Cincinnati’s Smart911 system could help older adults, people with disabilities in an emergency

The City of Cincinnati recently launched Smart911, a new technology that provides 911 call takers and first responders with crucial information about participating residents in emergency situations.

Through Smart911, residents can create a secure “Safety Profile” that will automatically display to emergency call takers immediately upon placing a 9-1-1 call. When a call comes in, a call taker will see the user’s Safety Profile, as well as a Facility Profile about their current location.

Profiles may also include photos, which could be helpful to first responders if they are searching for a missing person. The voluntary system could be particularly helpful for older adults and people with disabilities during emergencies.

Users can customize their profile and share any information they would like first responders to have in the event of an emergency, including information about:

• medical conditions and blood type
• mobility issues and transportation needs during an emergency
• primary language spoken or communication issues
• pets and service animals

The system is free and secure, and only displays when someone calls 9-1-1 from the number in a user’s profile. However, individuals must sign up to participate.

Any Cincinnati resident can create their Safety Profile for the national safety database at www.Smart911.com. Hamilton County and more than 1,500 other municipalities across the country are also using the technology.

Please note that if you created a Smart911 profile for Hamilton County or another jurisdiction, you do not need to create a separate account for the City of Cincinnati. Your existing account will now automatically register if you are inside Cincinnati city limits. However, please make sure your account is updated with the most recent information.

Click here to read more about Cincinnati’s Smart911 system, including how to create your Smart911 profile.