The City of Cincinnati’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) has partnered with Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern Kentucky, to encourage Smart911 signups among seniors in the Cincinnati region.

The ECC’s Outreach Team is periodically visiting senior communities that Meals on Wheels serves to speak about the Smart911 tool and facilitate signups. 

“Our mission is to ensure that seniors have everything they need to age safely and with dignity in the comfort of their own homes,” said Jennifer Steele, CEO of Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. “It's so important that they know that calling 9-1-1 is not a burden, and that it's the very best way to get help in the event of a medical or other true emergency. We're so grateful to partner with the City of Cincinnati to bring this important tool and information directly to the doors of seniors in our community." 

Smart911 is a free and secure app that allows households or individuals to create a profile with information such as home and work addresses, associated phone numbers, medical notes and emergency contacts.

If any member of the household dials 9-1-1 from a phone number registered to the profile, the information provided will be available to call takers offering location details and/or medical information that can save time in an emergency response.

The ECC and Meals on Wheels hope that working jointly, they can educate and encourage the seniors they serve to call 9-1-1 if they are experiencing a medical emergency rather than calling the nonemergency line, which is not answered with the same priority as 9-1-1.

“We want our seniors to know that we are here to help. We want them to call 9-1-1 if they are experiencing a medical emergency or otherwise need help. If they are unsure if they are experiencing a true emergency, we still want them to err on the side of caution and call 9-1-1. Let our 9-1-1 call-takers help determine the best response; this is what we are here for,” says ECC Director Bill Vedra.

More information regarding the Smart911 is available: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/smart911/

More information regarding how to call 9-1-1 is available: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/calling-9-1-1/

Information Updates
For the latest information, follow the ECC at
@Cincy911 on Facebook and Twitter
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/ecc/