CINCINNATI -- The family of Kyle Plush joined the city Tuesday in filming a public service announcement about the new Smart911 system.
The Smart911 system is designed to make it easier for first responders to find a 911 caller in an emergency. Residents and others who spend time in Cincinnati or elsewhere in Hamilton County can go to Smart911.com to sign up for the service. Information that people choose to provide — like photos, medical notes, car info and emergency contacts — can be provided to first responders in the event of an emergency.
Kyle, 16, suffocated inside his minivan on April 10. He called 911 twice as he was trapped, but the police officers sent out never found him. His mother, Jill Plush, previously said she believes Smart911 could have saved Kyle's life.
"Kyle loved to help others and I know he would want us to share this message with you," she said at a news conference earlier this month.
Smart911 works with cellphones and landlines. When a person registered with the system calls 911, their information is displayed to the operator.
In Kyle's case, he told the 911 dispatcher the color and make of his van, but the dispatcher said she didn't hear it so the information was never relayed to the officers. With Smart911, that information could have been automatically provided to the dispatcher.
To sign up, visit Smart911.com.