For many American’s the mental vision of two airplanes flying into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City is still vivid in our minds. Watching every horrifying detail as it progressed left a mental impression that will never be erased. Seeing the bravest of our first responders trying to provide assistance to those most in need, in which many of the responders lost their lives, is as memorable as the day it happened. Yet seventeen years later our first responders are the most ill equipped, most under paid, most affected by human trauma, and many times the most under appreciated segment of our professional society.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2017 the mean annual salary of firefighters in the United States was $51,930 per year; the mean annual salary of police officers was $64,490 per year; and the mean annual salary of 911 dispatchers was $39,640 per year. The poverty level in the United States in 2017 for a family of four was $24,600 per year which means for even the highest salary group, police officers, their annual salary was 2.6 times the poverty level, yet their dedication to saving lives has never wavered.

In late 2018, many of our 911 systems experienced difficulties in several areas from technological difficulties, budget funding, and even attracting qualified candidates to fill positions due to non competitive salaries, while at the same time we constantly hear, if this is an emergency call 911. Text to 911 has never gotten off the ground mainly because of infrastructure cost and a lack of funding. Our central dispatching group for emergency situations have been left to cope with the situations the best they can. This vulnerability is really being overlooked by many.

We just entered 2019 and already have had several police officers killed in the line of duty in the U.S. First responders put themselves in harms way everyday, and they experience devastating tragedies daily across this country. Many first responders suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and often times suffer with it alone. Yes as the old adage goes, there are bad apples in every bunch, but for every one that is bad, there are hundreds throwing their life on the line to protect all of us. To all of them we say, Thank You.

Covert Alert is working hard to introduce new systems that will assist first responders in their response time thereby turning response minutes into seconds. We are working to provide a system that provides substantially more “on the spot information” to first responders so they may determine what is needed in each situation more efficiently and effectively. We understand the many difficulties of first responders and are here to assist because protecting each American’s life is the most important.