Jarring alarms out, quieter alerts in. New firehouse dispatch systems aim to ease stress

印刷用画面を開く

Posted

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. startle / ˈstɑr tl / (v.) – to make someone suddenly feel surprised or afraid, usually because of a quick, unexpected event or sound
    Example:

    A sudden announcement echoed through the subway, startling the sleeping children.


  2. cacophony / kəˈkɒf ə ni / (n.) – a loud mixture of unpleasant sounds, often many noises happening at the same time
    Example:

    The street was filled with a cacophony of car horns and engines.


  3. fluctuate / ˈflʌk tʃuˌeɪt / (v.) – to change up and down often, not staying the same
    Example:

    Prices of food fluctuated during the holiday season.


  4. dispatcher / dɪˈspætʃ ər / (n.) – a person whose job is to receive calls or messages and send help, vehicles, or workers where they are needed
    Example:

    The dispatcher asked for the caller’s location before sending help.


  5. jarring / ˈdʒɑr ɪŋ / (adj.) – (of a sound) loud, sudden, and unpleasant; it can surprise or disturb someone
    Example:

    The jarring sound of the alarm woke everyone up.


Article

Read the text below.

Until recently, a call coming into the Danbury Fire Department meant alarms and tones immediately blasting at high volume—startling the firefighters before they headed out to scenes that could get their hearts pumping even faster.


Capt. Kevin Lunnie said the effect could be “overwhelming.” He noticed a big jump in his heart rate when the alerts went off, which isn’t a good thing in a profession where heart problems are the leading cause of on-duty deaths.


But the city is now taking a gentler approach. A new system that went online in September includes alarms that start softer before gradually increasing in volume, while a computerized voice calmly announces the information the firefighters need to know about the incoming emergency.


“It’s much easier on your nervous system,” Lunnie said.


Danbury, a city of around 87,000 people in southwestern Connecticut, is using the new alerts in its five fire stations, joining thousands of other departments around the U.S. and world, aiming to both reduce stress and improve response times.


One weekday, a call came into Danbury’s main fire station, and the alert began with a single, soft tone. “Truck 1,” said the automated female voice. “Respond to sick person,” it said, giving the patient’s address.


Around the firehouse, warm, red lighting flashed while monitors displayed the nature and location of the emergency. A timer display began to count down from two minutes, with the goal of firefighters leaving the station before the time ran out.


It’s both calmer and clearer than the old system, which began with full-volume single tones followed by a cacophony of longer ones that fluctuated between high and low pitches. Dispatchers would previously announce the calls over the station speaker system, which firefighters said could be static-y and hard to understand.


“Most people found it very jarring,” Lunnie said of the system, which would jolt firefighters awake day or night.


The new setup is integrated into the computer-aided dispatching system. So, when a dispatcher takes an emergency call and logs the initial information, it can alert the stations and units faster than department staff, while also sending the call information to firefighters’ phones and watches.


The result, according to Danbury Assistant Fire Chief William Lounsbury, is quicker response times.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Firefighters used to hear loud, sudden alarms, but now the system starts softly and increases in volume. In your opinion, which is more effective in emergencies: sudden alerts or gradual ones? Why do you say so? Do you think different types of alerts affect your ability to react quickly? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Heart problems are a leading cause of on-duty deaths among firefighters, and the new system aims to reduce strain. Should health always come first before performance in emergency jobs? Why or why not? Do you think improving comfort can actually make people perform better under pressure? Why do you say so? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The old alarm system was described as jarring and overwhelming, while the new one is calmer and clearer. How do you think sounds influence your emotions and reactions in stressful situations? Do you think a calmer environment can still create a sense of urgency when needed? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The new system uses a computerized voice and automatic alerts instead of human dispatchers announcing calls. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of replacing human voices with technology? In what situations do you think a human voice is still more effective than automation? Discuss.