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9-1-1 Education Month Highlights Heroes and the Challenges They FaceFRAMINGHAM, Mass., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyday, 9-1-1 telecommunicators overcome obstacles and save lives. In honor of National 9-1-1 Education Month, held each April, Smart911 urges all citizens to learn about our country's 9-1-1 system and how, despite its age and limitations, 9-1-1 call takers are still able to accomplish their goal of being public safety's critical first line of response. The United States' 9-1-1 system is almost 50 years old. 80 percent of the estimated 240 million 9-1-1 calls each year are from mobile phones. However, the existing 9-1-1 system was built to support landline phones only. Mobile 9-1-1 calls are creating significant challenges for a 9-1-1 call taker when he or she is trying to save a life. By understanding how the 9-1-1 system works, specifically with mobile phones, the public can greatly help 9-1-1 to be more effective in helping them during an emergency. To be better prepared during their next emergency situation, Smart911 encourages everyone to learn the following points during 9-1-1 Education Month:
Despite these challenges, 9-1-1 call takers continue to go above and beyond in helping strangers during their worst hour. All throughout 9-1-1 Education Month and in recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 10-16), Smart911 encourages the public to honor our nation's unsung, public safety heroes, by saying 'thank you' in the following ways:
"Every April, we celebrate 9-1-1 Education Month to recognize our nation's telecommunicators for the heroic jobs they do everyday in their communities," said Tom Axbey, chief executive officer of Rave Mobile Safety, makers of Smart911. "We encourage everyone to educate themselves this month about 9-1-1 and the amazing feats of compassion and persistence our call takers accomplish in saving lives. Most people are unaware of the pressure call takers are under and the tremendous challenges they face every day. We are honored to work with them and help them through Smart911." Currently available in 40 states and more than 1,500 municipalities, Smart911 allows citizens to create a free Safety Profile online for their household that includes information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have during an emergency, such as their address, medical conditions, pets, etc. When an emergency call is made, a citizen's Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call-taker. Last year, 25 million 9-1-1 calls were assisted by Safety Profiles. All information is kept private and secure, only appearing when the associated number calls 9-1-1. In addition to Safety Profiles, Smart911 enables public safety answering points (PSAP) to receive detailed information about commercial facilities, including floor plans and access codes (Smart911Facilities), as well as gain more precise location data on callers using smartphones (Smart911Location). 9-1-1 dispatchers may also use the platform to initiate SMS/text messaging sessions with citizens through the Smart911Chat feature. About Rave Mobile Safety Media Contact: Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151109/285490LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/9-1-1-education-month-highlights-heroes-and-the-challenges-they-face-300245301.html SOURCE Smart911 |