What is Smart911 All About?
When you call 9-1-1, the Smart911 data automatically displays on the call takers workstation and is made available to police, fire and EMS in the field, helping them respond more quickly and effectively. Smart911 can help protect you, your loved ones, and other members of your household. By storing your critical care and emergency rescue information with Smart911 during a calm moment, you can take the time to ensure that the information is correct and accurate and exactly what you would like to be communicated to emergency response teams in an emergency.
One of the things we fail to think about is the fact that when a person is dialing 9-1-1, it can be a very chaotic and emotional situation and there could be a lot of panic involved. Here are some examples of how Smart911 can respond quickly if the dispatch office has information on file:
1. Missing Child and Silver Alert: With Smart911, the operator can see a high quality photo (which you have given them ahead of time) of the missing child or senior adult, issue an Alert and forward the photo to field officers immediately. A map of the person’s last known location is included.
2. Confused or Disabled Caller: With Smart911 the operator can view the medical profile on the computer screen. If an Alzheimer’s sufferer cannot remember his/her home address or an Asthma sufferer is unable to speak, the 9-1-1 center will still be able to effectively dispatch help.
3. Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Caller: For these people and anyone else who may have trouble communicating with a 9-1-1 dispatcher over the phone, Smart911 offers an innovative way to both preload data and communicate via SMS (message by cell phone).
4. Severe Allergies: With Smart911, anytime you dial 9-1-1, the operator will see your name, allergy, and current location on-screen. Even if you’re unable to speak, EMS will be dispatched to your location with an EpiPen in hand.
This is the critical information needed to send help to you immediately:
Name, Location, Children, Pets, Medications, Special Needs, Allergies, Vehicle Information. You may wonder why pet information is needed. Did you know that pets are not allowed in an emergency shelter? By knowing the number of animals that may require emergency sheltering, emergency management can be better prepared to accommodate your pets. Vehicle information is helpful if you’ve made the call from your cell phone, but are unable to talk or become confused.
You may register for Smart911 online. You may change, add or remove information whenever you choose to do so and it is your responsibility to keep the information and pictures up-to-date. You may make changes as often as you like, without charge. Your information remains in Smart911 for six months after your last login. After that time, (if there is no response to their reminders), it is suspended and information will not be delivered to 9-1-1.
Your information is private and secure and your email address is not sold to any person or company. Smart911 is funded by participating 9-1-1 centers, not through any form of marketing.
Although Smart911 is a nationwide service, it may not be available in every municipality yet (it IS available in the Fairfield Bay area). Officials report that Smart 911 has been adopted in 38 states and over 1,000 cities/ communities. When you travel, the Smart911 service will be available in participating municipalities only, but hopefully, soon every municipality will deploy this technology.