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In the age of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself and your loved ones with an emergency health profile. You don’t have to build a bunker or hoard toilet paper, but you should take sensible steps to ensure you’re as protected as possible. Beyond just wearing your mask when you go to buy bread – it means ensuring you can receive the best care possible when you need help in an emergency.
Together with the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and Direct Relief, RapidSOS has created a way for people nationwide to share critical health and medical information with 911 and first responders in the event of an emergency.
How does the Emergency Health Profile work?
We’re proud to launch emergencyprofile.org, a new service that allows people to create a free opt-in Emergency Health Profile. Your profile associates critical medical information with your cell phone number so that when you call 911, your medical information appears on the dispatcher’s screen.
This data is sent directly from your health profile to 911 through RapidSOS’s emergency response data platform. This information helps 911 centers manage an influx of EMS calls by displaying medical and location information immediately and provides first responders with the critical data they need to better care for people in an emergency when they arrive on the scene.
The information is treated as confidential and is exclusively used by 911 for situational awareness. 911 personnel can use this information to decide what personnel and equipment to dispatch to your location, and how to prepare first responders for your specific needs.
It’s a simple way to ensure you’re getting the help you need with no delays.
Who is RapidSOS?
Technology has dramatically improved our lives over the last 50 years, except for when we need it most. 911 relies on the limited information a phone call can provide, but what happens when you don’t know where you are, or you’re in a moving vehicle, or you can’t communicate your emergency?
In partnership with public safety, RapidSOS has created the world’s first emergency response data platform that links life-saving data from 400M+ connected devices, apps, and profiles, to 911 and first responders in an emergency. Through the platform, we’re providing intelligent data that supports over 5,200 Emergency Communications Centers, protecting over 90 percent of people in the US, across 150 million emergencies annually.
Partnering with innovative companies and organizations certified as RapidSOS Ready, we’re striving to reach everyone. Together, we’re empowering a faster and smarter response by sending first responders critical data like your exact location and real-time health information. We’re united in our commitment to a safer, stronger future where technology and people work seamlessly together to save lives.
We’ve been in this business for eight years now, and we’re proud to work alongside the heroes on the frontlines and support them in any way we can. To learn more about RapidSOS and what we do, check out our blog.
Why are we sending data to 911?
In an emergency, every second counts: time spent finding a mile marker or remembering your allergies is time that could have been spent responding. The thing we’ve heard the most from first responders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is that they need more data: they need to know what situations they’re getting themselves into, so they can allocate scarce resources like PPE, manpower, and medical equipment.
We typically work with tech companies who share data on your behalf to keep you safe. Now, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can take action yourself to share what 911 needs to know before you call – and keep yourself, your community, and first responders safe.
What does it mean to be RapidSOS Ready?
Being RapidSOS Ready means you’re ready and able to share data with 911 to help protect lives. It’s a badge we give to companies, organizations, and now all people who are taking steps to protect their communities, members, and themselves by connecting their data through RapidSOS.
You can be RapidSOS Ready by completing an Emergency Health Profile, and by doing so you’re sharing critical information with 911 that can impact the care you receive. Taking this important step can help provide the peace of mind of knowing that in an emergency your family has the fastest, most effective response possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Emergency Health Profile
Q: Does this cost money?
This service is provided at no cost by the Emergency Health Profile Association.
Q: What is the Emergency Health Profile Association?
In response to COVID-19, the Emergency Health Profile Association was created by RapidSOS, Inc. as a separate legal entity to house and maintain the emergency health profiles free of charge. The Emergency Health Profile Association is a Delaware LLC.
Q: How is my information protected?
The information that you provide in your emergency health profile is collected and maintained by the Emergency Health Profile Association. The information you provide and register to your phone number will only be used to send to emergency service personnel in the event that you call 911 from the number you have registered. To learn more about how your data is used and protected visit emergencyprofile.org/privacy_policy.
Q: Who will have access to my information?
By creating an Emergency Health Profile, your information will be shared with public safety personnel through RapidSOS’s emergency response data platform only in the event of an emergency. RapidSOS does not use your personal information for any purpose other than delivering your data to the emergency service personnel during an active 911 call. You can view our privacy policy at emergencyprofile.org/privacy_policy.
Q: Does this work everywhere?
Information from your Emergency Health Profile is automatically shared with the local 911 center managing your emergency if they are using RapidSOS’s free public safety software and have enabled this information. Please note that it may take a few weeks from the time you initially enter your information for it to become available to public safety agencies. RapidSOS works with over 5,200 Emergency Communications Centers in the United States. Despite this, there are many circumstances where your profile information may not be transmitted to an agency. To find out if your local 911 agency is using RapidSOS and receiving this information, please contact them by calling their administrative (non-emergency) line.
Q: Will this work after COVID-19?
We will securely retain your information and share it with 911 in the event of an emergency until you instruct us to delete your information or the Emergency Health Profile Association shuts down the Emergency Health Profile database. In the event that the Emergency Health Profile Association shuts down the Emergency Health Profile database your information will be deleted and we will notify you via email.
The American Red Cross name, emblems and copyrighted materials are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by the American National Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org.
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