Text to 911 may be a safer option

Just north of Columbus, in the state of Ohio in the USA, is the city of Upper Arlington; its Franklin County Emergency Communications Centres now offer a ‘Text to 911’ feature on smartphones, enabling its residents to send a text for emergency assistance if the situation warrants.

While calling 911 is efficient, certain situations might need a texting feature for ultimate safety under the following situations: in a threatening situation where a voice call could increase the threat; if the phone owner is deaf, hard of hearing or has a speech disability; if injury hinders the ability to speak; or if mobile phone reception is poor.

For victims of domestic violence, the ability to send a 911 text could be the safest way to get immediate help, without the abuser becoming aware.

The city police warn that the option is not fail-safe, with the chance that text messages may be delayed or that vital details for responders may not be conveyed. The preferred circumstance is to call the emergency line, as a two-way conversation with a trained dispatcher is typically a more efficient means to provide the help needed during an emergency.

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