As part of our commitment to providing members with fresh insights, varied opinions, and new ideas, we’re delighted to launch Response Time, our new regular podcast. Hosted by BAPCO CEO, Ian Thompson and with specialist guests from across the sector and around the world, each week we'll take a deep dive into the issues, topics, trends and opportunities facing BAPCO's members. Our first episode will be released on Wednesday 2 September and available on all the usual platforms as well as on our YouTube Channel, BAPCOTV!! Find Response Time on Apple, Spotify, Google or Amazon and add us to your favourites so that you never miss an episode.
Response Time - Series 1
Episode 1: COVID reflections and preparations - 2nd September 2020
Guests
- Becca Jones, ESN Deployment Director, Home Office
- Matt Leat, Head of Infrastructure, Maritime & Coastguard Agency
- Duncan Swan, Managing Director (Public Sector), Mason Advisory
Welcome to Response Time, the new podcast from the team at British APCO. As we slowly emerge into the post-COVID world, we all are trying to understand how we return to “normal”. Our panel of sector specialists will examine how the pandemic has affected us personally and professionally, the changes we’ve had to make to maintain our services, and what the impacts have been on our industry. We also seek to understand how our experiences have influenced our understanding or and approach to business continuity planning and implementation.
Episode 2: A silent pandemic: mental health injuries in public safety communications - 9th September 2020
Public safety communications professionals are routinely exposed to trauma through their day-to-day duties. Acutely and cumulatively, this trauma impacts the mental health and well-being of these professionals. Often, their work causes them to suffer mental health injuries, also known as operational stress injuries, which can lead to a multitude of disorders, such as anxiety, depression, vicarious traumatization and compassion fatigue, burnout, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, and fatally, suicide. In the first of a series of episodes focused on mental health and wellbeing, we explore the impacts of and solutions to the mental health crisis affecting our profession.
Episode 3: Working Safe. Working smart. Using wearables to promote workforce safety - 16th September 2020
The world has transformed with people more connected more of the time with advanced technologies using devices in their pockets and on their wrists. To help balance the inherent risk that we all face from COVID-19, while supporting duties of care to employees, customers, and stakeholders, IBM and Samsung are offering the IBM Maximo Worker Insights solution that enables elevated body temperature monitoring, crowd density, no-go zones and location occupancy management, and helps to enforce social distancing policies to support employees, clients, and businesses during this time of uncertainty and change. The solution is designed to ensure total privacy of individuals, while supporting all workers and ensuring workplace safety.
Learn more about IBM Maximo Worker Insights at www.ibm.com/business-operations/enterprise-asset-management/worker-workplace-safety-solutions
Learn more about Samsung wearable technology at www.samsung.com/uk/business/wearables/all-wearables/
Episode 4: PSTN Shutdown: a trial update - 23rd September 2020
Guest
- Phil Laws, Programme Director, Openreach
In 2015, BT announced that they will switch off the PSTN and ISDN in 2025, marking the biggest change in the telecoms industry for over 30 years, but what does this mean for public safety communications? Phil Laws updates us on the latest developments from the PSTN shutdown trials.
Episode 5: Instantly deployable internal tracking of first responders- 30th September 2020
Guests
Steve McLinden, T20 Progamme Manager, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service
Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are striving to enhance operational safety and response by exploiting technology to deliver the first truly ‘digitised fireground’ solution. The objective is to improve real time situational awareness using ‘bleeding edge’ technology which has been developed through GovTech Catalyst Funding and an innovative partnership approach with suppliers. In this episode we explore how AI and machine learning fit into the operational environment of the future, as well as why innovation and transformation is challenging, but worth it.
Episode 6: Locating emergency callers in a wireless world - 7th October 2020
Guest
- Ed Parsons, Geospatial Technologist, Google
Mobile technology has outpaced emergency services in the UK and overseas. Over 80% of emergency calls come from mobile phones but locating them can be an issue. Why can Google Maps locate you anywhere in the world, but first responders may need to search entire city blocks to find you? When lives are on the line, caller location is critical for first responders. This week we explore how Google's Android Emergency Location Service can deliver more accurate locations to emergency services.