The few times I’ve called 911, usually from my cellphone, I’ve been met with the usual 20 questions:

• What’s the nature of the emergency?
• What’s your telephone number?
• Where are you?

After explaining that someone’s getting the ass kicked out of him, the 911 operator transfers me to police dispatch. There, the person asks me a few questions, like:

• What’s the nature of the emergency?
• What’s your telephone number?
• Where are you?

Every time I do this, I’m shocked that the most important communications system we have, where time can literally mean life or death, is so inefficiently run that it requires me to spend vital seconds repeating all the information twice. I wonder why that information isn’t automatically shared, or if it’s not, why doesn’t the 911 operator transfer me quickly and skip the questions altogether?

Today comes word that the police department is upgrading its systems so 911 and police share information automatically. The move will shave 50 seconds on average from every 911 call requiring police intervention.

50 seconds.

The fire department will be upgraded next year. Urgences Santé already works on the new system.