---

Video

---

Step-by-Step

Best Practices

Do's:

• Use clear, descriptive names that immediately identify the group's purpose (e.g., "A Shift", "Station 2 Crew", "Hazmat Team", "Command Staff")
• Create chat groups that align with your department's organizational structure
• Review and update chat group membership regularly, especially after personnel changes
• Create chat groups for both operational needs (shifts, stations, teams) and functional needs (training, command, specialized operations)
• Consider creating temporary chat groups for special events, large-scale incidents, or training exercises
• Ensure all relevant personnel are included in essential chat groups to maintain effective communication
• Document the purpose of each chat group for reference when managing membership

Don'ts:

• Don't create duplicate chat groups with overlapping membership and purposes
• Don't leave inactive personnel in chat groups after they transfer, retire, or change assignments
• Don't use overly generic names that don't clearly indicate the group's purpose
• Don't restrict chat group access so narrowly that critical personnel are excluded
• Don't create excessive chat groups that fragment communications unnecessarily
• Don't forget to delete obsolete chat groups that are no longer in use

Tips & Recommendations:

• Coordinate with shift commanders and unit officers when creating chat groups to ensure proper membership
• Consider creating a standardized naming convention for chat groups (e.g., prefix with "SHIFT:", "STATION:", "TEAM:")
• Balance the number of chat groups to avoid overwhelming users with too many channels while ensuring targeted communications
• Use chat groups strategically for time-sensitive operational communications separate from general announcements
• Periodically audit chat groups to remove inactive members and consolidate underutilized groups
• Train personnel on which chat groups to use for specific types of communications
• Consider creating incident-specific temporary chat groups for major operations that can be deleted after the incident concludes

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Can users be members of multiple chat groups?
A: Yes, users can be assigned to multiple chat groups simultaneously and will see all their assigned groups when accessing the chat feature in both Web Responder and the mobile app.

Q: What happens if I don't limit users when creating a chat group?
A: If you don't select the "Limit Users" checkbox, the system behavior depends on your department's configuration. It's recommended to always specify which users should have access to each chat group to maintain organized communications.

Q: Can users who aren't in a chat group see the group's name or messages?
A: No, users will only see chat groups they are members of. If they are not added to a chat group, they will not see it in their chat group list and cannot access its conversations.

Q: How do I add new personnel to an existing chat group?
A: Navigate to the Chat Groups section, locate the group in the list, click the pencil icon in the Actions column, and then add the new users following the same process used when creating the group. Click Save when complete.

Q: What happens to chat history if I delete a chat group?
A: Consult with First Due support regarding data retention policies for deleted chat groups. It's recommended to archive or export important communications before deleting a chat group if historical records are needed.

Q: Can I rename a chat group after it's been created?
A: Yes, you can edit the chat group by clicking the pencil icon in the Actions column and changing the name. The change will be reflected immediately for all group members.