Emergency text messaging services explained

Emergency text messaging services are a technology that enables emergency call operators to receive text messages.[1] Its use is encouraged for people with hearing impairment or who have trouble speaking; it can also be used for situations when calling may pose a safety risk, such as a home invasion or domestic abuse.[2] Concerns mainly arise from the accessibility of such technologies as they are not universally applied and may be inconsistent; therefore, voice calls are generally preferred for its speed, accessibility, and clarity.[3]

Description

The technology allows an individual that requires emergency assistance may text an emergency number as opposed to calling it. Emergency services are conventionally reached through voice-based calls dialling an emergency telephone number. However, such systems assume that the caller is able to communicate by voice and may exclude the impaired. It is generally presented as an alternative, and not as a replacement, to calling (which is still preferred.)[4] Texting to emergency services present themselves as a viable alternative if the individual is disabled, in a situation where speaking out loud would compromise the caller's safety, where speaking would impede help, or where network coverage is limited, as text messages take up less data.[5] Some services require prior registration (such as in Singapore and the United Kingdom, see below), some are strictly for the medically impaired, while most are available for usage by the public-at-large as necessary.

Adoption

Australia

Unlike 911 used in the United States, Australia uses triple zero as its emergency number. As of November 22nd 2023, contacting emergency services through texting 000 is not currently possible. However, for individuals with hearing or speech impairment, 106 remains the only option, as it is accessed via a teletypewriter (TTY.)[6]

Canada

Texting to emergency services is adopted in Canada in the form of T9-1-1, however it is not as mature or accessible as the systems found elsewhere. The system is strictly for used by the 'deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, or speech impaired persons' and is not available for the general public. [7] Furthermore, a voice call to 911 must be made to initiate the text connection and cannot be contacted simply by texting to 911. It also requires registration and a valid messaging plan. It is also noted that coverage is not as extensive compared to other nations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police discourages its usage unless medically necessary.[8]

France

In France, there is a separate phone number for the deaf and hearing impaired, 114. It is separate from the phone numbers 15, 17, 18 or 112. Through this service, individuals can contact emergency services through text and an application. However, it is not strictly restricted to disabled individuals and there is no registration process; the Deputy Director stated that it is for 'anyone... even temporarily.'[9]

Singapore

In Singapore, a joint initiative called the Emergency Short Message Service Helpline Services' allows for texting (via SMS) to reach emergency services. There are two numbers for contacting emergency services through SMS, they are 70999 (Singapore Police Force) and 70996 (Singapore Civil Defence Force.) However, unlike other emergency texting services, it is only available for professionally diagnosed persons with hearing loss and/or speech difficulties and requires registration for usage through organisations such as SG Enable, Singapore Association for the Deaf, or TOUCH Community Services.[10]

United Kingdom

Texting emergency services in Britain is offered by Relay UK.[11] through a service called emergencySMS (eSMS).[12] Similar to the system in Singapore, individuals must register beforehand to use the service; however it is done in the UK by texting 'register' to 999 instead of contacting a separate association. [13] It was first proposed as a early day motion (EDM) in Parliament[14] and implemented in the United Kingdom in 2009 for impaired individuals.[15]

United States

In the United States, the technology is referred to as Text-to-911. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maintains a registry of areas supporting text-to-911. All carriers are required to send bounce-back messages to inform the sender that the message could not be received if the technology is not supported by the local call centre.[16] Text-to-911 has been supported by the four major cellular providers in the United States since 2014,[17] [18] but, it is only supported by approximately 54% of the country's more than 6,000 emergency call centres. However, in many areas that do not support text-to-911, the message will be directed to a statewide response centre. The National Association of the Deaf and AccesSOS maintain a map of counties providing text-to-911.[19]

In August 2009, Waterloo, Iowa, was the first county to begin receiving texts to 911.[20]

Challenges for widespread implementation in the US

Call centres in the United States are usually funded by both state and federal funding, therefore limited funding and outdated technology have slowed the widespread adoption of text-to-911. Moreover, many communities are concerned about overuse of texting, which may slow response times. This leads to decreased local allocation of resources and funding as it is not conclusive whether text-to-911 is effective to invest in, thereby relying on federal funding which may be slower.

Availability by state or territory

Below is the list of individual states and territories of the United States of America, sorted by alphabetical order, and their implementation of Text-to-911 (as of July 2024):[21]

StateTwo Letter CodeSupporting Text to 911
ALStatewide[22]
AlaskaAKPartial
ArizonaAZStatewide[23]
ArkansasARPartial[24]
ASNo
CaliforniaCAStatewide[25]
COPartial[26]
ConnecticutCTStatewide[27]
DelawareDEStatewide[28]
District of ColumbiaDCYes
FloridaFLPartial[29]
GeorgiaGAPartial[30]
GuamGUYes[31]
HawaiiHIStatewide[32]
IdahoIDStatewide[33]
IllinoisILPartial[34]
IndianaINStatewide[35]
IowaIAStatewide[36]
KansasKSPartial[37]
KentuckyKYPartial[38]
LAPartial[39]
MaineMEStatewide[40]
MarylandMDStatewide[41]
MassachusettsMAStatewide[42]
MichiganMIPartial[43]
MinnesotaMNStatewide[44]
MississippiMSPartial[45]
MissouriMOPartial[46]
MontanaMTPartial[47]
NebraskaNEPartial[48]
NevadaNVPartial[49]
New HampshireNHStatewide[50]
New JerseyNJStatewide[51]
New MexicoNMNo[52]
New YorkNYPartial[53]
North CarolinaNCStatewide[54]
North DakotaNDStatewide[55]
Northern Mariana IslandsMPNo
OhioOHPartial[56]
OKPartial[57]
OregonORPartial[58]
PennsylvaniaPAStatewide[59]
Puerto RicoPRYes[60]
Rhode IslandRIStatewide[61]
South CarolinaSCPartial[62]
South DakotaSDStatewide[63]
TNPartial[64]
TexasTXPartial[65]
UTStatewide[66]
VermontVTStatewide[67]
VirginiaVAStatewide[68]
U.S. Virgin IslandsVIPartial
Washington (state)WAStatewide[69]
West VirginiaWVPartial[70]
WisconsinWIPartial[71]
WyomingWYPartial[72]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: What you need to know about texting 911. Tsukayama . Hayley . Washington Post. en. 2020-03-10.
  2. Web site: 2016-07-05 . Too dangerous to talk? Some cities explore 911 texting . 2020-03-10 . AP NEWS.
  3. Web site: Text-to-911 is here, but it isn't everything you might think . 2024-07-12 . CNET . en.
  4. News: Text to 911 . 13 Jul 2024 . San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.
  5. News: Text to 911 Services . 13 Jul 2024 . Weld County . 'When should I use Text-to-911 services?'.
  6. Web site: Joel . 2019-05-03 . Calling Triple Zero (000) . 2024-07-12 . AMTA The Voice of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Industry . en-US.
  7. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions (Text with 9-1-1) . 12 Jul 2024 . textwith911.ca.
  8. Web site: Government of Canada . RCMP . 2008-10-07 . BC RCMP - RCMP cautions against using text messaging for emergencies . 2024-07-12 . bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
  9. Web site: Thompson . Hannah . 2024-02-09 . 114 emergency number helps if you cannot communicate easily in France . 2024-07-12 . www.connexionfrance.com . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Emergency Short Messaging Service (SMS) Helpline Services - A joint initiative by the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the National Council of Social Service. . 12 Jul 2024 . scdf.gov.sg.
  11. Web site: Contact 999 using Relay UK . 12 Jul 2024 . relayuk.bt.com.
  12. Web site: 2017-01-20 . EmergencySMS Service . 2024-07-13 . West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust . en-US.
  13. Web site: Emergency SMS using Relay UK . 2024-07-12 . Avon and Somerset Police . en-GB.
  14. Web site: 18 November 2009 . Text message 999 service (Early day motion) . 12 Jul 2024 . parliament.uk.
  15. Web site: Contact 999 by text . 12 Jul 2024 . Inclusion London.
  16. Web site: Text Messaging 911 Takes Effect: What You Need to Know . 2020-03-10 . ABC News . en.
  17. Web site: 15 May 2014 . U.S.' Text-To-911 Service Goes Live, But You Probably Can't Use It Yet . 2020-03-10 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2018-10-31 . Why is it so hard to text 911? . 2020-03-10 . AP NEWS.
  19. Web site: Text to 911. text911.info. 2024-09-07.
  20. Web site: Iowa 911 center is first to accept text messages. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002142744/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32303244/ns/tech_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/iowa-center-first-accept-text-messages/. dead. October 2, 2017. Svensson. Peter. 2009-08-05. msnbc.com. en. 2020-03-10.
  21. Web site: 3 July 2024 . Text to 911 Master PSAP Registry . 12 Jul 2024 . fcc.gov.
  22. https://www.al911board.com/node/12 Can I text to 9-1-1?
  23. Web site: 12 July 2021 . Text-to-911 Now Available Throughout Arizona . 2021-07-12 . Arizona Center for Disability Law . en-US.
  24. https://www.dps.arkansas.gov/emergency-management/adem/plan-prepare/911-2/ 911
  25. Candice Nguyen, Jeremy Carroll, Erin Panell and Michael Horn. "Text-to-911 can't locate you as accurately as voice calls, putting vulnerable more at risk", NBC Bay Area, 27 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  26. https://sites.google.com/a/co911rc.org/co911rc/resources/text-to-911 Availability of Text-to-911 in Colorado
  27. Web site: 25 September 2019 . Text to 911: How Often It's Being Used . 2020-03-10 . NBC Connecticut . en-US.
  28. Web site: 5 March 2018 . New "Text-to-911" Feature Now Available Statewide . news.delaware.gov.
  29. https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/telecommunications/public_safety_communications/emergency_communications_board/statewide_text-to-911_initiative Statewide Test-to-911 Initiative
  30. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22232/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Idaho
  31. https://governor.guam.gov/press_release/next-generation-911-system-set-to-go-live/ Next Generation-911 System Set to Go LIVE
  32. https://ags.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Text-to-911-FAQ-Final-11.24.2015.pdf Hawaii Text to 911 Frequently Asked Questions
  33. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22235/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Idaho
  34. Randhawa, PJ, and Leigh Lesniak. "Text to 911 deadlines missed in Chicago, other Illinois areas", NBC 5 Chicago, 8 July 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  35. https://www.in911.net/text-for-911.html Text-for-911
  36. Web site: 10 October 2017 . Text 911 now available in Iowa . 2020-03-10 . www.kwqc.com . english.
  37. https://www.kansas911.org/services/ Services
  38. https://www.kcdhh.ky.gov/ois/smart911.html Smart911 and Emergency Dispatch Centers
  39. https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/net911feereport-Louisiana-Consolidated911Statewide-2023.pdf Louisiana Consolidated Report on Statewide 9-1-1 Communications Activity
  40. Web site: 17 December 2018 . Text-to-911 Now Available Throughout Maine . 2021-09-11 . www.govtech.com . en.
  41. https://odhh.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/08/MD-Text-to-911-FAQ-v1.pdf STATE OF MARYLAND TEXT-TO-911FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  42. https://www.mass.gov/doc/text-to-9-1-1-public-faqs/download Text-to-911 Is Available in Massachusetts
  43. https://www.michigan.gov/msp/-/media/Project/Websites/msp/911/Policy-Page/Bylaws-and-Guidelines/State-911-Plan-v-50-FINAL.pdf?rev=ca2306015c0f4e798202a18949671bb2&hash=5FF8FAD4C3184516F3E0663FE5725308 State of Michigan State 911 Plan
  44. Web site: 11 May 2018 . Text-to-911 Available Statewide in Minnesota . 2020-03-10 . www.govtech.com . en.
  45. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22247/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Mississippi
  46. https://www.missouri911.org/textto911/consumer Text-to-911
  47. https://dojmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/MT-Text-911-Master-PSAP-Registry_JUN2023.pdf Text to 911 Jurisdictions in MT
  48. https://psc.nebraska.gov/state-911/ng911-information-911-service-system-advisory-committee NG911 Information & 911 Service System Advisory Committee: Text to 911 Implementation Map
  49. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22251/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Nevada
  50. https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/emergservices/nh911/documents/20150112_text_to_911_gov_press_release.pdf Press release
  51. https://www.nj.gov/911/home/textto911v2.html Text to 9-1-1
  52. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22253/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: New Mexico
  53. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22255/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: New Mexico
  54. https://www.govtech.com/em/preparedness/north-carolina-completes-yearslong-transition-to-ng911 "North Carolina Completes Yearslong Transition to NG911"
  55. Web site: 31 October 2014 . North Dakota Launches Local Solution for Statewide Next-Gen 911 .
  56. https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/das.ohio.gov/technology-strategy/9-1-1-program-office/Homepage/Text2911.pdf Text-to-911 Map
  57. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22259/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Oklahoma
  58. https://www.oregon.gov/oem/911/pages/text-to-9-1-1.aspx Text to 9-1-1
  59. https://www.pema.pa.gov/911-Program/Public/Text-To-911/Pages/default.aspx Text-to-911
  60. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22262/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Puerto Rico
  61. https://ri911.ri.gov/media/126/download Text-to-911 Now Available in Rhode Island
  62. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22264/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Puerto Rico
  63. Web site: 22 March 2021 . South Dakota now offers 'text to 911' .
  64. https://www.tn.gov/commerce/e911/district-resources/text-to-911.html Text-to-911 Materials
  65. https://csec.app.box.com/s/k4ravu3epk59xewhw15f98hvdaq3dtej Text to 9-1-1 FAQs
  66. https://www.uca911.org/Text-911 Text to 911
  67. https://e911.vermont.gov/text-911 Text-to-911
  68. https://vgin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=63587e8da690459b965bfd032819903c Virginia Text to 9-1-1 Deployment
  69. https://mil.wa.gov/texting911 Texting911
  70. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22272/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: West Virginia
  71. https://www.fcc.gov/file/22273/download Annual Collection of Information Related to the Collection and Use of 911 and E911 Fees by States and Other Jurisdictions: Wisconsin
  72. https://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/administration/public-safety-communications-commission/next-generation-911.html Next Generation 911 (NG911)

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