Lafourche Parish Communications District Urges Community to Sign Up for Smart911 to Enable Coronavirus Awareness for First Responders

Lafourche Parish, March
30, 2020 – As Lafourche Parish
prepares for and responds to the spread of the coronavirus, public health and safety
officials are strongly encouraging the community to sign up for the Smart911
national safety profile registry, a free service that allows individuals and
families to provide critical medical information to 9-1-1 and first responders.
Lafourche Parish Communications District is launching the “Take Control, Let Us
Know” campaign to empower the community to take action, and provide valuable
and accurate health data that increases the awareness of 9-1-1, first
responders, and Emergency Management to an individual’s risk level for coronavirus.

Members of our community
are looking for ways to improve the safety of their families, friends and
neighbors as the coronavirus spreads. By signing up for Smart911, individuals
can help first responders get the key information they need about every person
who may need assistance, not only during this outbreak, but during any
emergency.

Individuals can create a Smart911 Safety Profile for their household at www.smart911.com or on the Smart911 App  that provides critical medical information for those who may be at higher risk of developing a serious COVID-19 illness. As identified by the CDC, the vulnerable population includes older adults, and those with a history of chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, respiratory conditions, and compromised immune systems. When an individual calls 9-1-1, their Smart911 Safety Profile is automatically displayed, allowing our public safety agencies to send emergency response teams to the right location with enhanced medical data.

Individuals can additionally
self-identify if they are under quarantine, and whether it is self-imposed or
directed by a health professional. The Smart911 App allows quarantined
individuals to receive check-in messages on their health status. Smart911 also
allows individuals to sign up for alerts from Louisiana Department of Health
officials to receive reliable information about the changing coronavirus situation.
Individuals who sign up will also receive tailored alerts based on their
specific needs and geographic location. With enhanced coronavirus awareness, individuals
and first responders have vital information to take proper precautions.

“As the coronavirus continues to be a major public health concern,
we are doing everything we can to prepare, respond, and mitigate risk to those
in our community who need assistance,” said Valerie Adams, Administrative
Assistant. “The information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables us to
know who is at the greatest risk in our
community. We can provide individuals with critical updates based on their
location and health history. Ultimately, Smart911 gives our community the
chance to be proactive, and lets us know who requires our services. We urge the
residents of Lafourche Parish to take action, sign up for Smart911, and help us
address the coronavirus outbreak.”

To sign up, visit www.smart911.com
or download the Smart911 app in the Apple Store or Google
Play.

Lafourche Parish Communications District Reminds Families to Stay Safe with Smart911

With the start of a new academic year, safety is top of mind for both parents and school officials. Lafourche Parish Communications District is reminding families that there is a free service available to them to help plan ahead for an emergency. Smart911, the national public safety service, allows families to create a Safety Profile for their household at www.smart911.com , providing details such as photos of children, home address, medical notes and emergency contacts. If any member of the family dials 9-1-1 from any phone number registered to their profile that information will be available to dispatchers to send response teams to the correct location with current information on the individual in need. These details can greatly affect the outcome of any emergency, including:

A Missing Child

• In the event that a child is missing, having a current photo and physical description in the family’s Safety Profile can save valuable time as that information can be sent to officers in the field immediately to begin a search

Emergency Call from a Child

• A child may know how to dial 9-1-1, but they may not always be able to relay the information needed to get help fast. Details such as an address or medical notes on a parent or other family member in need can be included in the Safety Profile so that the dispatcher does not have the rely on the child for information

An Incident Walking To or From School

• If a child carries a cell phone and needs help while walking to or from school for a medical issue or an accident, the Safety Profile will provide contact information for parents or other emergency contacts who need to be notified

An Incident at Home

• In the event of a house fire, accident or other emergency at home, responders can be aware of who lives in the house, including pets, and be sure everyone is safe and accounted for when they arrive on scene

Schools can also be better prepared for an emergency with the addition of Smart911Facility. By creating a profile for their facility, school administrators can make responders aware of on-site contacts, building layouts, access points and even the locations of athletic fields and parking lots. Anytime any phone calls 9-1-1 from within the boundaries of the school facility, that information will also be available to facilitate a fast response. Schools and other commercial buildings and facilities can create a profile at www.smart911facility.com.

“With the return of school, safety is our top priority for all of our children, families and staff,” said Valerie Adams. “We encourage all families in our community to take advantage of Smart911 in order to help us better help them in an emergency. The addition of the facility profile will only enhance our response time and efforts to ensure our entire community will stay safe.”

Families can sign up for free today at www.smart911.com and provide as much information as they would like within their household Safety Profile. Smart911 is private and secure and the information is only used in an emergency. Smart911 is a national service available in over 1,500 communities across 40 states.

Lafourche Parish Communications District Offers Tips to Keep Children Safer on AMBER Alert Awareness Day

Raceland, LA January 13, 2015 – Tuesday, January 13 will mark the 19th anniversary of AMBER Alert Awareness Day, which honors the day nine year old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bicycle in front of her family’s home in Arlington, Texas, and found murdered two days later.  In recognition of this day, Lafourche Parish Communications District is encouraging parents to do three things to keep their children safer.

Smart911 recommends to parents:

• Determine a password with your children. If you ever need to send someone to pick them up or when an emergency happens, they can ask that person for the password to ensure it is safe to go with them.
• Be aware of how much information about your child is available. Do not add their names to backpacks or post information about them, including name, address or school on social media websites which can be viewed publically.
• Create a free, private and secure Safety Profile for your household at www.smart911.com which can include current photos and physical descriptions of your children. If a child goes missing and a family member calls 9-1-1, their Safety Profile will be displayed to the dispatcher allowing them to share the child’s photo and description to responders in the field immediately.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the first three hours are the most critical when trying to locate a missing child. When a child is reported missing it can take an hour or more just to distribute a current photo to law enforcement officers in the field. Smart911 is available to all residents through Lafourche Parish Communications District and public officials encourage all families to take advantage of the free service by signing up today. A mother in Arkansas experienced the benefits offered by Smart911 when she received a call that her daughter did not get off the bus at daycare. Frantic, she dialed 9-1-1 and her family’s Smart911 Safety Profile appeared, including her daughter’s photo and description. The call taker was able to use that information to send deputies to the scene immediately. The actual 9-1-1 call can be heard here: http://youtu.be/7Nfwol3Zi8k“As a parent, having a child go missing can be the most terrifying moment: you may not be able to think straight, remember critical information or even communicate effectively,” said Chief Warren Vedros. “Smart911 can have a dramatic impact on these situations and we encourage families to be proactive about safety and sign up today”. Introduced more than four years ago by Rave Mobile Safety, the trusted software partner for campus and public safety, Smart911 is active in 38 states and more than 1,000 communities. It has been credited with positively impacting emergency situations across the U.S., including the missing child case in Arkansas, and saving lives, such as a heart attack victim in Nashville and a house fire victim in Michigan.

Lafourche Parish Communications District Officials Offer Safety Reminders

With the Thanksgiving Holiday approaching, residents are eagerly making travel plans and beginning hosting preparations. Lafourche Parish Communications District officials offer Safety facts and tips for this holiday, and the best ways to be a safe host, courtesy of Smart911.
Cooking Safety
•Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, and two of every five home fires start in the kitchen, so keep your kitchen safe this holiday by staying close when frying, or broiling.
•If you are deep frying your turkey this year, be sure it is completely thawed before cooking.
•Keep anything that can catch fire- pot holders, towels, food packaging- away from the stovetop. Always keep a lid nearby to smother small fires.

Driving Safety

•Automobile crashed cause by deer, alcohol and bad weather are more common during Thanksgiving week thank the rest of the year. Stay alert, check road conditions before leaving the home and always have a designated driver.
•There are most vehicles travelling the roads during Thanksgiving week, and more chances for an accident to happen. Buckle Up, and be sure everyone in the vehicle has a seatbelt fastened as well.

Be Prepared
While you can’t always predict an emergency, you can be prepared. Sign up at www.Smart911.com or if you have already signed up for Smart911 be sure to log in to update or confirm the information in your Safety Profile.
Smart911 is a free service which allows citizens to create a Safety Profile for their household of any information they want 9-1-1 and first responders to have in an emergency. Once signed up, each account must be confirmed every 6 months to ensure the information is accurate and up to date. Visit www.smart911.com to sign up or to update your account.

Sign up for a Smart911 Profile!

WHO: All Lafourche Parish  Residents

WHAT: With ice storm warnings in effect, all citizens of Lafourche Parish are urged to register  for the public safety service, Smart911, which is available to all Lafourche Parish Residents.   Smart911 allows citizens to create a free, secure Safety Profile online that  contains important information about their household. Public safety officials can quickly leverage this data to identify potential challenges and expedite emergency response and recovery efforts during events such as ice storms, as well as to facilitate response to 9-1-1 calls.

WHY: Smart911 allows  residents of a community to share information about themselves and their families with public safety officials. This can include general data on a household – ranging from the identity of residents, locations of bedrooms and utility information – to specific details about disabilities and medical conditions requiring such things as oxygen, dialysis and more.

If a citizen dials  9-1-1, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the call taker,  allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information, expediting emergency response. A Safety Profile is safe and secure, and residents manage their own information. Sign up today at www.smart911.com

WHEN/WHERE: Lafourche Residents can register for Smart911 online immediately and for free at https://www.smart911.com.