Guest Post: Social Media And Public Safety

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Guest Post: Social Media And Public Safety

How Social Media Contribute in Public Safety

The world of social media is a powerful tool to use for public safety and awareness. The communication of agencies using Facebook and Twitter and other social media let society know up to date happenings to be aware of any safety precautions, hazards, fires, floods, outages and more instantly via the internet.

The spectrum of the impact social media has for public safety and prevention is a unique form of customer service to have real time information and get the word out rapidly and efficiently. This two way form of communication from agencies relay messages to the public and visa versa. For example, if a fire has broken out at Lahaina Hotel and the fire fighters of California are at the scene, social media usage would let the public know the happenings and the fire is under control and the occupants are safe and sound.

Updated real time news can instantly be posted by the California Fire Fighters making the public aware of the area to avoid with precautionary measures and detours available instantly. Cities that are using social media as real time news are getting the message out faster than any other source available. More people are using Facebook and Twitter apps on their Smartphone’s and tablets to stay in touch with breaking news receiving a text instantly.

Social Media networks have endless capabilities in public safety awareness. This dynamic resource of information is received by the public instantly. Any type of situation can be relayed with a wide spread of information. The power of using the social media networks in public safety is it has the ability to stop crime before it begins and the proper authorities can be notified of the situation and respond accordingly.

Many instances happen where innocent bystanders are at the wrong place at the wrong time witnessing a horrific crime. In turn, they bystanders may text, post a video on Facebook or Twitter so their network of friends and followers will help them and contact the proper authorities. This crucial action can save so many lives against the danger that dilemmas might bring.

Social Media use today is used more than any other form of communication on the planet. Natural disasters can be instantly broadcasted across a wide range of platforms making the public aware and what to do. In California, forest fire outbreaks are extremely dangerous and spread rapidly. The fire fighters are fast to respond on the scene and through social media platforms the public instantly will be aware of what streets, areas and the depth of the fire and what to avoid to keep safe. Children also will be aware where the dangers lie which will save lives and create a safe haven. Through innovative technology, the wide spread use of Smartphone’s, texting, tablets and more are connected with news and updates ideal to impact public safety and awareness in real time.

Kathleen Hubert

Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at lahainahotels.com.

California Fire News 2011

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Sunday, April 15, 2012