New to California: Culver City Now Using 'Smart911' System

Photo: cmonville/Flickr/Creative Commons License

A "Smart911" system was unveiled today in Culver City, the first location in the state to use technology that allows residents to give authorities a "safety profile" that will be displayed to 911 operators during an emergency.

"Smart911 will allow both our 911 call takers and emergency responders to have more detailed information about a citizen in need, leading to faster response times and ultimately more lives saved," said Culver City Mayor Andrew Weissman.

Smart911 allows citizens to create a safety profile for their household that includes any information they want 911 and emergency response teams to have in the event of an emergency, said Culver City police Lt. Ron Iizuka.

When a citizen makes an emergency call, their safety profile is automatically displayed to the 911 call taker, Iizuka said.

"This allows them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information," Iizuka said.

"Fire crews can be aware of such things as how many people live at a home and the location of bedrooms," he said. "Paramedics can know about specific conditions for fast, precise medical treatment. And because profiles can contain photos, in the event of a missing child, police can gain an advantage, receiving critical information in seconds, versus hours."

Smart911, which is available in 28 states and more than 350 municipalities, was introduced less than two years ago by Rave Mobile Safety.

"When people call 911 and can't speak, the information that is available to 911 on that incoming call is limited, often only to a phone number and general location," said Tom Axbey of Rave Mobile Safety.

"When citizens elect to put more information in the hands of emergency responders prior to an emergency, they enable faster and more knowledgeable response, protecting not only themselves but their families as well," he said.

Residents can create a safety profile at www.smart911.com.