Concord Launches Smart911 System

CONCORD, CA — A smarter 911 system is now available to residents and travelers in Concord, police said today. Smart911 is free and provides emergency responders with more information in an emergency than the typical 911 system.

Individuals and families can sign up at www.smart911.com and provide information in a safety profile that will be available to emergency dispatchers, enabling them to send help more quickly and provide a more
specific response.

"Smart911 saves critical time in an emergency and has proven to save lives," Margaret Romiti, Concord's volunteer and emergency services manager, said in a statement. "The additional information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables emergency personnel to know exactly where they are going and who they are looking for in the case of an emergency," Romiti said.

Individuals and families can provide only the information they want 911 and response teams to have.

When someone makes a call to 911, the individual or family's profile is displayed to the dispatcher so they can send the right responders to the right location.

About 3,100 jurisdictions in 44 states around the country use Smart911 and residents can take their safety profile with them when they travel. In the Bay Area, San Ramon and Brentwood use the system.

Residents can also link both home and work addresses to their mobile phone, which can be passed on to first responders in the field for a faster and more detailed response.

Pets in the home, special medical needs, details of vehicles the family drives and even emergency contacts can be included in the safety profile.

Romiti said the safety profile can ensure that families get help fast because cellphones don't always identify a person's exact location, and a weak signal or a dropped call make an emergency response even more difficult.

By Bay City News Service

Main image via YouTube/Rave Mobile Safety