Thank you for your comment, Russell. I’m really glad you brought this up. Agencies across the country are looking at alternative methods of communication for individuals with hearing conditions.
If Smart911 is currently available in your area you can spread the word because it can benefit everyone. Smart911 can help reduce this percentage among people with hearing problems in emergency situations.
With Smart911, they can create a Safety Profile, where they include information about their hearing problems, medical history or medications, emergency contact data, and other critical information about themselves or family members. In the event of calling 9-1-1, dispatchers can use this information to get the proper assistance faster and more effectively.
Smart911 service is rapidly expanding, so if we are not currently available in your community, please let us know and we will do everything we can to make it available there.
Otherwise, I would suggest contacting your local 9-1-1 agency and let them know that you would like this type of service. Often, the voices of citizens can help implement these types of programs.
I thought you might also be interested to read this article on our blog: http://blog.smart911.com/post/17209990832/responding-to-children-with-special-health-care-needs