FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As soon as you dial 911, the clock starts ticking.
The Fond du Lac County Communications Center is introducing Smart911 to help first responders find you faster.
“What Smart911 does is provide us with additional information when somebody calls 911,” said Bobbi Hicken, Fond du Lac County director of communications and emergency management.
Hicken tells FOX 11 to think of it as your digital profile where you can add only the information you want first responders to know.
“They can enter their home information, their work information, all phone numbers that are associated with them. If they have medical information.”
If you create that profile and call 911, Hicken says the information within your profile will show up for the dispatcher.
“If somebody isn’t able to talk, that information may be the difference between us finding them and not finding them or at least taking away several minutes away from having to do that.”
If you’re outside and call 911 from your smartphone, Hicken says dispatchers can use technology to better pinpoint your location. But, she says using a smartphone inside your home, business or building has its challenges.
“That signal does not come out clearly.”
She adds, a Smart911 profile can change that and the more information, the better.
“The accuracy is amazing. Ninety-seven percent of the calls that they test with are within 50 meters. The technology that 911 has, at the very best, the accuracy is within 150 meters.”
Hicken says your information will be safe and secure and can only be accessed when you call 911.
“Now, we’re not going to be able to tell that you live on the third floor in apartment G but we are going to be able to pinpoint it a lot better. Based on the information you provide also, we are able to see where your phone is pinpointing to and also data that you entered.”
For now, Smart911 is only available in Fond du Lac County.
But anyone can create a profile which can be accessed if you need help and happen to dial 911 in areas that use Smart911 across the country.
Hicken says Smart911 costs the county $16,000 a year.
If you’d like to learn more about Smart911, the communications center is holding an open house to celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Officials will be available to answer more questions or help you create a profile today 16 at 180 S Macy St, Fond du Lac, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
