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Answer 19

System of twenty-four satellites used as reference points to calculate positions. The satellites were placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense and were originally dedicated for military operations.

Question 20

Home Alerting Devices

Answer 20

Emergency alerting devises primarily used by volunteer department personnel to receive reports of emergency incidents.

Question 21

Mass Casualty

Answer 21

EMS incidents that involve more than five patients.

Question 22

Mayday

Answer 22

A term used only to signify that a person is in a life-threatening situation and needs immediate assistance. A mayday can be declared by anyone having knowledge of a person in distress.

Question 23

Mobile Data Computer

Answer 23

Communications device that, unlike the mobile data terminal, does have information processing capabilities.

Question 24

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

Answer 24

Communications device that in most cases has no information processing capabilities.

Question 25

Mobile Radio

Answer 25

Complete receiver/transmitter unit that is designed for use in a vehicle.

Question 26

Mobile Support Vehicle (MSV)

Answer 26

Vehicle designed exclusively for use as an on-scene communication center and command post.

Question 27

Multiple-Alarm Incident

Answer 27

Involves the response of additional personnel.

Question 28

National Emergency Number Association

Answer 28

Not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 and made up of more than 6,000 members. The association fosters technical advancement, availability, and implementation of a universal emergency telephone number system.

Question 29

NFPA 72

Answer 29

National Fire Alarm Code

Question 30

Personal Accountability Safety System (PASS)

Answer 30

A small motion-sensitive device worn by firefiters. The motion device will go into an audible alarm signaling that the firefighter may be in trouble if there is no movement for a set period of time. It can also be manually activated by the firefighter if desired. Also known as a personal alert safety system.

Question 31

Prearrival Instructions

Answer 31

Self-help instructions intended to enhance the overall safety of the citizen until first responders arrive on the scene.

Question 32

Ringdown Circuites

Answer 32

Telephone connection between two points. Going “off-hook” on one end of the circuit causes the telephone on the other end of the circuit to “ring” without having to dial a number.

Question 33

Run Card Systems

Answer 33

System of cards or other form of documentation that provides specific information on what apparatus and personnel respond to specific areas of a jurisdiction.

Question 34

Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD)

Answer 34

Device that allows citizens to communicate with the telecommunicator through the use of a keyboard over telephone circuits instead of voice communications.

Question 35

Telecommunicator

Answer 35

Individual whose primary responsibility is to receive emergency requests from citizens, evaluate the need for a response, and ultimately sound the alarm that sends first responders to the scene of an emergency.

Question 36

Type A Reporting System

Answer 36

System in which an alarm from a fire alarm box is received and retransmitted to fire stations either manually or automatically.

Question 37

Type B Reporting System

Answer 37

System in which an alarm from a fire alarm box is automatically transmitted to fire stations and, if used, to outside alerting devices.

Question 38

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)

Answer 38

Technology used in telephones that converts audio signals into digital data that is transmitted over the Internet.

Question 39

Americans with Disabilities Act

Answer 39

Public law that bars discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local services. Enacted in 1990.

Question 40

Emergency Communications Center

Answer 40

Facility either wholly or partially dedicated to being able to receive emergency and, in some instances, nonemergency reports from citizens. Centers such as these are sometimes referred to as fire alarm, headquarters, dispatch, or a public safety answering point (PSAP).