Public safety officials are urging New Canaan residents to register with a free local website that’s designed to bring critical information to emergency responders.
By creating a secure “Smart911” safety profile online and updating information on it, New Canaanites will help police, firefighters and EMTs do their work more efficiently, potentially saving lives as well as property.
Officers typically have “limited information” when they respond to an emergency call, said Police Chief Leon Krolikowski.
“If a resident is unable to speak, or often times, too emotional to remember, even the simplest of critical details, a ‘Safety Profile’ provides that information,” Krolikowski said in a press release. “For example, a photo of a child can give police a timely advantage in the event of a missing child.”
Smart911 is a national safety database designed to bolster public safety services. It’s used in 23 states and more than 300 municipalities, officials say. Users create a free Safety Profile for their households and include information they want 9-1-1 to have in the event of an emergency. A profile may include information on pets, family members and photos, medical conditions and disabilities, as well as home and vehicle details.
New Canaan Fire Chief Jack Hennessey encouraged residents to use the secure platform, saying: “If there is a fire, our crews will know how many residents and even pets are in the home and in need of rescue. Digital photos can be added to allow firefighters a ‘pre-arrival’ view of the home to better prepare for a fire attack and search of a home.”