Data and tech innovation is growing exponentially. Almost everyone has one or more connected devices, and these devices gather and store immense amounts of data – such as information about the user, their location, their health, and more.
Connecting this rich data to 911 in the case of an emergency is a tricky thing, due to the aging 911 infrastructure that isn’t designed to manage multi-media data. Connected device companies can facilitate the fast, easy transmission of user information during an emergency to better protect their customers by partnering with RapidSOS.
Our emergency APIs can send multimedia data like video and SMS to Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs) to benefit both the top line (by helping connected device companies differentiate their offerings) and the public good (by making it possible to save more lives). Here’s how it works.
Connected devices have life-saving emergency data
Device companies have extraordinary technology and rich data that can save lives when sent to ECCs in real-time during an emergency.
iPhone and Apple Watch
Users of iPhone and Apple Watch can set up Medical ID on their devices. If the user opts-in, their Medical ID information can be shared with an ECC when they make an emergency call. The ECC can then share relevant information to responders in the field through the RapidSOS Platform, potentially helping them to save a life. Medical ID information can include:
- Name, Age, and Primary Language
- Height, Weight, and Blood Type
- Medical Conditions, Medical Notes
- Allergies & Reactions, and Medications
- Emergency Contacts
RapidSOS follows strict Apple privacy requirements to avoid accessing data when it’s unnecessary, minimize the data accessed when it is, and delete all data within 24 hours.
SiriusXM Connected Vehicle
SiriusXM Connected Vehicle provides vehicle manufacturers and their drivers with Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (ACN+) technology. In the event of an accident, the driver’s vehicle crash data is immediately sent to ECCs which benefits not only the driver in their most vulnerable state but also the public safety community in receiving life-saving data before they arrive on scene.
Data can include:
- The exact location of the incident
- Airbag deployment status
- Crash impact data
- Occupancy and restraint engagement
- Vehicle description
- Driver/passenger data
- Medical conditions and notes
- Medications and allergy information
ECC telecommunicators can also receive direct information from vehicle passengers relayed verbally via the SiriusXM Connected Vehicle Response Center.
SimpliSafe
Homeowners with SimpliSafe can have alarm data transferred to ECCs in seconds, delivering situational information and rich data (that customers agreed to share) such as:
- An accurate location
- Premises phone number
- Emergency contact information
- Alarm monitoring company information
- Alarm description, including incident time and zone information
Why first responders need rich data from connected devices
Public safety infrastructure has been slow to innovate, leaving many ECCs stuck with an unwieldy, limited analog system that can only receive and display the most basic types of data.
Existing infrastructure limitations include only being able to work with voice calls, having no way to receive or display rich data like SMS or video and being unable to determine with confidence if certain types of alerts are actual emergencies.
In particular, the increasing number of 911 calls due to the proliferation of 911 security services like home monitoring can cause bandwidth challenges. Being able to access and display rich data allows ECCs to verify incidents, do their jobs faster and allocate the right resources to each call.
How to send data to 911 with an emergency API
RapidSOS creates a highway for rich data to travel to 911 when your customers need it most. The emergency response data platform is a clearinghouse through which emergency data is securely shared from connected devices, platforms, and sensors via emergency API integration, delivering vital additional data to ECCs:
- Device location
- User profiles
- Security system alarm information
- Medical and health information
- Auto accident and telemetry data
- COVID-19 symptoms and test results
- And more
The RapidSOS Platform shares data from over 350 million connected devices with public safety agencies – strengthening safety features, powering panic buttons, and improving monitoring center communications for innovative companies.
Why your company should make this life-saving connection
An emergency API makes perfect sense for device companies. RapidSOS offers the following business benefits:
Easy to integrate API for 24/7 monitoring and emergency response
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- Quickly implement advanced emergency help for your customers
- Protect your customers with high-touch monitoring services
Faster, more effective emergency response
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- Empower 911 and first responders with verified emergency information
- Eliminate the need for a phone call to improve response time by authorities
A partnership with public safety
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- Strengthen your relationships with 911 and first responders
- Leverage our team of engagement managers to educate telecommunicators on accessing your data
How can your company partner with public safety agencies?
To learn more about RapidSOS Connect and integrate with RapidSOS’s emergency and 24×7 monitoring APIs to start delivering rich, verified data to 911, talk to an expert today.