(Yaphank, NY-June 18, 2013) Today, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Fire Rescue Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Joe Williams were joined by Suffolk County Legislators, Fire Chiefs and advocacy groups to announce the implementation of Smart911 to enhance 9-1-1 services offered by the County.
Smart911, a product of Rave Mobile Safety, allows residents to create a Safety Profile for their household that includes any information they want emergency responders to have in the event of an emergency. When a resident makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. Responders can now be aware of many critical details they may not have known previously. Fire crews can arrive at a house fire knowing how many people live in the home and the location of bedrooms and EMS can be advised of allergies or specific medical conditions.
“For minimal cost, Suffolk County has implemented a new public safety initiative which assists residents in providing pertinent information to emergency responders that can help to save lives and reduce response times,” said County Executive Bellone. “When you create your Safety Profile, you choose what information to include and what details are important to share with responders. Every household has different needs, and Smart911 allows you to customize your Profile to your household. It is important to note that your Safety Profile is 100% private and secure, and only available to 9-1-1 when you place an emergency call.”
“When the FRES receives a 9-1-1 call, we have limited information accessible to the Operator,” said FRES Commissioner Joe Williams. “Having access to additional information the resident provides will allow emergency responders to better understand and assess the situation which is a benefit to both the resident and the call-taker.”
Nationally, about 70 percent of calls to 9-1-1 are made from mobile phones, which provide limited location information. Including an exact address in a Smart911 Safety Profile can save time during a response, especially if that address is located in a multi-unit building or development. Information from a Safety Profile can also be passed on to responders in the field for more precise, rapid response.
“There has always existed a concern for our residents with special needs in the event of an emergency,” said Legislator Kate Browning. “A little boy in my district with autism had a fascination with police officers and their guns, which led me to hold a training program for our emergency responders. Smart911 builds upon those efforts and is a vital aid to our emergency responders. It is a common sense approach that better prepares Suffolk County to respond to our residents whether they have special needs or not.”
“This is an exciting technological tool to assist our Emergency Services personnel in protecting and serving our residents during what may be life and death situations when every second counts,” stated Legislator Kara Hahn. “Every bit of intelligence that can inform our first responders and help them prepare for the emergency situation they face will help to save lives.”
Smart911 is currently available in 31 states and more than 350 municipalities. It has been credited with positively impacting emergency situations across the U.S., including a missing child case in Arkansas, and saving lives, such as a heart attack victim in Nashville, TN.
“The opportunity to provide very detailed information for first responders can make all the difference between life and death in emergency situations involving individuals with autism,” stated Christie Godowski, Executive Director Long Island-Autism Speaks. “Autism Speaks Long Island fully supports the new SMART 9-1-1- system in Suffolk County and encourages all families with a child or adult affected by autism to visit smart911.com and register their family immediately.”
“We encourage residents to create their Smart911 Safety Profile today at www.smart911.com to have their information immediately available to Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services operators,” stated Bellone. “Taking a few minutes now to provide pertinent information regarding your household and family can help to reduce response times and save lives.”
About Rave Mobile Safety
Rave Mobile Safety is the most trusted software partner for campus and public safety. Used by leading institutes of higher education and state and local agencies, the award-winning portfolio of Rave SafeCampus, Rave Alert, Rave Guardian, Eyewitness, Smart911 and SmartPrepare enables millions to feel safe, secure and connected. Rave Mobile Safety is headquartered in Framingham, MA. For more information, please visit http://www.ravemobilesafety.com
Pictured left to right (Christie Godowski, Executive Director of Long Island Autism Speaks, Legislator Kate Browning, Legislator Kara Hahn, Chief Ed Tully, Chief Chip Bancroft, County Executive Bellone, Chief Jay Egan, FRES Commissioner Joe Williams, Ed Schneyer, FRES Director of Emergency Preparedness)
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