S.A.F.E.R. Program

S.A.F.E.R. (Special Awareness for Extra Risks) is a voluntary special needs registry created for the citizens of Pelham and those who frequently visit our city. The purpose of the program is to assist first responders when they encounter people who have various physical, intellectual, or developmental abilities.

Personal information provided about a participant is strictly confidential and is only shared with emergency personnel when a potential interaction arises. Our goal is to forge positive relationships between the community, our police officers, firefighters, and paramedics while yielding a SA.F.E.R. environment for all parties involved.

Who Is Eligible

  • Residents of Pelham
  • Frequent visitors
  • Employees of Pelham businesses

Conditions

  • Alzheimer's/Dementia
  • Asperger's/Autism
  • Behavioral disorder
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Down Syndrome
  • Hearing/Vision/Speech impaired
  • Intellectual/Developmental disability
  • Mental illness
  • Mobility impaired

Local Statistics

  • 22,274  Shelby County residents have a physical or cognitive disability. That is 16% of Shelby County's population.
  • 33.2% of adults in Alabama have some type of disability.

Registration

To register for the SA.F.E.R. program, the candidate or authorized family member must answer all questions on the registration form. Information may also be given over the phone to the SA.F.E.R. Coordinator. Questions include:

  • Name
  • Birthdate
  • Home address
  • Physical description
  • Diagnosis
  • Communication method
  • Emergency contacts and more

There will also be an option to submit a photograph, which is vital for first responders when attempting to identify the participant.

Information will be entered into our CAD system, so it can easily be searched by assorted identifying characteristics, such as location, physical features, name, vehicle description, and more. Our CAD system is housed on a secure server inside the Pelham Police Department.