Alexandria, VA – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has filed a Project Initiation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to revise three critical industry standards:
APCO/NENA American National Standard (ANS) Advanced Automatic Collision Notification (AACN) Vehicle Emergency Data Set (VEDS). This joint working group will revise the existing standard that defines a common dataset using XML and NIEM open standards to enable efficient emergency response to vehicular crashes. The revised standard will update critical crash and medical data elements, including predictive indicators of severe injury likelihood, to support first responders and the patient-care chain of survival. The revision will address ongoing challenges where telematics service providers lack a standardized format for delivering AACN data to emergency communications centers (ECCs), creating inefficiencies in emergency response.
Once established, this working group will meet virtually twice a month — on the first and third Mondays at 1 p.m. ET — for 50 minutes each.
APCO American National Standard (ANS) Key Performance Indicators for Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Personnel. This working group will revise the existing standard that ECC management with measurable key performance indicators related to personnel performance, accuracy and information quality. The revision will update and enhance guidance to help agencies benchmark individual effectiveness and identify specific areas for performance measurement in public safety communications.
This working group will meet virtually twice a month — on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 2 p.m. ET — for 50 minutes each.
APCO American National Standard (ANS) Public Safety Telecommunicator Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Program. This working group will revise the existing standard addressing the mental health and well-being of public safety telecommunicators who handle life-and-death emergencies through multiple media channels. The revision will provide updated requirements for critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) programs specifically designed to identify and assist telecommunicators experiencing stress responses that can lead to PTSD or unhealthy coping strategies.
This working group will meet virtually twice a month—on the first and third Mondays at 2 p.m. ET—for 50 minutes each.
“These standard revisions address some of the most pressing needs in modern emergency response,” said Jack Varnado, president of APCO International. “The AACN revision will enhance our ability to receive and act on critical crash data, potentially saving lives through faster, more informed response. The updated KPI standard provides our agencies with refined tools to measure and improve personnel effectiveness. Perhaps most importantly, the revised CISD standard reinforces our commitment to the mental health and well-being of the telecommunicators who serve on the front lines of public safety every day.”
To apply, complete the online application. Participants in an APCO standards working group will earn points toward their Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) recertification and receive recognition for their contributions to the final published standard.
The deadline to sign up is January 31, 2026. Selections will be made within two weeks of the closing date, and all will be notified of their status via email. For more information contact [email protected] or visit our website.
APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
