Milford Leads Massachusetts as First location to Implement Smart911 for Enhanced Public Safety

MILFORD, Mass. and FRAMINGHAM, Mass., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- During a press conference held today at the Milford Police Department, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Brian W. Murray, Esq. announced that Milford is the first location in Massachusetts to offer Smart911, the national safety service that provides more effective emergency response. Joined by Police Chief Thomas J. O'Loughlin and Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director John P. Touhey, officials detailed how Milford is leading the way with technology that opens up direct communication between public safety and the citizens they serve.

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"Smart911 provides our 9-1-1 call takers and emergency responders with more detailed information about a citizen in need, which translates into faster, more precise emergency response that can avoid tragedy and save lives," said Selectman Murray. "Smart911 is a Massachusetts based technology that has been rapidly expanding across the country and I am particularly proud that Milford is first-in-state to bring a new level of public safety to its community."

Smart911 allows 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: 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.    

"When an emergency arises, a caller sometimes can't communicate; often they can be too panicked to remember even their address," said Police Chief O'Loughlin. "Smart911 immediately provides 9-1-1 call takers with details to better respond to many situations. We can now know the home address of a mobile phone caller, and our personnel can approach the scene of an emergency knowing more about a household, including pets that may be in the home which provides greater safety for our officers. This is a win for all of Milford's residents and emergency responders."

"Smart911 can give a voice to those who may not be able to communicate. If a caller has a medical condition that may be preventing them from speaking, EMTs can be dispatched with instructions to prepare for a medical response. If there is a fire, our crews can be advised as to how many residents, and even pets, may be in the home and in need of rescue," said Fire Chief Touhey. "Smart911 offers a greater sense of security to the community by providing first responders with the information they need to help residents and visitors during an emergency."

Introduced nearly three years ago by Framingham-based Rave Mobile Safety, the trusted software partner for campus and public safety, Smart911 has been adopted in 29 states and more than 350 municipalities. It has been credited with positively impacting emergency situations across the U.S., including a missing child case in Arkansas, and saving lives, such as a heart attack victim in Nashville.

Smart911 is supported by local and national advocacy groups that help those with specific medical conditions and special needs. According to Alan Gifford, president of the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf: "Smart911 provides a direct line of communication from those who may be deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind and late deafened to 9-1-1 by being able to create a Safety Profile with medical notes and communication preference. This will help the responders to come to emergencies better prepared and minimize stress on both parties. This is a great benefit for all members of our community, and we are excited to support Milford as the first location in Massachusetts to make this service available."

"When citizens put more information in the hands of emergency responders prior to an emergency, they are enabling faster and more knowledgeable response for themselves and their families," said Tom Axbey, president and CEO, Rave Mobile Safety. "We applaud Milford town officials and emergency responders for bringing greater safety and peace-of-mind to residents and for leading the way in our home state."

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.

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

SOURCE Rave Mobile Safety