TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County has launched it's new text-to-911 system Wednesday.
But the system was not adopted for convenience. Being able to text in an emergency helps people who cannot talk or hear well, or someone who needs help but doesn’t want anyone to hear them talking on the phone - such as someone hiding in their home while an intruder is there.
Authorities say the system should only be used if you cannot make a voice call and only if it's an emergency.
Guidelines for using the new system follow:
- The first text should include the location and nature of the emergency
- Keep messages brief
- Do not text videos or pictures
- Keep the phone nearby for further instructions
"Call if you can, text if you can't -- voice is the choice -- texting technology is a back and forth exchange of information. It's not fluid and interactive like voice calls are,” said Debbie Grady of Snocom 911.
Pierce County has now joined King, Clark, Thurston, Clallam, Jefferson, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Snohomish, Kitsap, Grant and Spokane counties as counties that have the service.
Though not all 39 counties in Washington state have the service, the Washington Emergency Management Division says all 911 centers in Washington are currently working to upgrade their systems in order to accept texts.
Though the system has proved to be useful, some counties had problems when they launched the system. People were texting to see if the service worked, causing unnecessary work for dispatchers and prank texts that resulted in officers being dispatched for no reason.
Cox Media Group
