E911 CARES PROGRAM INFORMATION

New Hampshire 911 CARES

For an emergency or crime in progress, dial 911.

The New Hampshire Enhanced 911 system is without question one of the finest in the nation. New Hampshire is fortunate to have several 'enhancements' within the 911 system that other 911 centers around the country can only dream about. For instance, 911 Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs) have instant access to TTY communication for the deaf as well as Text-to-911. They can immediately communicate with a deaf or hard of hearing caller in need of help. In addition, New Hampshire 911 subscribes to the ATT Language Line service which gives 911 EMDs quick access to over 240 languages and dialects.

Most people know that when you dial 911 from your home phone, the enhanced computer screen is filled in with the caller's name, address and telephone number. Most people don't know, however, that your telephone number is technically known as ANI (Automatic Number Identification) and the location of the phone (aka your address) is known as ALI (Automatic Location Identification). ANI gives us ALI. New Hampshire 911 has the unique ability to add supplemental or additional information about permanent medical conditions or hazardous materials specific to YOUR location or address. Perhaps the most overlooked 'enhancement' of New Hampshire's 911 system is the 911 CARES database.

911 maintains this database which is separate from the 911 database. This special database is reserved for permanent medical conditions and hazardous materials on site. It is driven by the customer's phone number(s). If a customer wanted to add information to the database, they would fill out the 911 CARES form . The form asks for the customer's name, address, telephone number(s) and either the permanent medical condition (described in a few brief words) or the hazardous material information associated with the customer's address. Once the form goes through the appropriate processing steps, the information is entered into the database. From that point forward, if a 911 call were to be placed from that customer's telephone, this supplemental information will pop-up on the 911 EMDs screen and they will pass this important information along to the local responders.

In March of 1996, the 911 CARES database (then known as Supplemental ALI) was put to the test when a 911 call was received from a Nashua woman. When the call came into the 911 EMD, the only thing heard was a barking dog. Thankfully, the woman had submitted a 911 CARES form indicating she had a sleep disorder and there was a medical dog trained to dial 911 in her home. The 911 EMD relayed the information to the local dispatch agency and help was on the way. As it turned out, the woman had stopped breathing and an alarm was sounding on her breathing machine. If the alarm sounded, the dog was trained to knock the kitchen wall phone off the hook with his nose and then rake his paw over the speed dial pad which had been programmed to dial 911. Not a single word was spoken and the woman received the help she needed.

If you or one of your family members has a permanent medical condition you'd like to enter into the 911 CARES database or if you have hazardous materials you'd like to enter into the 911 CARES data-base, you can download a 911 CARES form by clicking here  or contact the Division of Emergency Services and Communications business office at 603-271-6911 for a paper form.

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