American Red Cross Uses GPS Tracking
GPS Tracking News Personal SafetyPublished November 28, 2009 at 7:14 am No CommentsBy Greg Bartlett
Recently, the American Red Cross division that services the National Capital Region announced that its vehicles will all be equipped with GPS tracking devices in order to facilitate better emergency service management, communication, and resource distribution. The use of GPS tracking on American Red Cross vehicles will allow managers to deliver better response time for emergencies as well as ensure safety of personnel on the road.
American Red Cross & GPS
GPS tracking will allow American Red Cross dispatchers to view the location of each vehicle in real time. They can monitor vehicles individually or all on one screen in order to facilitate more efficient use of resources and to enable quicker emergency response. When they know the exact location of each vehicle, dispatchers can notify the driver closest to the scene in order to eliminate waste of time and resources. Since minutes can sometimes make the difference between life and death in emergency situations, the GPS tracking devices will allow American Red Cross emergency responders to increase the chances of arriving in time to administer lifesaving aid.
The devices also allow perimeter monitoring, which means that if a vehicle is driven outside a specified perimeter, an alert will be activated which allows immediate notification of possible theft. GPS monitoring also provides motion alerts, allowing dispatchers to see when a vehicle is moving. If unauthorized motion takes place, police can be notified of theft and immediately begin recovery procedures. The American Red Cross loses vehicles and equipment to theft each year, and coordinators look forward to being able to reduce some of the thefts and increase recovery chances with the help of the new GPS tracking devices.
GPS tracking will also increase safety for the American Red Cross personnel. In both disaster and non-disaster zones, American Red Cross responders face danger as they perform their services. With GPS tracking, their vehicles will be under constant surveillance, allowing assistance to be dispatched immediately when problems arise.
American Red Cross personnel who serve the National Capital Region express excitement and increased confidence based on the new GPS tracking system. They look forward to being able to provide better and more efficient service to their region while also ensuring increased safety for their personnel and reduced theft of vehicles, equipment and supplies. With GPS tracking, the American Red Cross will be able to focus more completely on the job they do best-providing assistance to those in need.
