It will be replaced by Smart911, a service that allows users to create a “safety profile” for their homes that provides 911 dispatchers information that can be critical in an emergency. The service works on land lines and cellphones.
Through the service, fire departments can know how many people live in a home, and where the home’s bedrooms are located, Sheriff Mike Nielsen said in a news release. Emergency medical personnel can know of a patient’s allergies or specific medical conditions. Photos of missing children or adults will be available in seconds, rather than minutes or hours. Responders can also be told of people who need help exiting a home or who rely on power for medical equipment.
As well as the safety profile, Smart911 users may register for emergency alerts about extreme weather, traffic accidents, or community announcements. Smart911 is used by more than 31 million Americans, the company claims on its website.
“Smart911 will allow both 911 call takers and emergency responders to have more detailed information about a citizen in need, leading to faster response times and ultimately more lives saved,” Nielsen said. The BCSO uses the most innovative technology available to maintain the highest-possible level of safety for county residents, he said.
In December, Chuck Mastalksi, a 911 dispatcher in Boone County, Mo., earned a “SmartSave” award after saving the life of a man obviously in distress and unable to breathe. “In this case, the details that were necessary to facilitate a response were immediately available through Smart911, without the caller having to say a word,” Mastalski said in a news release.
Ensuring a smooth transition will required that Nixle users set up a Smart911 safety profile.
Current Nixle users will need to go to www.smart911.com and create a safety profile to receive messages, Nielsen said. Creating the profile will notify the user of all services available to them, and allow them to choose the way in which they would like to receive messages.
After March 1, notifications will be dispersed via the Smart911 platform.
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