Recently Smart911, a technology service implemented by 9-1-1 centers across the country, reached out to me to make sure parents know that they can go online and enter life-saving information about their health, any disabilities, family members, pets, photos and the home address affiliated with their cell phone numbers.

Why is this important to you?  Well, most of us communicate these days via cell phone, in fact I know several households that no longer have landlines.  These cell phones are not quickly associated with home addresses the way a landline is.  That is why my preschooler was forced to learn both her home phone number (in case something happens where the authorities are involved and need to locate her family) and mommy’s cell phone number – in case she wants to reach me quickly.

Now, Smart911 offers a solution where your cell phone can be tied to your pertinent personal information. When a 9-1-1 call is placed, the operator has instant access to all of this vital information, improving emergency outcomes.

While adults and kids have been taught to call 9-1-1 in an emergency, in today’s world—where most of us depend on cell phones and texting—it’s important to know the new rules of 9-1-1. Below are tips from Smart911 that families should keep in mind when dialing 9-1-1, especially from a cell phone.

The New Rules of 9-1-1

1.     Communicate your exact location: When calling 9-1-1 from a mobile phone, 9-1-1 operators are rarely able to pinpoint the caller’s exact location. Especially if you are in a densely populated area, or if you live in an apartment building, it will be important to communicate this immediately.

2.     Find out if your city or town has 911 texting capabilities: While you may often choose texting over calling to friends and family, only select cities and municipalities in the U.S. provide the option to text with 9-1-1. Find out if your city or town offers text support.

3.     If you get a recording, don’t hang up: The call you place stays in the telephone switch queue for up to two minutes even if you get a recording. The 9-1-1 operator will call the person back when they do receive it, but by then you may be in a cycle of phone tag, prolonging the process even further.

4.     Make sure you have multiple ways to dial 9-1-1 and have a backup plan: For those who still have a landline phone in their homes, choose a landline when calling 9-1-1. However, keep in mind that most often this phone is a cordless device and will not work in the event of a power outage. As a backup, make sure your mobile phone is always charged—purchase a car charger if you don’t have one.

5.     Find out if your city/town has a system to record life-saving information used when calling 9-1-1: It is important that first responders have access to information, such as medical conditions, disabilities allergies and number of resident or pets in the home, and can link your mobile number to your home address.  Find out if your city or town has any systems in place that you should register for.