Southport Fire Department program aims to help make first responders more aware of needs, hazards

SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WECT) - The Southport Fire Department is installing new software with a module titled Community Connect for residents to connect with firefighters to help save lives.

Citizens can register special needs, hazards associated with their homes like natural gas, and information about their medications and their pets at the link here.

All the information will stay confidential and only be used in the event of a fire or medical emergency, per the SFD. Anyone who has questions can call 910-457-7915.

“Minutes seconds matter when you’re doing an emergency response. So the more information that we have before we get to the residence, or the structure allows us to be much more efficient in how we’re going to provide care,” said Brian Kolhoff, a Southport fire inspector and ISO officer.

Kolhoff also said that Community Connect gives first responders more confidence when going into an emergency situation. He also said that the software will allow officials to better accommodate community needs.

“You know, we have a lot of, you know, children that have sensory issues that if we know when we roll in there and we got the sirens ablaze, and that really sets them off or causes issues for them. We’ll know right up front that we don’t need to maybe run sirens there. Or if we have somebody that’s confined to a bed,” said Kolhoff.

Community Connect is not only for health information. The software also allows people to enter pet information and any other obstacles that could be in a residence.

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