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04 <br />With the addition- of Firehouse® and the planned purchase of SPSS® OCES will be <br />able to much better analyze statistics such as call processing,. dispatching time <br />differentials, response and on -scene times for all agencies. <br />The combined capability will be piloted on OCES units in late 3rd QTR 2011. -Once the <br />formulae are set all agencies data can be analyzed and information shared regularly. <br />VIPER Radio Communication System <br />The Voice Interoperability Plan -for Emergency Responders is a- statewide emergency <br />radio communication network intended to provide -effective, reliable communications <br />among all emergency agencies within North Carolina. Although less- than half of the <br />240 -tower and channel sites planned throughout the state are completed, the system is <br />showing signs of overloading and fragility. Radio trunking technology has been used <br />throughout the United States since the 1980's and is being supplanted within the next <br />few years by a different frequency block. Orange County was the last-grantee when the <br />State's VIPER radio system was being designed. <br />During a snow and ice event last December the system indicated a "busy signal" for up <br />to 26 seconds, which can be critical when an emergency responder is in danger or <br />-needs immediate help. The cause of the outage is rooted in the minimal channel array <br />provided in the Orange County catchment area, which needs additional capacity to <br />accommodate- growth. When the Orange County system went live in 2009 the- Orange <br />County Sheriffs Office was not on the system -nor was Alamance County Emergency <br />Services, which shares Orange County towers and channels. Within the last six months <br />the inclusion of the Sheriffs Office and Alamance County, an additional 350 -500 users <br />have been plugged into the system causing a stress on channel availability. <br />OCES is planning a technology upgrade of the system, which is conservatively <br />estimated at $200K to-$300K to enable the system to remain reliable for several more <br />years. However, that does not address the need for additional towers throughout <br />Orange County to relieve existing dead spots. Addressing those weaknesses can cost <br />$250K per tower location. <br />Training and Administrative Assistance <br />OCES coordinates emergency medical training through the auspices of the Orange <br />County Medical Director's Office. The medical director determines the level of training <br />and performance that every responder who comes into contact with a patient must <br />achieve -and maintain. OCES training officers work with the various fire, rescue and first <br />response agencies to determine the delivery method, scheduling and logistical support <br />to ensure all responders maintain continuing education hours and skills. <br />Recently, OCES entered into a closer partnership with Durham Technical Community <br />College in order to develop and deliver -EMS and related training for all responders <br />within Orange County. Some agencies prefer to deliver the training within their own <br />agencies and this is acceptable as long as qualified instructors are utilized, which are <br />3 Page <br />