‘Students will be ready for any test’
August 5, 2014
‘Field of Dreams’ inching closer to reality
August 5, 2014
Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes adopted a new police dispatch system called Smart911, which allows citizens to create profiles for free with vital information in the event of an emergency.
The profile is designed to provide police with a homeowner’s medical history or any other information they will need when responding to emergencies. Profiles are matched to the telephone number, notifying police who is calling and any pre-existing concerns, which can aid to a quicker and safer response.
“In the event you have a medical condition and have created a Smart911 profile, it could help emergency responders save your life, especially if you become unconscious after the call,” Lafourche Parish Communications District Coordinator Katie Zeringue said.
Smart911 is not a public entity so any information in a person’s profile remains private. It is only made available to 9-1-1 dispatch and first-responders. In order for police dispatchers to receive someone’s information, the caller must use a device registered with their Smart911 profile.
Because many people opt only to use mobile phones, parish officials felt it was necessary to find a new means to better respond to emergencies. Information gleaned from Smart911 profiles, authorities said, can only benefit response teams.
“The big reason is because more and more people have mobile devices instead of landline phones, and the system gives us information we need to know in advance such as medical conditions, emergency contacts, allergies or what anyone wants to share in case of an emergency,” Zeringue said.
Unlike landlines, mobile devices do not provide the location of the call, so Smart911 will help pinpoint geographically where the call is being made.
The Smart911 profile includes several different categories of information.
The “People” section could be used to add family members to your profile including children, parents or other relatives. The sections can include birth dates, photos, physical descriptions, behaviors and spoken languages. The section also has a place for medical conditions or disabilities to be listed so first-responders know what medicines and what equipment they may need at the scene.
Landline and mobile devices can be linked to a profile, which will ensure a general location of the call when calling from a mobile device. This can ensure police of a person’s location if they are unable to communicate via phone.
In addition to descriptions surrounding where the owner of the profiles house is located, the section also has space for utility information such as where the electricity or gas can be shut down.
The vehicle section is used to track an automobile in the event of theft, accident or anything that happens involving the vehicle. Make, model, color and license plate number can be provided.
A section for animals is used to list any pets the person may have. The section has two sub-categories. The first is to list breed and attach a photo, which is used to describe the pet and also give a visual to responders. The second is vet and microchip information, which can help aid the safety of the pet.
A section for emergency contacts is used to provide information for people that can be called or emailed in the event of an emergency. Providing the relationship to the person is also an option.
Thibodaux Police spokesman Cpl. David Melancon believes the more information given, the better the system works.
“Obviously in law enforcement, information is key. I remember my first day in narcotics when I was told that ‘you are only as good as the information you are gathering on the street.’ That is the case for any division in law enforcement,” Melancon said. “We document things, we collect information and that is how we investigate. The system allows us to get access to vital information to save the life of someone. We are able to get critical resources in a timely manner.”
Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes are among the first in Louisiana to adopt Smart911, but Zeringue says it is only a matter of time before the program grows.
“Within a year or so, most will probably have the Smart911 system, at least in the bigger parishes,” she said.
To set up a Smart911 profile, visit www.smart911.com and follow the steps provided.
Smart911 profiles, such as the one pictured, have been credited with saving lives. Smart911 is available in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
