Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about the CARES system

New Hampshire 911 CARES (Citizen Assistance Registry for Emergency Services) is a program which allows individuals to register specific medical conditions under their phone number. That way if you ever needed to call 911 from one of the registered phone numbers, the 911 dispatcher would be able to see the name, physical address (not necessarily the location of the caller), and medical condition of the CARES Individual and relay that information to first responders before they arrive on scene.

Before creating a 911 CARES account and creating profiles for CARES Individual(s), it is important to understand the following terms:

  • Account holder: You must have a CARES account to be able to log-in and enter CARES Individuals into the database. Just because you have created a 911 CARES account DOES NOT mean that you are entered into the CARES database. As such, account holder information does not show up on the 911 dispatcher screen. For information to appear on the dispatcher's screen, the appropriate phone numbers need to be associated with a CARES Individual.
  • CARES Individual: CARES Individuals are the individuals you would like to enter into the 911 CARES database. If submitting medical condition(s) on behalf of yourself, you need to create an account AND a CARES Individual profile. It is important to note that you can register multiple CARES Individuals under a single account – this can be useful if you are a medical provider or caretaker with multiple patients, or if you're just looking to register multiple family members.

The 911 CARES database can be accessed by going to cares.desc.nh.gov. If you do not have access to a computer / internet, paper forms can be mailed to:

NH Department of Safety – DESC
ATTN: 911 CARES Program
50 Communications Drive
Laconia, NH 03246

When we receive a phone call from a telephone number associated to a CARES Individual, the medical condition(s) and other information submitted by the account holder is displayed on the 911 telecommunicator's computer screen and can be shared with first responders so they can have a better understanding of the emergency situation before they even arrive on scene.

If your medical condition is not listed, the condition does not meet the criteria for NH 911 CARES because of existing systems that are already in place. When you call for a medical emergency, our telecommunications staff will complete an interrogation using a comprehensive medical protocol system. This system is designed to quickly determine the primary complaint and send the most appropriate response.

Please note: 911 CARES does not accept information about a CARES Individual's medical alert device or pet medical conditions.

CARES Individual information can be updated/deleted by logging in to the 911 CARES database (cares.desc.nh.gov) or by emailing NH911CARES@desc.nh.gov. If you would like to update/remove information but do not have access to a computer / internet, requests can be mailed to:

NH Department of Safety – DESC
ATTN: 911 CARES Program
50 Communications Drive
Laconia, NH 03426

Yes, registering with the 911 CARES database ensures 911 telecommunicators will be able to see submitted medical information when you call 911. Additionally, the CARES program allows individuals to designate additional phone numbers that may call 911 on their behalf, meaning this important information can be accessed and relayed to emergency personnel, even if the CARES individual is not the one making the emergency call.

All 911 CARES account holder and CARES Individual data is stored in secure database that can only be accessed by authorized personnel. Additionally, this information will only appear on a 911 telecommunicator's screen when a call is placed from a telephone number that is associated with a CARES Individual.

Account holders are required to sign in at least every 18 months to keep their CARES Individual(s) active in the 911 CARES database. The Division of Emergency Services and Communications encourages account holders to sign into their accounts on a consistent basis and keep CARES Individual information and medical conditions up-to-date. After four years of inactivity, any CARES Individual(s) associated with the inactive account will be removed from the database entirely.

If you have any questions regarding the 911 CARES program, you can email NH911CARES@desc.nh.gov or call us at 603-271-6911.

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