Smart911 Assists 9-1-1 Dispatcher With Call from Child

OWENSBORO, Ky., Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 7, Neal Ann Keelin was working a typical shift at the Owensboro-Daviess County 9-1-1 Center when she received a not so typical call. On the other end of the phone was a young child. Keelin could hear the child, but because the call was made on a mobile phone, was unable to determine the exact location. Additionally, the child was not able to communicate any information that Keelin could use to assess the situation. Luckily, the family had created a Smart911 Safety Profile, "tied" to the mobile phone, which was displayed on the dispatch screen and provided the family's home address and the child's name. Keelin was able to use the child's name to gain their attention and encourage him to put his mother on the phone.

"We receive calls every day where the caller can't always give us enough information to act on," stated Owensboro-Daviess County 9-1-1 Telecommunicator Keelin, a dispatcher for 14 years. "A call from a child can be especially difficult because they may not know the information, or they may be too young to tell us the details we need. Having the family's profile display on my screen so I could determine his name and address saved a lot of time."

On this day, Keelin was thankful there wasn't an emergency at the home, the child had simply picked up the phone and dialed the emergency button, but that's not always the case. "When there is an open line call, or a call from a child, it is protocol to dispatch a police unit to the scene to evaluate the situation," said Norman Byers, the supervisor on duty.  "By getting the mother on the phone and confirming there wasn't an emergency, we were able to save time and resources by not dispatching a police unit. That provides great value in the event there is another emergency where that officer may be needed."

Keelin is now being honored for her efforts with a SmartSave Award from Smart911. The award recognizes and rewards call takers, dispatchers and emergency responders who are able to effectively use information in a Smart911 Safety Profile to positively affect the outcome of an emergency. 

"Neal Ann did exactly what she needed to do, and that was to use every tool at her disposal in order to quickly assess the situation," said Owensboro-Daviess County 9-1-1 Director, Paul Nave. "Smart911 is an invaluable tool in situations such as this, when we are searching for more information to ensure we are providing the best response possible. I hope that all residents realize the value of this service and sign up for their own Safety Profile."

Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. Responders can be aware of many details they would not have known previously with Smart911. For instance, fire crews can arrive at a house fire knowing how many people live in the home and the location of bedrooms, EMS can be advised of allergies or specific medical conditions, and police can have the photo of a missing child in seconds rather than hours.    

Introduced nearly three years ago by Rave Mobile Safety, the most trusted software partner for campus and public safety, Smart911 has been adopted in 35 states and more than 500 municipalities. It has been credited with positively impacting emergency situations across the U.S., including a missing child case in Arkansas, victims of heart attack and Epilepsy in Nashville, a domestic disturbance in DuPage County (Ill.) and more.

Residents are encouraged to create their Safety Profile with Smart911 today to have their information immediately available to 9-1-1. Smart911 data is private and secure, is only used for emergency responses and available to the 9-1-1 system in the event of an emergency call.

About Rave Mobile Safety 


Rave Mobile Safety is the most trusted software partner for campus and public safety. Used by leading primary and secondary schools, institutes of higher education and state and local agencies, the award-winning portfolio of Rave Panic Button, Rave Alert, Rave Guardian, Eyewitness, Smart911 and SmartPrepare enables millions to feel safe, secure and connected. Rave Mobile Safety is headquartered in Framingham, MA. For more information, please visit http://www.ravemobilesafety.com.

Contact:
Marty Querzoli
Davies Murphy Group
Public Relations for Rave Mobile Safety
[email protected]
(781) 418-2433

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SOURCE Smart911