Welcome to the IamResponding System!
As an account admin there are permissions and functions under your control which set the pace for how your department members will first experience IamResponding. We do initially want to set up some System Settings that all users will experience as they login. We also want to add your members to the roster in a way that will be most advantageous for them. As individuals, we want them to effectively learn the system and it's features.
Learning System-wide Settings
First Login as an account admin...Let's jump in.
When you first login, you will see the IaR Website Dashboard. The Website Dashboard is 95% User Login specific. This means that changes you make to your own dashboard will only be seen by you. The other 5% is a System Setting (for all users) that you can adjust.
Agency Logo
Your agency's logo is located in the upper Left of the IaR Website Dashboard. As an Admin you can upload your agency's patch/crest/mascot. Doing this will help your members feel at home when they first login.
Go to the 3-Lines in the upper Left, and select Administrative Functions.
Hover over the System Settings button on the Left. (Any of the changes here affect all members the same = System Settings)
Under the System Settings, go to Manage Subscriber Logo.
Automated System Settings
In this section of the Administrative Functions, under System Settings you will see many other agency-wide system functions.
You will inevitably come back to this section in the future and fine-tune some options.
For now, let's first look at the Automatic Clear Screen, and the Automatic Toggle View. These two options allow you to control how often/when your IaR Website dashboard refreshes and switches display views.
- Automatic Clear Screen - When your members respond to an incident; how long after their ETA do you want their names to auto-clear off the Now Responding display?
- Automatic Toggle View - Your IaR Website Dashboard has an Non-Emergency mode, and an Emergency mode (we will look at that next). This setting controls when, and for how long the Dashboard switches between the two.
Customizing the IamResponding Website Dashboard
The bulk of dashboard customization is user login specific. Only the user themselves will be able to enjoy the customization that they create. While you are likely the first person in your agency to login, this is a perfect time to explore how the Website Dashboard works. Configuring the above automations, and spending some time seeing how they work when you respond to an incident, and when a dispatch comes through our system.
This video will help you to see how the Custom Display can be modified, and you can make it your own.
Website Customizable Display-Training Video
After you have learned how the customization works, you will want to create your agency's first member. A 'generic login'* that you will use on your station display. This login is meant to have zero permissions, or additional settings on it's profile. The purpose of this user, is just to display IaR on your station computer(s).
The only fields you need to include on this profile are the First Name, Last Name, Username, Password and Email Address. We often suggest that you use your own email address on this 'generic login' profile.
*You don't ever want to leave a personal account logged in, and unattended. Your members could get into the site and start changing settings/profiles, and system would log that changes were being made by the incorrect individual.
- Using the 'generic login', you can customize the Non-Emergency Screen so that it is fun and informative for your department. Include things that are non-emergent, like images, the events calendar, the weather. This is what your members and perhaps the public will see when viewing your station display screen, when there is no incident taking place.
- You can customize the Emergency Screen so that when an incident takes place (using the automated trigger you set up), the Dashboard will switch to the Emergency Screen. You want to include 'operational' items, like who is Responding, Maps, Incident Data.
- The Emergency Screen is for the beginning of your incident response, so that your responding members will be fully informed about the current incident.
- The Emergency Screen doesn't need to stay visible until the incident is completed. Typically it should display only long enough that your first (and perhaps second) wave of responders can see the incident details. Typically 15-30 minutes is plenty of time. Then the automation will set the Dashboard back to the Non-Emergency Screen to wait for the next incident.
Where are we at?
At this point you are a member of the system, and you also have a 'generic login' to use on your station computer.
- The station display is just the IamResponding Website.
- We suggest a Windows 10+ computer, running the most current version of Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.
- We suggest a Raspberry Pi 3-4 with their most up to date versions of the RasPi OS available on those devices.
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Monitors? - We get asked about monitors all the time. Should you get a TV or a Computer monitor?
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- How far away will the viewer be?
- 1-6 feet, is a great for a computer monitor
- 6+ feet, is great for a TV monitor
- How big do you want it to be?
- Bigger isn't always better. You want clarity, and viewability.
- How far away will the viewer be?
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Get your 'generic login' up and displayed for your members to see and start asking questions. At this point (if the CAD Text Incidents are functional) your screen can/should switch to and from the Emergency Screen to provide vital call information.
Start Adding your Members to the Roster
As you start thinking about adding members, consider what functions of IaR you want them to have access to. Each individual members profile comes with it's own permissions list at the bottom. You can grant full (Master) permissions to some of your fellow members based on who is going to help you administer IaR, supporting you, your members and the functionality of the IaR System. Don't give Master Permissions to users based on their rank, if they won't be helping you with IaR. You want to make sure that the Master users have the knowledge needed and an interest in using the permissions you give them.
- We do suggest that each agency have 2+ Master Admins. In the event that someone leaves, is on vacation or is otherwise unavailable, your members will have additional persons to go to for help.
- Sometimes the best Master Admins are non-rank members of your agency, who you trust, and have an interest in getting all that they can out of the IaR System for your agency. IamResponding isn't computer 'programming', but having confidence navigating a computer/website is most helpful.
In this video Amanda, explaining how to add members individually, in bulk, adding Custom Fields, managing Permissions, and more.
Adding/Managing Members - Days of Learning/Virtual Training Event
- As you add/import your members, they will receive emails telling them that they have been added to the IamResponding System. Their email will provide them with their initial login credentials and steps that they can follow to login, complete their profile and start using IamResponding.
- Perhaps adding members hours before, or just after a company meeting would be helpful. Explain to your members what will be happing, and what expectations you have of them (download the IaR App, Login, explore). Their individual permission levels will prevent anyone from causing much harm.
- Have a designated period of time (1-3 days) where you want them to go-wild. Respond, Schedule Shifts, send Internal Messages. All use is acceptable for these few days. You can run reports to see who responded, scheduled shifts, sent messages. This is also a good way to see who from your agency, may be a good pick as another Master Admin. Who is trying to 'figure it out'?
Start Adding System Content
Map Markers/Hydrants/Scheduled Events/Custom Profile Fields/Agency Resources
Your members can respond, and perform most emergent tasks when an incident takes place, but it's up to you (and other Admins) to help your members see what the IaR system offers. How does this platform help them?
- Start by adding some basic non-hydrant markers in your area. (your Stations, Schools, Hospitals, AED locations, Helicopter LZs, Boat Launches). Common places that are quick and easy to add.
- Your next level of non-hydrant markers can be some of the less common places on your area, (Hazards, General Warnings, Bridge Height Restrictions, Railroad Crossings)
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Hydrants- Let's get into it!
- You (anyone with permission) can add hydrants 1-by-1 through the IaR Website or App.
- You can add hydrants in bulk. Up to 1,000 at a time, in just a few minutes.
- You (anyone with permission) can add hydrants 1-by-1 through the IaR Website or App.
- PrePlan & Geofence map markers are how IamResponding provides you with the ability to add response documentation to your maps. These documents can be anything that you want to include (images, active shooter info, site/location maps, instructions)
- PrePlan marker is great for a single structure/small location.
- Geofence is great for a large geographic area. (airport, campus, corporate/industrial area, natural parks, recreation areas) Anyplace where there could be multiple points of entry to the area would be good for a Geofence, ensuring that your responders have access to critical response details.
Adding content to your IaR System will take a few days, or longer. Don't feel rushed. Start with the most important or most common items so that you and your team will encounter the content sooner than later during your initial days/weeks as an IamResponding agency.
There will be questions that you have as you go. Contact our Training Team or our Support Team for questions.
Do you have a fun tip, or a suggestion of something to add to this article?
Email us at: Support@EmergencySMC.com, Subject Line: Attention to Steve, ZD-Article