User Resources

Monitoring Incidents

Web Dispatchers can monitor Active Incidents in two main places:

  1. The Dashboard, via:
  2. The Incident Details page

Dashboard Monitoring

Responder Icons on the Map

Responders using the Beacon mobile app who have given the app access to their location will appear on the dashboard map.

To monitor their progress:

  1. Click on the Responder Icon in the Responders Tab and the map will center its focus on their location
  2. Click on their Map Icon and a pop-up will appear, detailing:
    • Their name
    • Their phone number
    • The ID number of the Incident they are assigned to, and
    • Their current status

Desktop Notifications

Beacon displays Desktop Notifications to Dispatchers any time an event of interest happens during an Incident. Every time a new one is sent, it will appear in the Desktop Notifications Tab and will be accompanied by an audible alarm.

There are two types of Desktop Notifications:

  1. Alerts (in red), which are generally problems that require assistance from Dispatchers, and
  2. Updates (in blue), which typically do not require assistance from the Dispatcher, but are important for them to know as the incident progresses.

Shown here are all the different Desktop Notifications

Responders Tab

The Responders Tab shows all Available and Assigned Responders.

Assigned Responders appear in  Red , Yellow or Blue based on the Incident Dispatch Mode and their card provides the following information:

  1. Incident Number
  2. Responder Attributes
  3. Current Status through the Dispatch Controller when expanding the card

Incidents Tab

The Incidents Tab contains Incident Summary Cards for all active incidents. Click the ▼ to expand the Incident Summary Card and display all of the active incidents information, including a list of all responders assigned to this specific incident.

To add a Responder to an Active Incident click on the Responders menu. An overlay will appear where you can select specific Responders to assign to the Incident.

Incident Details Page

The first section of the Incident Details page provides a summary of the information that was included when the incident was initially created, as well as additional information collected from responders and dispatchers during the incident, including:

  • Incident Location as it was selected and/or entered by the Dispatcher, as well as GPS and What3Words coordinates
  • Comments recorded and saved by the Dispatcher
  • Incident Data entered by the Dispatcher when the incident was created
  • Response Info:
    • Zone/Groups (if selected by the Dispatcher)
    • Incident Commander (if confirmed)
    • Completion Status
    • Patients transported (if any)
  • Responder Notes (when submitted by Responders via SMS)
  • Incident Chat (only records chat messages sent in the Incident Chat Group)

Message Log

1. Message Log

  • Broadcast Alerts
    • Total Broadcast Alerts Sent — Total number of alerts sent to Available Responders
    • On-Time Replies — Number of replies received from Responders within Confirmation Windows 1 and 2
    • Late Replies — Number of replies from Responders received after Confirmation Window 2 closes
    • No Replies — Number of Available Responders received the alert but did not reply to it
  • Assignment
    • Total Assigned — All Responders assigned to the incident, whether self-assigned or assigned by a Dispatcher
    • Self-Assigned — Number of Responders that were assigned to the incident after replying to the alert with their ETA
    • Assigned by Dispatcher — Number of Responders that were assigned to the incident by a Dispatcher
  • Assigned Resources — Lists the specific Responders that were assigned to the incident
  • Incident Intervals — The length of time that each interval lasted

2. Message Simulator

The Message Log also includes a play-by-play of all messages sent between Beacon and Responders that were involved in the incident.

It’s also possible on the Incident Details page for Dispatchers to manage the progress of Responders through the workflows by using the Simulate Message field to send messages to Beacon on their behalf. All that is required is to enter the number that correctly replies to the last Beacon message sent ( in blue ) and clicking “Send“. Beacon will reply as if it was actually the Responder that sent the message ( in gray ).

Responder Attributes

Responder Attributes can also be added through the incident details page.
For example, if a Dispatcher forgot to update the Crew Members working on a Response Unit during a particular shift, the Dispatcher can edit the Attributes to reflect the correct Crew Members within the Incident and Summary Reports.
To add Attributes to a responder, from the Incident Details page:

  1. Navigate into the specific Incident Details Page you would want to add attributes for a responder  (not shown in image)
  2. Scroll to the Message Log section and find the desired responder 
  3. Click the Edit icon to the right on the responder name tab 
  4. Edits can be made and saved on the pop up dialog

** Additional Notes :

  • Responder Attributes are saved in the Incident and Summary Reports
  • Responder Attributes added through Incident Details page will only pertain to that specific incident and will not affect any other Attributes added from the Dashboard through the Responders Panel

Incident Alert Delivery & Read Receipts


Broadcast Incident Alerts will now be tracked by the Beacon servers to record Delivery and Read Receipts in the incident message logs so that Web Users can see when Responders received and read Incident Alerts. (Including Broadcast Alerts and Direct Assignments)

Editing Timestamps (ᵐ)

This is only available for managers

A new feature is now available within Beacon, empowering managers with the capability to edit timestamps on incident workflow messages replies by mobile app users. This enhancement ensures accurate records and helps resolve discrepancies in timing across responses.

To Update a Timestamp with Precision:

  1. On the Incident Details page, navigate to the responder workflow simulator
  2. Locate the responder messages that needs editing and click on the edit icon next to the timestamp
  3. A pop-up window will appear, allowing you to modify the date and/or time as necessary. 
  4. Once the changes have been made, click “Save” 
  5. Notice the corresponding user message will be automatically updated
  6. The following message sent by Beacon will automatically update as well


** Additional Notes:

  • Only Web Managers or Admin can update Timestamps
  • Timestamps are not editable until the incident is closed
  • The updated timestamp (5) can’t be earlier than the preceding Beacon message (A)
  • The updated timestamp (5) can’t be later than the following user reply (B)
  • Timestamp updates will be reflected in the Incident and in the Summary Reports
  • Timestamp updates will be recorded in the Incident Report with the following information (C):
    • Name/Phone # of Responder whose message Timestamp is updated
    • Message Label
    • Original Date & Timestamp
    • Name of Web User that made the edit
    • Date/Time when the edit was made

Revise the Reporting section to learn more how to generate and download Incident and Summary reports.

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