In response to the triggering of a user's mobile terminal, such as through pushing a dedicated button, by inputting a predetermined sequence of digits, through a menu selection, or automatically in response to an external input, a digital record containing user-specific information that is stored in the mobile terminal is packetized and transmitted over a signaling channel through the public wireless network, where the one or more packets are marked as being emergency 911 (E911) packets. From the header information in these packets, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in the wireless network, recognizes these E911 packets as being destined to that MSC's nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and transmits the information contained in those packets to that PSAP.