James G. Hicks, Chief of Police
20 East Central St.
Natick, MA 01760
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Smart911 Now Available in Natick
Residents and Travelers Encouraged to Create Safety Profile to be Better Prepared for Emergencies
NATICK — Chief James G. Hicks and the Natick Police Department are pleased to announce that a 911 enhancement called Smart911 is now available to all Natick residents and visitors.
Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide vital information to 911 call takers during an emergency. The Smart911 platform provides valuable new tools, and the information listed in safety profiles enables a faster more informed response.
“Smart911 has saved time and lives across the country,” Chief Hicks said. “The additional information in the safety profiles can provide 911 centers and first responders with lifesaving details. If we are responding to a house fire, or someone stranded on the road, those details can help us respond faster and more efficiently.”
Smart911 allows residents and travelers to create a safety profile at www.smart911.com for their whole household that includes any information they might want 911 and first responders to have in the event of an emergency, such as allergy information or pre-existing medical conditions. When a citizen dials 911, their safety profile is automatically displayed to the 911 call taker, allowing us to send the appropriate responders to the right location with accurate information.
“911 calls made from a cell phone do not provide us with a location of the caller. The additional information provided through Smart911 on a call from a cell phone can provide call takers with addresses,” said Chief Hicks.
With Smart911, citizens can link both home and work addresses to mobile phones, which can be passed on to responders in the field for more a detailed and rapid response. Additional information including pets in the home, vehicle details in the event of an accident, and even emergency contacts can all be included in a user’s safety profile. All information is optional and the citizen has the ability to choose what details they would like to include.
Smart911 is currently available in 40 states and more than 1,500 municipalities across the country. It has been credited with positively impacting emergency outcomes, including a severe heart attack victim where an address and medical notes allowed responders to be dispatched to his location quickly. In another incident when a child went missing, a current photo and physical description were immediately available and police found the child in less than 15 minutes.
Citizens are encouraged to create their safety profile with Smart911 today to have their information immediately available to 911 and to receive emergency notifications. Smart911 is private and secure, is only used for emergency responses, and only made available to the 911 system in the event of an emergency call.
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