System and method for providing local assistance to a caller whose location is unknown

A method for requesting local assistance comprising:

• calling, with a calling device whose location cannot be determined, a public safety answering point to request local assistance;
• identifying devices proximate to the calling device and adding the devices to a list of devices proximate to the calling device;
• and
• sending the list of devices proximate to the calling device to the public safety answering point, wherein the public safety answering point identifies a device within the list of devices that is associated with a user that has volunteered to provide local assistance.

A system for providing local assistance to a caller comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing a set of instructions thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• receive, at a public safety answering point, a request for assistance from a caller whose location is unknown, the request for assistance received from a calling device;
• receive a list of devices proximate to the calling device from the calling device whose location is unknown;
• identify when a device in the list of devices proximate to the calling device has been registered as belonging to a person willing to provide local assistance;
• and
• send a request to the identified device to provide local assistance to the caller whose location is unknown.