Smart911 Encourages Everyone to Listen to their Hearts During American Heart Month

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Each February, Americans look forward to Valentines Day and filling their hearts with love. Amidst flowers and chocolate, the safety experts at Smart911, the life-saving, national safety service, remind everyone that February is also American Heart Month and to take a moment and reflect on heart health to ensure theirs remains strong.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease and strokes are the number one and two killers in the world. In AHA's recent 2016 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update, it was shown that more than 801,000 people die annually of cardiovascular disease and three-quarters of a million Americans suffered from a heart attack last year.

Rave Mobile Safety, the company behind Smart911, is encouraging citizens to familiarize themselves with the warning signs of heart attacks, seek immediate medical attention should any occur, and create a Smart911 Safety Profile for fast, enhanced response during 9-1-1 emergencies. Most important, always call "9-1-1" directly from your phone. That is the fastest and best way to connect to help.

Every year tens of thousands of people across the U.S. not only survive heart attacks, they return to work and enjoy a normal life. However, the AHA notes that not all heart attacks are sudden and intense; most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. As a result, people often aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Minutes count when it comes to heart attacks so be familiar with the following warning signs:

• Chest Discomfort: A sensation in the center of the chest that feels like pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain. This can last more than a few minutes, or, go away and then return.
• Upper Body Discomfort: Pain or discomfort in the back, neck, jaw, stomach, or in one or both arms.
• Shortness of Breath: This may or may not be accompanied by chest discomfort.
• Additional Signs: Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Should a person experience any of these symptoms, even if they are not sure it's a heart attack, the AHA urges not waiting more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 to ensure rapid treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff assist on arrival, typically an hour faster than if someone is driven by car to an ER (a person should only drive themselves if there is no alternative). Also, EMS is trained to revive a heart that has stopped, and, patients that arrive at a hospital via ambulance typically receive faster treatment.

Rave's public safety experts encourage citizens to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com 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, and now 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 minutes or hours. As a result, if a person with a heart condition calls 9-1-1, the dispatcher can alert EMS staff in the field, speeding response times.

"Nearly everyone knows someone who has experienced heart trouble," said Tom Axbey, president and CEO, Rave Mobile Safety. "February brings us Valentine's Day and American Heart Month, so it's a good opportunity for all to understand the warning signs of heart attacks and the importance of time-to-treatment. We also encourage folks to take a few minutes today to create a Safety Profile that will help emergency responders to help them – it just makes good heart sense."

Smart911 is currently available in 40 states and more than 1,500 municipalities. It has been credited with positively impacting emergency situations and saving lives across the U.S., including a missing child case in Arkansas, a heart attack victim in Tennessee and a man trapped in a house fire in Michigan. As a national service, anytime a person with a Smart911 profile dials 9-1-1 in any location in the US that support Smart911, their profile will appear to dispatchers allowing for more information to be available at the time of an emergency.

About Rave Mobile Safety
Rave Mobile Safety is the most trusted software partner for campus and public safety. Used by leading Institutes of Higher Education and State and Local Agencies, the award-winning portfolio of Rave SafeCampus, RaveAlert, RaveGuardian, Eyewitness, Smart911 and SmartPrepare enables millions to feel safe, secure and connected. Rave Mobile Safety is headquartered in Framingham, Mass. For more information please visit www.ravemobilesafety.com.

Contact:
Amy Krigman
LEWIS Global Communications
Public Relations for Rave Mobile Safety
781-418-2449
[email protected]

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SOURCE Smart911

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