Smart911 Goes Online In Arkansas

State First In Nation To Offer Free Service

FAYETTEVILLE — Residents across the state can now provide life-saving information to 911 operators before an emergency.

Arkansas recently became the first state to offer Smart911 service. The free service allows residents to create a safety profile online at smart911.com. Users can add information about themselves and family members.

“It’s especially helpful for ( Emergency Management Services),” said Carla Holcroft, Washington County dispatch manager. “It can let them know if a person has any allergies, if they’re diabetic or if they have any other health conditions.”

The information is automatically displayed to 911 operators during emergency calls.

John Luther, Washington County Emergency Management director, said a person’s information can only be accessed by 911 operators for 45 minutes when a person calls 911. Data cannot be stored.

“People don’t have to feel like we can look at pertinent information,” Luther said. “We recommend people update their profile every six months or if they know information has changed. We need good information for this service to be effective.”

Luther said the service can only be accessed by a wireless phone.

The Smart911 Service complements wireless 911 system in place across Washington County.

“I would suggest that anyone who can provide information about themselves from a wireless phone to sign up,” Luther said. “You can provide information about yourself, your children, your spouse or your elderly parents. There’s all kinds of information to share with us in a crisis.”

In addition to health conditions, Luther said a person’s safety profile can include information about pets, home access points, bedroom locations, medications, photos and emergency contact numbers. Dispatch operators can also initiate instant chat messages with users who can’t speak.

“We can initiate a text message if you’re on the phone and can’t talk,” Holcroft said. “There might be an intruder or you could be involved in a domestic.”

Gary Gray, chairman of the Arkansas Emergency Telephone Services Board, said a person’s Smart911 profile can be accessed by dispatch operators in any state with the service. Currently, cities in 22 states have Smart911.

“The more information we have about the people we’re responding to, the better service we can provide,” Gray said. “If a child goes missing, we can take a photo of that child from their Smart911 profile and send that photo to a patrol car within a matter of minutes.”

Gray said the program uses Rave Mobility Safety, a software partner headquartered in Framingham, Mass.

The service is paid for through the Arkansas State Auditor and costs about $1 million during the first year and about $ 700,000 each year after.

“We’ve always been very progressive,” Luther said. “We see this as a complement to the current system.”

Anyone interested in singing at the Clothesline Fair Gospel Sing on Sunday, Sept. 2 may call Marion Cowan at 479-8413372.

Each singer or group should plan on 20 to 30 minutes of song.

Lincoln High School registration (all grades 8-12) will be at the middle school, located in the old high school building, from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13 and Tuesday,

Lincoln VFW will be selling black diamond watermelons again on Aug. 14 on the Lincoln square and at Fredricks One Stop in Prairie Grove.

If more are available, the melons will be for sale on Aug. 15 too.

An appreciation dinner for Sam and Sharon Barnes, sponsored by the Cincinnati Fire Dept and the Cincinnati community, will be held at the Cincinnati fire station on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 5 to 9 .p.m.

The fire department will furnish the hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone can bring their favorite dish to share.

Sam and Sharon donated the land for the fire station and Sam keeps the grounds mowed. Sharon plants flowers and cooks for all the dinners

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will conduct a blood drive from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17 at Central United Methodist Church, 101 N. Starr Ave., Lincoln.

Eligibility requirements include weighing at least 110 pounds, being in general good health and presenting required ID.

A single blood donation can save the lives of up to three people. For more information about the blood drive, visit www.cbco.org or call 800280-5337.

The Lincoln Pre-School Program is currently accepting enrollments .

Applications may be picked up at the Lincoln Elementary School office or downloaded at www.wolfpride.nwsc.k12. ar.us.

The pre-school also serves surrounding areas.

For more information, call 824-7350.