The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday its plan to implement an enhanced 911 service and emergency notification system.
The "Smart911" system allows dispatchers to collect more information during calls for assistance than a traditional 911 call. This will enable first responders to save precious time when responding to emergencies.
Tony Martin, the Emergency Communications Director for the office, shared that other counties and cities to implement the system are already seeing the benefits.
"The additional information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables us to know exactly where we are going and who we are looking for," Martin said. "The information will also give first responders more context to what are often complex, dynamic events, such as a house fire, vehicle accident, report of a missing child, or a medical emergency."
The system allows residents to make a free profile for their household on the Smart911 website so that when they contact the police, the dispatcher can see the profile of the 911 caller, giving the officer responding to the call more background information.
Residents can choose the information they want to add to their account, which can be updated anytime. A benefit law enforcement officers see is adding addresses to mobile numbers, which currently isn't provided when someone calls 911 from a cell phone.
According to a press release from the sheriff's office, 76% of their 9-1-1 calls are from mobile phones. Martin added that the profile might help in some situations where the caller isn't able to speak for themselves.
"You don't know when you'll need to call 911 or what condition you'll be in when you make the call, so prepare yourself before you need to call," Martin said.
Smart911 is available in communities receiving dispatch services from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. However, Martin says anyone who lives, works, or travels through the country should sign up for an account today.
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