A New Life-Saving Data Source for Public Safety: MedicAlert

Public safety professionals today manage thousands of emergencies with almost no situational information. As a former first responder, I know firsthand how important additional information from the scene of a 9-1-1 call is for a successful response.

We’re excited to announce a new breakthrough for emergency response nationwide that will put life-saving health information in the hands of 9-1-1 telecommunicators and first responders in the field. RapidSOS is partnering with MedicAlert to make health profile information from over 10 million MedicAlert members available through the RapidSOS Clearinghouse during emergencies.

MedicAlert provides a lifeline for populations with conditions including autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, diabetes, hypertension, allergies, and much more. Along with demographic information, this health data can inform better prepared emergency response during medical incidents involving 9-1-1.

Using data from MedicAlert to respond to emergencies

During an emergency, public safety agencies will have access to MedicAlert member data that will enable first responders to provide personalized, expedited treatment for millions of people. For example, ID information can advise a telecommunicator of an allergy to medication, a pacemaker, mental health issues, or any other existing conditions that the member wants to share with medical professionals. This data will be available to all authorized Emergency Communications Centers later this spring.

“The Emergency profiles of our members include critical health and identification information that can make all the difference during an emergency. Our partnership with RapidSOS will put MedicAlert member data directly in the hands of 911 telecommunicators and first responders during the critical moments of emergency response.”

-Josefina Jervis, President and COO of MedicAlert

9-1-1 telecommunicators will have access to MedicAlert member data either through a phone number associated with a MedicAlert membership or by querying a membership ID number. This allows for telecommunicators to receive data when members call for themselves or in the event a bystander calls on behalf of a MedicAlert member during an emergency.

Here’s how the feature will work for ECC telecommunicators:

1. 1. When a telecommunicator receives a 9-1-1 call from a phone number associated with a membership, RapidSOS Portal will indicate additional data from MedicAlert is available for the incident.
   2. The telecommunicator views available MedicAlert information by visiting the Additional Data window. If the call comes from a number not associated with a MedicAlert ID, the telecommunicator can search an ID number from the additional data tab.
   3. The telecommunicator shares relevant emergency information with first responders in the field to improve the incident response.

This automated, digital process transforms the way public safety professionals respond to emergencies. Until now, 9-1-1 callers had to relay information over the phone to telecommunicators who had to transcribe and repeat the information to responders in the field. This inefficient process slows down response times and creates the potential for human error in multiple parts of the response. In the case a 9-1-1 caller cannot speak or read information from their MedicAlert bracelet, the telecommunicator would receive no additional data at all. With this partnership, ECCs can receive lifesaving emergency data directly on their telecommunicators’ screens.

Get access to MedicAlert data for your ECC

All public safety agencies nationwide will be able to access data from MedicAlert during emergencies with RapidSOS Portal, a free, browser-based tool. Any authorized ECC can sign up for RapidSOS at no cost to provide telecommunicators with access to data from MedicAlert, in addition to connected device data sources such as Apple, Google, and Uber. Once an agency has access to RapidSOS Portal, their telecommunicators will automatically be able to start accessing additional data. Visit RapidSOSPortal.com to claim your agency’s account.

Sign up for RapidSOS Portal today