Both Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and Punta Gorda Police Dept 9-1-1 Centers are using a secure web-based platform through Rapid SOS that allows access to emergency data via applications completed by the phone owner. This data is only provided by you when you create a profile and allow sharing of this information.
- If you are an Apple user, you can access your Medical ID profile through the iPhone Health App.
- Another option is to sign up with the Emergency Health Profile Association at emergencyprofile.org. The Emergency Health Profile is brought to you in partnership with the American Heart Assn, Red Cross, Direct Relief and Rapid SOS.
Users of these profiles, regardless of profile platform, are responsible for maintaining their own data and keeping it up to date. 9-1-1 centers will only have access to information of individuals who choose to participate, complete their profiles and then make a 9-1-1 call. 9-1-1 staff do not have access to information without the device having called 9-1-1. When a 9-1-1 call is received in the center, AND IF, the information is provided, the telecommunicator may ask to confirm the information to ensure it is accurate and relative to the caller.
Charlotte County 9-1-1 centers have been using this web-based platform called Rapid SOS Portal since late 2018. At the time of inception, the Rapid SOS Clearing House provided improved location accuracy of many cellular 911 callers. This technology has proven to be very useful in finding callers in an emergency. Since the 9-1-1 centers adoption of this platform, the Rapid SOS Clearing House has been working diligently to deliver additional data rich information that can improve public safety emergency response. Rapid SOS has been partnering with a variety of companies to enhance the information that can be delivered to 9-1-1 centers.
We will be watching for additional future applications that will be shared with our public safety agencies through the Rapid SOS Platform and pass this information along to the members of our community. If you have any questions about these programs and about 9-1-1 here in Charlotte County, reach out to the E911 Office at 941-575-5339.