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Premise Alert Program and Bracelet Program can help police help you

by Melanie Jongsma

LANSING, Ill. (February 17, 2018) – The Lansing Police Department offers two programs that are designed to help alleviate potential misunderstandings when a disability or disease affects communication.

For example, if someone has hearing issues, and police responding to a call are not aware of it, they could conclude that the person is being intentionally noncompliant. That misunderstanding could make a situation more stressful and dangerous than necessary.

Premise Alert Program

The Premise Alert Program lets officers know about special situations within a home before they arrive on the scene and need to communicate. Residents can choose to enroll in the program by submitting a form that describes their condition. When the Lansing Police Department receives that form, the address is “flagged,” so dispatchers know to provide the additional information to officers who are called to respond.

The Premise Alert Program is helpful for any condition that might affect behavior in a way that impacts communication or response time. Mobility issues, Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, mental disabilities, stroke, autism, speech impediments, sensitivity to sound—these are all examples of conditions that could be misinterpreted by police responding in an emergency situation.

A downloadable PDF of frequently asked questions is available from the Village website:

Any resident interested in signing up for the Premise Alert Program should contact Brian or Donna at 708-895-7125.

Bracelet Program

The Bracelet Program is similar. Emergency ID Bracelets can be issued to Lansing residents 60 and older or any resident with a disability or special need. While the Premise Alert Program flags a person’s address, the Bracelet Program, in essence, flags the individual. The bracelet lets responders know what special conditions are at play so they can respond appropriately. Lansing’s 911 center keeps on file the confidential emergency contact information of the bracelet wearer.

Any resident interested in signing up for the Bracelet Program is asked to contact the program coordinator, Lori Fields, at 708-895-7128. There is a one-time $10 cost for the bracelet.

 

Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma grew up in Lansing, Illinois, and believes The Lansing Journal has an important role to play in building community through trustworthy information.