Finding a Caller’s Phone Number to Get More Information

Scenario: You have been dispatched on a call and need more information from the caller. Did you know that you may bypass ECC and just call the individual yourself, using the apparatus Sonim phone?

  • Find the incident on the incident screen if you are not already seeing the incident summary.
  • Click the Persons tab, located in the vertical navigation on the left side of the screen.
    P1 MDC Persons Tab
  • Click the + symbol next to the person’s name.
    P1 MDC Caller's Name
  • Find the caller’s phone number on the right side of the screen, if available.

Setting up an MCFRS Active911 Account

Would you like to set up an Active911 account with MCFRS? The process is simple, but some people need clarification. To make things easier on everyone involved, here is what you need to know:

  • Ensure you have met the prerequisite: You are either on the IECS list or you are serving in an admin role and have the permission of a chief within MCFRS.
  • Submit a TSR:
    • Ensure you choose the proper category: Messaging
    • Provide your phone type (just tell us Android or iPhone, please) if you do not have an Active911 account elsewhere
    • Provide your device code if you do have an account elsewhere
  • Look for the closed TSR ticket notification. In that message, the tech will provide you with a device code. You will need that.
  • Download and open the Active911 app for your phone/tablet.
  • Find and click the Pay Individual Subscription button, located below the username and password boxes when you launch the app.

    Active911 Pay Button

  • Enter the Device Code in the Device Code box and click the Next button. Set up your payment and login information.

    Active911 Pay Setup Screen

    Note: If you do not pay for your subscription within a couple weeks, you will be in danger of having it deleted. In order to keep the database clean, users who have not subscribed are warned in a monthly e-mail message that accounts will be deleted by a date noted in the message.

Changing Your Mail Options for an Outlook Group

Have you joined (or been forcibly assigned to) an Outlook Group? By default, you may automatically be receiving any and all e-mail sent to the group address. However, you have some options and may limit how much of the mail you receive. Even if you choose not to receive any, it will always be available in the group inbox for you to see when you so choose.

Outlook Desktop Directions:

  • Open Outlook Desktop.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the inbox folder list and click once on the Outlook Group for which you need to change the mail options.
  • Note the change to the ribbon  at the top of the screen. One of the items should be Group Settings.
  • Click on the Group Settings button and note your options under the heading Follow in Inbox:
    Outlook Group E-Mail Settings
  • Choose No Email or Events if you do not want to receive any of the e-mail in your own inbox. Choose a different options as you see fit.

Outlook Web Directions:

  • Open Outlook Web.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the inbox folder list and click once on the Outlook Group for which you need to change the mail options.
  • Note the screen is now in three columns. In the middle column, you should see the name of the group. In the example below, the group name is _FRS_Defect_Pictures.
    Outlook Group OWA Screen 1
  • Click the ellipsis () found on the same row as Send email and choose Settings from the pop-up list.
  • Note the new panel that has appeared on the right side of the screen.
    Outlook Group OWA Settings
  • Choose No Email or Events if you do not want to receive any of the e-mail in your own inbox. Choose a different options as you see fit.
  • Click the X at the top of the Group Settings panel to close it (or just click elsewhere on the screen to close the panel).

Recording Early Leave before a Holiday (admin workers)

Scenario: Prior to a holiday, the fire chief announces that admin workers/civilian staff may leave early for the day. You are perplexed, though; how should you record this in MCtime?

The answer is pretty simple: Leave it as hours worked. If you were to use Admin Leave (a logical conclusion), you would be required to include a reason code and no such reason code exists.

So, per the FRS HR AC (12/06/2023), leave your time in MCtime as hours worked.

Setting up OneDrive for Network Scans

Do you have documents you need to scan, but you don’t want to send them one by one to your e-mail account? OneDrive will let you set things up so that you may scan on the big county copier/scanners and then send the files directly to your OneDrive account.

  • Open a browser and input the following URL in the address bar, but replace username with your county SSO username:
    https://mcgov-my.sharepoint.com/personal/username_montgomerycountymd_gov/_layouts/15/mngsiteadmin.aspx
  • Click in the box next to your name and type to search for svc-od4b_scan.
    OneDrive Setup for Scans
  • Click to select on the search result (svc-od4b_scan) and click the OK button.
  • Use the Ricoh to scan your document(s).

Logging into PSTrax (ALS Providers Only)

Assuming you are an ALS provider with MCFRS and you have rights to PSTrax, here is a set of instructions for logging into the system. If that still does not work, please submit a TSR. If it is an emergency and you need to log meds at the moment, please contact the FRS IT standby number (240.777.2233, option 1). Still, try the following procedure first:

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

If you are logging into PSTrax and are doing it from a computer on which you have already logged onto a Microsoft app (such as Outlook), you will only be prompted for your PSTrax login (which is your full e-mail address, using firstname.lastname@montgomerycountymd.gov).

PSTrax Login Screen

If you are logging into PSTrax and are doing it from a computer on which you have NOT logged into any Microsoft app (such as the ePCR or even a county desktop), then you will get three login screens. The first is the PSTrax login with your full firstname.lastname@montgomerycountymd.gov address, followed by the Microsoft login page, using your SSO@montgomerycountymd.gov address.

PSTrax Login Screen

PSTrax Login - Microsoft Login Screen

PSTrax Login Screen - MCG Login Screen

 

 

Announcing the New ePCR Computer: Panasonic FZ-G2

As you may have heard, MCFRS is replacing all of the Panasonic CF-20 ePCR machines with a new model, the FZ-G2. (This does not affect Elite or anything else you may run on the machine.) The replacement is occurring one battalion at a time over the summer and early fall of 2023. Here are some important notes:

Stability and Docking

  • The new machines are sturdier than the current CF-20s.
  • Docks have been outfitted with wings to help keep the ePCR from dropping to the ground. (Note: You will mount it vertically.)
  • The new machines are top-heavy, so you should use the handle as an outrigger to balance it and prevent it from falling backward.FZ-G2 ePCR Model

Networking

  • The machines are no longer stand-alone computers. The FZ-G2 will connect to the county public safety network using the same technology as the MDC (a program called NetMotion and protected by iBoss).

Keyboard

  • The connection between tablet and keyboard is manual (for a more reliable connection).
    • There is no auto-locking, so please follow the instructions on the keyboard base to avoid gravity-related problems.
    • The DC cover on the bottom-left side of the tablet must be closed prior to placing the tablet into the keyboard base. The tablet must be pressed firmly into the keyboard base while the locking mechanism is slid to the left.FZ-G2 Keys

USB

  • There is an easy-access USB port on the left side of the keyboard base for you to connect the Airtraq camera.
  • The port is protected by a sliding door.

PSTrax

  • Attention, ALS Providers: There is a shortcut for PSTrax on the desktop. As a reminder, you must have completed your training to use the system. (Training deadline is 08/01. See here for the training and please use your tech training login credentials.)PSTrax logo