Bargersville Fire Department rolls out tool to help EMS crews
BARGERSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — The Bargersville Fire Department is rolling out a new tool to respond better to emergencies before they happen.
“This helps us help you,” Kaleb Buchanan, public information officer at the Bargersville Fire Department, said.
It’s called “Community Connect.” it’s an online profile that businesses and people living in the area can set up to help crews understand what they are walking into if there’s an emergency at your house.
Bargersville is one of the first in Indiana to take the preventive approach.
“You can put in who lives in the home, ages zero to five, six to 18, any elderly over 65 years old, you can put in any mobility issues, anything that we might need to know that would help us in the emergency and come to you,” Buchanan said.
Users can also include info on someone with special needs, pets and potential hazards.
“Do you have a basement? Do you have a pool? Do you have smoke detectors in your home? It’s completely up to you on what you want to put in there,” Buchanan said.
Additionally, gate and garage codes can be included, along with photos.
Buchanan says it’s an easy and secure process.
“This program it is as secure as online banking with the same encryption. Our crews cannot view your information unless we are dispatched to your home,” Buchanan said.
He believes the tool will be a game changer.
“It’s like a playbook written for your home, a cheat sheet that gives us the information, a roadmap that’s specialized in specific to your home. In emergencies, seconds count, and this ‘Community Connect’ gives us those seconds,” Buchanan said.
For information on how to join “Community Connect,” click here.
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