To get this party started, here is an educator podcast, as we continue discussing trigger phrases, ensuing protocols and current universal language. We quote the AI prompts we used, try to winnow out the most relevant info for you, and later cite directly from both Montgomery County Hospital District and IAED. This seems like a lot, but it’s just the basics. Welcome to the conversation! Correct me where this is inaccurate.

From a series of AI prompts requesting dispatcher precise language currently in use, please accept this as a starting place: “What is the CAD system used by 911 dispatch systems in Montgomery County, Texas, and how can they talk to each other and what are the trigger phrases that point toward specific actions” which yielded: “911 dispatch centers in Texas use various Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems, with a significant shift toward unified platforms that integrate police, fire, and EMS services. Leading vendors like CentralSquare Technologies, Motorola Solutions, and Tyler Technologies dominate the market, providing systems that handle real-time incident management, resource tracking, and data interoperability. Major CAD Systems in Use: Texas agencies commonly utilize the following specialized software:

• CentralSquare CAD Enterprise: Used by major cities like Dallas and Austin to provide a unified platform for multiple public safety departments. It includes features like CentralSquare Mobile Enterprise for field communication.
• Motorola Solutions (PremierOne & Spillman Flex): Motorola Solutions provides the PremierOne CAD for high-volume situational awareness and Spillman Flex for multi-jurisdictional data sharing.
• Tyler Technologies (New World CAD): A widely adopted enterprise-level system that integrates dispatch with records management and field reporting.
• Hexagon Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial: Used by the El Paso County 911 District, this platform is noted for its ability to integrate third-party technologies like RapidSOS for precise caller locations.
• ARMS CAD: Often utilized by colleges, universities, and local police departments for a cost-effective, all-in-one dispatch and records solution.
• RapidDeploy (Nimbus CAD): An Austin-based company providing cloud-aided dispatch that leverages the Microsoft Azure cloud for real-time tracking and route optimization. 

Modern Texas CAD systems frequently integrate with secondary tools to enhance response: 

• Location Intelligence: Systems like RapidSOS feed precise digital alerts directly into CAD interfaces to reduce call processing time.
• Station Alerting: The PURVIS Fire Station Alerting System interfaces with most major CAD providers used in Texas to automate fire and EMS notifications.
• Mobile Connectivity: Most systems now include mobile data terminal (MDT) software, such as Versaterm Mobile, extending CAD functionality to smartphones and tablets for responders. 

Texas does not use a single, statewide CAD system; instead, it is a “system-of-systems” where over 500 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) choose their own software. While there is no master list for all 254 counties, a few major vendors dominate the landscape, and agencies are increasingly using “CAD-to-CAD” technology to communicate across jurisdictional lines. 

How They Talk to Each Other: Interoperability—the ability for different systems to “talk”—is handled through several technical and organizational layers: 

1. CAD-to-CAD Interfaces: Software like Caliber Public Safety or specialized integrations from CentralSquare allow neighboring dispatch centers to exchange incident data and resource status in real-time.
2. Next Generation 911 (NG911): Texas is transitioning to an IP-based NextGen 911 system. This allows PSAPs to transfer not just voice calls, but also data like photos, videos, and precise GPS locations across different CAD brands.
3. Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs): The Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) oversees 24 RPCs that coordinate technology standards so that a 911 call can be seamlessly transferred between counties.
4. Interagency Chat & Shared Mapping: Tools like RapidDeploy provide interagency chat features that let dispatchers in different counties coordinate resource deployment without picking up a phone.
5. Statewide Interoperability Plan (SCIP): Managed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), this plan sets the roadmap for ensuring voice and data systems remain compatible during major disasters.”

We then prompted AI about our specific municipality, and got this: “In Montgomery County, Texas, the 911 dispatch infrastructure is managed by the Montgomery County Emergency Communication District (MCECD). They provide the core technology that allows multiple agencies—including the Sheriff’s Office, local police, and fire departments—to operate on a shared network. Primary CAD Systems in Use: Montgomery County utilizes highly integrated platforms to ensure seamless data flow between dispatchers and field units. 

• Motorola Solutions (PremierOne CAD): The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and many partner agencies use Motorola’s PremierOne platform. This system is chosen for its ability to handle high-volume situational awareness and its direct integration with the county’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which links CAD incidents to live video feeds.
• InfoShare® CAD/RMS: Developed by CSI (Computer Systems Inc.), this countywide law enforcement solution is used to integrate dispatching with records management and field reporting. It was specifically designed with customized interfaces required by Montgomery County to ensure different software vendors could talk to each other.
• Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD): The Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) ALARM center uses a specialized Emergency Medical Dispatch system. This allows call-takers to provide immediate lifesaving instructions while the incident is simultaneously processed in the broader CAD network. 

How They Talk to Each Other: Agencies in Montgomery County achieve interoperability through a “system-of-systems” approach: 

• MCECD Infrastructure: The MCECD provides the underlying Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) call processing suite that routes calls and data (like GPS location) to the correct PSAP regardless of the specific CAD software they use.
• Integrated Databases: By using the InfoShare system, law enforcement agencies across the county share a centralized records and dispatch interface, allowing for “CAD-to-RMS” data sharing that reduces manual entry.
• Smart911 Integration: The Smart911 platform allows residents to create a Safety Profile that is automatically displayed to any dispatch center in the county when they call 9-1-1, ensuring all agencies see the same medical or household data.” (close of AI prompts). 

We then asked MCHD’s Michael Wells what questions their dispatchers use and he shared (from IAED Dispatch). I added the plural so we don’t keep picking on the males:

Now, back to our AI prompts requesting Trigger Phrases and Action Indicators, which I heavily edited: “Dispatchers use specific keywords and protocols to categorize calls and “trigger” automated CAD actions:

• “Echo” Level Responses: In the EMD system used by MCHD ALARM, “Echo” is a trigger for the highest priority life-threats (like cardiac arrest), which automatically initiates the fastest possible multi-agency dispatch.
• Call Type Codes: Dispatchers enter specific “Nature Codes” into the CAD. For example, a “BOLO” (Be On The Look Out) trigger phrase in the PTS Platinum Plus CAD or similar systems will automatically broadcast the alert to all mobile data terminals (MDTs) across the county network.
• ProQA/EMD Protocols: Dispatchers follow scripted questions where phrases like “unconscious,” “not breathing,” or “heavy bleeding” act as logic triggers within the software to suggest the specific number of units and types of equipment (e.g., ALS vs. BLS) to send. 
  • The Priority Dispatch ProQA system, a standardized set of protocols designed to triage patients and provide life-saving instructions while an ambulance is en route. 
  • Core Initial Questions: Before specific medical triaging begins, dispatchers must verify basic information to get help moving:
    • “What is the address of the emergency?”: This is the most critical piece of information.
    • “What is the phone number you are calling from?”: In case the call is disconnected.
    • “Tell me exactly what happened.”: You should provide a brief but descriptive explanation (e.g., “My husband is having chest pain”). 

Universal Medical Questions: Once the nature of the emergency is established, dispatchers ask four “universal” questions to determine the severity: 

• How old is the patient?
• Is the patient awake (conscious)?
• Is the patient breathing normally?
• Is there any serious bleeding? 

Depending on your initial description, the dispatcher will ask between 3 to 10 more targeted questions. Examples include: 

• For Chest Pain: “Is he completely alert?” or “Is he changing color?”
• For Falls: “What caused the fall?” and “How far did they fall?”
• For Choking: “What did they choke on?” and “Are they able to talk?” 

Safety and Logistics Questions include:

• “Is it safe for responders to enter?”: To check for hazards like fire, aggressive pets, or violent individuals.
• “Are any weapons involved?”: Essential for the safety of first responders.
• “Is the door unlocked?”: To ensure the fire department or medics can enter without forced entry. 

We now stop quoting AI-supplied prompt responses.

We found excellent and extensive dispatcher information at IAED, and here is just a tiny slice on Key Questions (KQ):

Precise Language Matters https://www.iaedjournal.org/precise-language-matters, …. “important that emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) ask the key questions (KQs) in the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS®) exactly as scripted. The KQs have been formulated, researched, and tested by experts to save the patient crucial time and increase their chances for better outcomes by using precise wording to get the point across to the caller as quickly as possible.”

More links will be archived at https://gettingsorted.com/first-responders-supports-tools

I hope we didn’t lose you. This is the first installment of a wealth of documented protocols. Our ongoing mission is education of the general public, of families, to insure the correct universal language will be used.

First Responders Supports When Dealing With Neurodiversity Collaboration