WESTSIDE — Benton County Office of Emergency Communications is continuing to urge residents to take the time to sign up for Smart911 before an emergency comes.
Smart911 is a free national service offered by the state of Arkansas and the Benton County Office of Emergency Communications which allows residents to create a safety profile for their households which includes vital personal and medical information which may be needed by those responding in the event of an emergency.
Once a profile is created and information is entered, emergency 911 dispatchers would have access to the information when sending emergency personnel to a call. And, having that vital information could, in some cases, mean the difference between life and death, according to the Smart911 website.
Information entered is 100 percent safe and secure, according to the Smart911 website, though a terms of service agreement explains that, in the event of a 911 call, some information may be shared with responders through unsecured radio communications.
What is Smart911?
Smart911 allows citizens to enter information through a secure website that they want to make available to 911 operatorsin the event they call 911. When they call 911, the data automatically displays on the call takers work station and is also made available to police, fire and emergency medical services in the field, helping them respond more quickly and effectively.
Real world use cases
The Smart911 website provides the following examples of how the system could be ofvalue in emergency situations.
Missing child
With Smart911, the 911 operator can see a highquality photo of the missing child, issue an Amber Alert and forward the photo to field officers immediately after the call. A map of the child's last known location is included.
Confused or disabled caller
With Smart911, the 911 operator can view the medical profile of a confused or disabled caller. If an Alzheimer's sufferer cannot remember his/ her home address or an Asthma sufferer is unable to speak, the 911 center willstill be able to effectively dispatch help.
Deaf or hard-of-hearing caller
Over 20 million Americans are hard-of-hearing. For these people and anyone else who may have trouble communicating with a 911 dispatcher over the phone, Smart911 offers an innovative way to both preload data and communicate via SMS.
Allergies/Severe Allergies
With Smart911, anytime you dial 911, the operator will see your name, allergy and current location onscreen. Even if you're unable to speak, EMS will be dispatched to your location with an EpiPen in hand.
For more information on the free service, or to create a safety profile, go to www.smart911.com.
News, Pages 1 on 08/08/2012