S.A.id. Program (Special Needs Alert and Identification)

Dickinson County has announced the introduction of the S.A.Id Program. Dickinson County residents can complete the information form and a S.A.id. alert will be created in the records management database. 

Stay updated by visiting the Dickinson County Website at https://dkcoks.gov/1245/Dickinson-County-SAId-Program.

What is the S.A.Id. Program?

The S.A.Id. (Special Needs Alerts and Identification) Program provides local first responders with the resources to identify and assist individuals with special needs who find themselves in emergency situations.

This program allows parents, guardians, caregivers, or individuals the opportunity to complete a form that gives Dickinson County First Responders permission to create a specialized alert in their communication database. The S.A.Id. Alert defines the individual’s condition and/or needs to first responders prior to their arrival to an incident, thereby improving their response, interaction, and communication with the individual.

Who should participate?

Individuals with a physical or mental impairment including those with an increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions that require specialized assistance to best serve their needs and provide for increased safety for the individual and First Responders.

How do you sign-up?

The S.A.Id. Participation Form can be completed one of two ways:

• An individual can complete and submit the online at  https://dkcoks.gov/1245/Dickinson-County-SAId-Program.

• Complete The S.A.Id. Printable Participation Form and drop off at Dickinson County First Responders’ locations. 

Once an alert has been established for an individual, information must be submitted annually by completing the S.A.Id. Location Alert for it to remain active in the database.

What happens after a participation form is submitted?

The information is entered into our secure, emergency communications database.

Two alerts are created:

• Personal Alert: This alert is tied to the name and date of birth of the individual. It will never expire. 

• Location Alert: This alert is tied to an address. It will be good for one year and must be updated annually or when an individual moves to a new residence.

The alerts will automatically provide key information to first responders (police, fire, emergency medical services) responding to a call via their in-car technology. The information included in the alert allows first responders to take extra steps to assist the individual based on his or her needs. 

How will the information contained in the alert be used?

When an officer is dispatched to a call for service, the database will notify the officers of any S.A.Id. Alerts attached to a person known to be involved in the incidentor the location of the incident. 

It is important to note that the S.A.Id. Alert is not a label, but only an additional resource to assist the first responders with providing the best possible response to the incident. The information in the S.A.Id. Alert is not a public record, will not be entered as part of the call for service record, and will not go out over the emergency response radio system.

How was the program started?

Our friends over in Saline County have the S.A.I.d. Alert Program.  We think it is a great opportunity for our folks over here and were inspired by their action.  Here is how S.A.I.d. came about.

S.A.Id. was spearheaded by Lead Dispatcher Amber Pfeifer who has a special needs child who likes to wander and is unable to state his address and phone number. “I realized that the Salina Police Department needed some type of a proactive alerting system. After researching different alert systems across the country, the program in Norman, Oklahoma really stood out. Their motto of “Let it be S.A.Id. that we care. Let it be S.A.Id. so that we can be there when you cannot” represented exactly what I was hoping to achieve; so when my son couldn’t provide the information , law enforcement would know the answers.”

Additional Information

S.A.Id. is not a tracking program, and it is not intended to be a labeling system. Individuals with special needs have enough labels attached to them by society and medical doctors. S.A.Id. is simply a way for first responders to better serve the members of their community. S.A.Id. Alerts are not for first responders to single out individuals. Instead, they allow first responders to better identify those with special needs during an emergency to ensure that they are safe. 

Questions? 

Email Sergeant Skylar Reynolds at sreynolds@apdks.org or call 785-263-1213.