Emergency Communications Leaders Gather for Fourth Annual Smart911 Summit Featuring Keynote Address from Newtown 9-1-1 Director

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Rave Mobile Safety, the trusted software partner of campus and public safety, today announced that May 8-10 it hosted its Fourth Annual Smart911 Summit. The highly successful event featured professionals from leading 9-1-1 and emergency communications associations, as well as Smart911 Charter 50 member-customers that are leading the transformation of 9-1-1 response with innovative technology in their respective states.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130220/MM63735LOGO )

A highlight of the event was a keynote address delivered by Maureen Will, director of the Emergency Communications Center in Newtown, Conn. Will's emotional and informative presentation looked at the agency and town's experiences on the day of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the weeks and months that followed.

Will was joined by officials from other recent headline-making events for a panel discussion titled "Coordinating Multijurisdictional Responses to Major Incidents." This included: Joseph O'Hare, deputy superintendent of Boston Emergency Medical Services, who provided insight into the Boston Marathon bombings; Duane Phillips, director of Metro Nashville Emergency Communications Center, who discussed the 2010 floods that left 40 percent of the city under water; and Karen Shilling, police communications analyst for the City of Seattle 9-1-1 Center, who shared recent active shooter experiences.

"The success and continued growth of our safety applications are dependent on closely listening to the feedback of our clients and public safety leaders," said Tom Axbey, president and CEO, Rave Mobile Safety. "This Summit was particularly important whereas it reviewed the technical and operational impacts of recent major events."

Smart911 Charter 50 program members are selected for their dedication to improve the emergency response landscape. These members were first to implement Smart911 within their state and have served as an example and resource for counties and cities across the U.S. One public safety agency from each state is selected to bring forth regulations and trends impacting their region, provide feedback on the Rave Mobile Safety roadmap and identify best practices in emergency response.

"The Smart911 Annual Summit has become one of the foremost educational events in public safety. In addition to helping drive the development of features that are of value to us, it offers fresh insight into the field and best practices we can take with us to improve our emergency operations," said Mike Barclay, chief deputy of Elmore County (Idaho) Sheriff's Office. "Smart911 is introducing a new era of 9-1-1 service and response. I know I speak for many of my peers when I say we're not only glad to provide feedback, we're grateful to have a partner that continually looks for ways to support responder's efforts to better help those that we serve."

"NENA is very pleased that Rave has actively engaged the public safety industry as they further develop their products and help model standard operating procedures," said Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). "Working groups that promote and share industry knowledge are critical to the continuing improvement of 9-1-1 service."

Smart911 allows citizens to create Safety Profiles free of charge at www.Smart911.com by entering vital data they want to make available to 9-1-1 operators in the event of a 9-1-1 call. Information about themselves and family members, their residence and even pets can include details on medical conditions, disabilities and/or special needs, children's photos, home addresses of cell phone callers, bedroom locations and other pertinent information. Smart911 automatically delivers this information to supported Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) when a 9-1-1 call is made from any phone in their Safety Profile. As a result, first responders can arrive at the right location faster with the right resources and improved situational awareness. Because it is a national system, once a Smart911 Safety Profile has been created, it can be delivered with an emergency call in any area of the country if the local 9-1-1 PSAP is supported by Smart911.

Introduced less than three years ago, Smart911 has grown rapidly and now helps emergency responders across 32 states and more than 350 municipalities to protect millions.

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, 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

SOURCE Rave Mobile Safety