Smart911 Opens Online Voting to Select 9-1-1 Call-Takers for Second Annual Smart Telecommunicator Awards

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For weeks, 9-1-1 call-takers and dispatchers (telecommunicators) from across the U.S. have been nominated by peers and individuals for the 2^nd Annual Smart Telecommunicator Awards. Today, Rave Mobile Safety, the trusted software partner for campus and public safety, announced online voting is now open for the 12 finalists who have demonstrated leadership, performance, compassion for callers, ability to inspire co-workers and overall contributions to their Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). The public can now review the finalist submissions and vote online at www.smart911.com/sta through April 5, 2013 at 5:00 pm EDT.

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The Smart Telecommunicator Awards are conducted by Rave Mobile Safety's Smart911, the acclaimed national public safety service, in partnership with the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT) and the Denise Amber Lee Foundation. Smart911 will name a national winner and four regional honorees during National Telecommunicators Week (April 14-20). The national winner will receive a donation of $1000 to the charity of their choice, while regional honorees will receive a $500 donation to charities of their choosing.         

This year's nominees once again illustrate the crucial services that 9-1-1 telecommunicators provide, their dedication and the stressful situations they encounter, including such examples as:

• A Newtown, Conn. telecommunicator who routinely inspires peers and mentors newer members to the Emergency Communications Center. On duty during the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, his calm demeanor helped emergency responders and his community through the incident. In addition to being a role model, he possesses extensive expertise in firefighting and servers as an Adjunct Instructor of Fire Science at a local community college.
• A Gainesville, Fla. dispatcher whose performance brought great support to fellow Officers during an incident requiring the use of deadly force. When the report came of "shots fired," her ability to maintain composure, and facilitate and document concise communications between the many units involved, helped bring calm and clarity to a highly stressful situation.
• An Orlando, Fla. telecommunicator who received a 9-1-1 call from a person who said "I'm going to have a seizure!" and then dropped the phone. After calling the cell phone provider for a location of the call, it was determined the address was not valid. She then quickly conducted research yielding an apartment complex, the caller's name and location, allowing the Fire Department to respond. Her fast-action is credited with likely saving the caller's life.

"Telecommunicators provide an invaluable service to their communities. They possess an acute talent to diffuse emergencies and avert tragedy, while maintaining their composure. In a stressful and high impact position, they are tasked with understanding a situation, calming a caller and dispatching help to the location, all in a matter of seconds," said Tom Axbey, CEO of Rave Mobile Safety. "We encourage the public to read these nominations for a glimpse of what these professionals can encounter at any moment."

Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile online for their household that includes information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have during 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. As a result, fire crews can arrive at a fire knowing how many people live at 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.    

Introduced nearly three years ago, Smart911 has grown rapidly and is now available 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.

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 RaveAlert, RaveGuardian, 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 www.ravemobilesafety.com

Media Contact:

Marty Querzoli
Davies Murphy Group
[email protected]
(781) 418-2433

SOURCE Rave Mobile Safety