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Smart911 is a national safety database that provides enhanced public safety services to all citizens. This system allows residents to create a free Safety Profile for their household that includes information they want 911 to have in the event of an emergency. Then, when a resident dials 911, their profile is immediately displayed to call takers, possibly allowing for a better understanding of the caller and their emergency.
Any additional information that first responders can access before they enter a home during an emergency can be a life saver, New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said.
“What citizens may not realize is that we usually have limited information when responding to an emergency call,” Krolikowski said. “If a resident is unable to speak, or oftentimes, too emotional to remember, even the simplest of critical details, a Safety Profile provides that information. For example, a photo of a child can give police a timely advantage in the event of a missing child.”
When the 911 call comes into the department, another screen will pop up on the computer with the Smart911 information provided by the individual, Krolikowski said.
"Another screen will come up and give us more information on whatever health conditions there are at the house and any information you want to share with us," he said.
He said it's another tool for first responders to better respond to emergencies.
"It's critical information for us to have before we arrive," he said.
The New Canaan Emergency Communications Center (NCCC) answers all 911 calls for New Canaan’s Emergency Services. It's located at Police Headquarters and is staffed around the clock by police dispatchers. Annually, NCCC answers thousands of emergency 911 calls.
“We are excited to offer this lifesaving service to our community,” said First Selectman Robert E. Mallozzi III. “Allowing our citizens to provide vital details to first responders prior to an emergency, enables us to reduce our response times, and ultimately, save lives.”
A Safety Profile is created by logging on to www.smart911.com. It can include all family members and photos, information on medical conditions and disabilities, home and vehicle details and even pets. The information contained in a Safety Profile can be relayed to response teams in the field, enabling them to have a better understanding of the situation.
Smart911 is a nationwide service that is private, secure and locally funded. With service activated in 23 states and over 300 municipalities, anytime a citizen dials 911 and their call is answered by a local Smart911 supported center, their profile will be available.
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