By Bill Adams

One of the raisins brought in an old yellowed and wrinkled up Peter Pirsch advertisement from 1973 showing a tractor-drawn aerial ladder (TDA). It was a real ladder truck—without a pump. Mounted on the side of the trailer was a big old deck gun, probably a MacIntyer or Eastman, with the long stream straightener and straight tips. It looks like it meant business. It was piped to a siamese so it could be supplied by a pumper. I consider a deck gun a master stream device that is permanently mounted on a rig and is usually, but not necessarily always, hard piped to an onboard pump. A portable/deck monitor is one that can be used on top that also can be removed and used on the ground. Again, those are my own definitions. Refer to your favorite text to find a definition to your liking. We white hairs do all the time.

Anyhow, morning coffee ended up in a donnybrook about the merits of having a permanently mounted deck gun on a ladder truck (aka truck company). It didn’t matter if it was a quint. It lasted for a couple of days until most of us either forgot what we were arguing about or what side we took. Bear in mind that from the early 1970s to the mid 1990s is when the majority of the wrinkle squad were the most active.

I am a proponent of having a deck gun on a ladder truck because the truck company is always going to be close to the building. Besides, if you’re using master streams, the pumpers belong on hydrants. Others’ comments are italicized. Mine are in quotes. What if the walls collapse? “You should stay out of the collapse zone.” Well, it is cheaper to lose a pumper. “It doesn’t matter what it is, it shouldn’t be that close.” That depends who the driver is. I let it go. A couple of days later I brought some photos to morning coffee showing new quints with prepiped deck guns. It didn’t matter. Those are quints. “So what?” You were talking about ladder trucks. “The principle is the same.” Harry, the quintessential bellyacher and resident tight wad: You’re too old fashioned—times have changed. “Times have changed? You old fool, you’ve been living in the past for the past 10 years.” 

He should’ve been a politician. His philosophy is if you don’t like the idea but can’t discredit it or disprove it, kill the messenger. And, he’s so miserly that he can bite a nickel so hard the buffalo will pass gas. When I said to give me one good reason why you shouldn’t put a deck gun on a ladder truck, his answer was predictable. It’s too expensive. “Ah, never mind.” I left.

This prepiped master stream (above and below) is on the passenger's side of a quint in East Rochester, New York.  If the barrel is not tilted down to the deck when not in use, it should be supported with a stand to prevent undue stress on the gun's internal gears. Photo by author.

Early the next morning, one of the young guys who overheard the previous discussion mentioned the deck guns in the photos were actually combination portable/deck monitors hard piped to the rig’s pump that also could be removed and used with a separate base section as a portable. I mentioned I don’t really like them. He said: But, didn’t you sell a whole bunch of them? “Yeah, but that was a long time ago.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) and RapidSOS recently announced a new solution for getting emergency help to people who need it most – faster and more efficiently.

Motorola Solutions and RapidSOS, an emergency technology startup, will soon begin delivering precise location information for U.S. 911 calls made from smartphones. The solution creates end-to-end data connectivity by sharing precise location across the emergency call, from citizens in need to dispatchers to first responders.

RELATED: RapidSOS Closes $14M Series A Funding Round to Transform Safety and Security

About 70 percent of U.S. 911 calls are made from mobile phones, and knowing the precise location of an emergency caller can accelerate time to resolution. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 911 calls from mobile phones may provide a general indication of the caller’s location, but that information is not always specific enough to quickly deploy first responders.

In the coming weeks, precise location information enabled by RapidSOS will be available on Emergency CallWorks CallStation, Motorola Solutions’ software for emergency call-taking and mapping. Precise location also will be delivered to first responders in the field through Motorola Solutions’ Messaging and Mapping public safety mobile applications that will be released later this year. Precise location will be estimated based on the location of the device, using sensors on the device and WiFi access points, Bluetooth transmitters and other technology that detects indoor and outdoor location.

“This solution has the power to get emergency help to citizens more quickly and efficiently,” said Tom Guthrie, vice president, Smart Public Safety Solutions, Motorola Solutions. “It enables precise location to be shared across the end-to-end workflow of an emergency call, ensuring personnel at every stage have the critical information they need. The expansion of public safety broadband enables us to create solutions like this one, which allow for more information-sharing among first responders, public safety command centers and citizens.”

“RapidSOS’ technology transmits rich data from wearables, connected cars, consumer IoT, and mobile devices,” said Michael Martin, chief executive officer, RapidSOS. “Working with Motorola Solutions, we can provide unprecedented information to first responders in an emergency – having a profound impact on emergency response.”

Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, the company’s strategic investment group, recently made an investment in RapidSOS. In addition to delivering precise location for emergency calls from smartphones, the companies are also exploring how third-party data collected by smartphones, connected cars, wearables and other connected devices can flow through Motorola Solutions’ integrated suite of command center software, from 911 call-takers and dispatchers to police officers and emergency medical personnel in the field.

RapidSOS, an emergency technology start-up, recently announced the closing of a $14 million Series A funding round led by Highland Capital Partners with participation from A3Ventures (the innovation subsidiary of AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah), The Westly Group, Two Sigma Ventures, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, Responder Ventures, and several notable individuals including three former FCC Chairmen (Tom Wheeler, Julius Genachowski, Dennis Patrick).

Technology has dramatically changed our lives over the last 50 years, except for when we need it most. Over 240 million 911 calls^[1] are made each year, all reliant on a voice connection with less data than was originally transmitted through the first trans-Atlantic cable in 1858^[2]. The FCC estimates that improved information flow to 911 and first responders could save over 10,000 lives annually^[3].

“For the last 50 years – we’ve relied on a voice-only connection when our lives were on the line – whether from us or through a home security, medical alert, or roadside assistance call center,” said Dan Nova, Partner at Highland Capital Partners and RapidSOS Board Member. “RapidSOS’ technology eliminates the need for clunky third-party call centers – providing a transformative platform for safety, security, and wellness.”

RapidSOS spent four years working closely with thousands of public safety officials across the United States to develop a universal data link into 911 and first responder networks. The result is a transformation from a voice-only system into a rich data link connecting millions of smartphones, wearables, connected cars, and home IoT products directly to 911 and first responders.

• Wearables powered by RapidSOS automatically detect health emergencies – transmitting rich data to responding ambulances.
• Connected cars provide key telematics data to 911 and responders.
• Connected homes linked through RapidSOS inform firefighters with real-time data including smoke density, temperature, and location of trapped occupants.

“Over the past four years I’ve witnessed the incredible heroism of public safety officials who manage millions of emergencies with little more than a distraught caller’s voice,” said Michael Martin, CEO of RapidSOS. “I’m excited to be partnering with thought leaders across public safety, telecom, and technology to link any device with rich data directly to 911 and first responders.”

“Working with RapidSOS brings a new dimension to our portfolio of integrated software solutions for the public safety command center,” said Eduardo Conrado, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Innovation Office, Motorola Solutions. “Our work together creates end-to-end emergency data connectivity, enabling third-party data to flow through Motorola Solutions’ emergency response systems to personnel in the field. It provides critical information that can accelerate response times and improve outcomes.”

“Having served as State Controller and CFO of California, I know firsthand that 911 centers face significant funding and technological challenges impacting lives,” said Steve Westly, Founder and Managing Partner at The Westly Group. “We are thrilled to work with the top engineers at RapidSOS to solve this global challenge.”

RapidSOS’ technology platform, originally developed by Martin, Nick Horelik and a team of engineers out of MIT and Harvard University, provides a rich data link into any 911 dispatch system and a platform for advanced emergency a

Waterford (VT) Fire Department, Type 6 rescue/multiple use vehicle. Ford F-550 cab and chassis; Ford Power Stroke 6.7L V8 330-hp diesel engine; 9-foot slide-out cargo tray for preconnected rescue tools.