Smart911 – Ever heard of it?

If you never heard of Smart911, it’s time I tell you about it and how beneficial the program is.  Smart911 is a free service that Sandy Springs subscribes to, that allows citizens across the U.S. to create a Safety Profile for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 to have in the event of an emergency. Then, when anyone in that household dials 9-1-1 from a phone associated with their Safety Profile, their profile is immediately displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker providing additional information that can be used to facilitate the proper response to the proper location. At a time when seconds count, being about to provide 9-1-1 with all details that could impact response the second an emergency call is placed could be the difference between life and death.

Smart911 allows citizens to provide the additional details that 9-1-1 call takers may need in order to assist them during an emergency. When you dial 9-1-1 today the information received by the 9-1-1 call center can be limited based on the type of phone you are calling on. With Smart911, anytime you make an emergency call from a phone registered with your Safety Profile, the 9-1-1 system recognizes your phone number and automatically displays your profile on the screen of the call taker who receives your call.

At a time when you may be panicked, or unable to communicate, or it could be unsafe to communicate, Smart911 ensures that the details you would need to tell 9-1-1 are immediately available in the event you cannot verbally provide them.

Smart911 is available in hundreds of communities across the U.S. with our coverage area growing every month. To see if Smart911 is currently available in your local 9-1-1 center, check out Smart911.com

Smart911 is a national service and anytime you dial 9-1-1 across the country and your call is answered by a 9-1-1 center offering Smart911 your profile will be available. Even if Smart911 is not currently available in your residential zip code public safety officials urge you to create a Safety Profile. Once created, if you work, visit or travel through any area with Smart911 your profile can offer valuable details to assist you during an emergency.

So sign up for free at www.smart911.com.

Officer Larry Jacobs is the Crime Prevention Officer for the Sandy Springs Police Department.  He can be reached directly at ljacobs@sandyspringsga.gov.