The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) announced a new online transaction that allows customers with a driver’s license, beginner’s permit or identification card to enter emergency contact information for their SCDMV record. In the event of a collision or other medical emergency, law enforcement will have access to this information and may provide it to emergency medical personnel.
“We provide information to law enforcement everyday, but our role is very limited,” said Executive Director Shwedo. “This new transaction allows us to go a step further and help first responders save lives.”
To enter emergency contact information, customers should visit the SCDMV website at www.scdmvonline.com and select Public Services from the Online Services menu. Participants may designate two individuals as emergency contacts by entering their name, address and telephone numbers. Customers may change or update their information at any time by logging on to the system. SCDMV recommends that citizens add the information for their underage children, talk to their spouses about adding emergency contact information and help elderly parents who do not have internet service enter their information.
“Adding emergency contact information is important for everyone,” said Shwedo. “Without it, the only thing law enforcement has to go on is the name and address on a person’s driver’s license or ID card. Many times that information is not enough to locate the nearest relative. Using the emergency contact information, the next of kin can be just a phone call away.”
Although the emergency contact information is only available to first responders and trauma centers through law enforcement, Executive Director Shwedo says SCDMV will continue to look for ways to improve the system. During the initial phase of the project, SCDMV met with representatives from several emergency service organizations to determine if they could connect directly to the emergency contact information. System incompatibilities and a lack of funding prevented this connection, but none of the organizations involved wanted to put the project on hold.
“Our goal in developing the Emergency Contact Information system is to help save lives. Just because the system doesn’t have all the bells and whistles we eventually want it to have doesn’t mean we shouldn’t implement now. As it is, the emergency contact information contained in our records can save lives. And saving one life is a good enough reason to roll it out now,” said Shwedo.
The Emergency Contact transaction is now available online at www.scdmvonline.com.