Help first responders access patients in their homes by signing up for Smart911 today. Newtown signed up for this wonderful program about 12 years ago.

How To Make A Profile

Residents can head over to the Newtown website (newtown-ct.gov) and hover over the “Public Safety” tab on the homepage, but don’t click on it. Instead, scroll down to the phone icon that says “Smart911 – Sign Up Today” and click on that.

Once on the Smart911 website, click on the green sign-up button if there is no account, or click on sign in if there is already an account set up. Clicking on the green sign-up button will open a new screen that asks for people to create profiles. When creating the profile, it will ask for an address and to confirm that address with a map. After confirming the address, Smart911 will confirm the phone number and prompt users to fill out more information such as emergency contacts, if there are any pets in the home, what vehicle to look out for, and more.

Within the profile, users can upload garage codes, lockbox information, and even what floor a caller lives on. Those with profiles are encouraged to include allergy information, if there is any medical equipment on the premises, and if anyone within the house has in-home care such as visiting nurses.

Users can input a lot of information into the site. It is safe and secure. Maureen Will, director of Newtown Emergency Communications Center, ensured that the information is “private,” and the data “is not sold.” Smart911 is owned by Motorola and users need to update their profile once a year or the profile will be deleted.

How It Works

When someone places a call to 911, if they have a Smart911 profile attached to their phone number, the profile information will come up on a dispatcher’s monitor. The more information users put in their profile, the more first responders are able to help.

“It’s only helping us help you,” Will explained. She added, “If we don’t have [garage door or lockbox] information, we’re going to break in the door.”

Smart911 also gives dispatchers an opportunity to text callers if people are having trouble speaking or breathing. Smart911 can also update emergency contacts and allow emergency contacts to update information, even from afar.

Will encourages all Newtown residents to “sign up. It’s free! You’re only helping you.”

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.