You are now able to text 911 in an emergency with Minnesota’s new Text-to-911 program. This past month Minnesota officials implemented technology for 911 dispatchers to receive and send texts. Hopefully you will never have to use this new system, but if you do, this technology could be the linchpin in keeping you out of danger in an emergency situation where you’re unable to speak or must remain quiet in order to stay safe.
Jackie Mines, Director of the Department of Public Safety Emergency Communication Networks (DPS-ECN), depicts a frightening scenario,
“Imagine having to hide from an intruder in your bedroom closet or witnessing a domestic violence situation. Text-to-911 is a lifeline for people who would put themselves in harm’s way if they called 911.”
If it’s safe to talk, the DPS-ECN encourages you to first call 911 as speaking with a dispatcher is still the fastest and best way to receive help. For instance, dispatchers are able to more accurately pinpoint your location on a phone call than through a text and have been trained to take cues from background noise and voice inflections which can be imperative in helping you in an emergency situation.
“Call if you can, text if you can’t.” – DPS-ECN.
Text-to-911 also has a huge impact for those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or have a speech impairment. Before the rollout of the Text-to-911 program, there was no way for these Minnesotans to directly communicate with dispatchers in an emergency. Marie Koehler, Regional Manager of Minnesota Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, said in a press release, “Twenty percent of Minnesotans have some form of hearing loss. The communication barriers they experience are frightening when seconds matter most in an emergency.”
How do you text 911?
Using the texting service is easy and straightforward though the DPS-ECN asks that you follow a few guidelines so dispatchers can help you faster.
- Enter “911” in the “To” field.
- Text your location and type of emergency.
- Send message.
- Be ready to answer questions and follow instruction.
- The dispatcher will always text back asking if it’s safe for them to call you instead of texting.
- Use simple words.
- Don’t use abbreviations, emojis, pictures, or slang such as IDK, BTW, or THX.
- Keep texts to under 160 characters or the text may be received out of order or not at all.
While the ability to text 911 is a game changer for us Minnesotans, you should be aware of some limitations using the Text-to-911 service. The delivery of texts and speed of delivery are not always guaranteed and the response time to your emergency may be lengthened due to the time it takes to type and send a text. There’s no language translation with Text-to-911 and be aware if you’re traveling outside of Minnesota or along the state border, your text may not go through.
Again I hope you never have to use Text-to-911, but if you do find yourself in an emergency, remember: Call if you can, text if you can’t.
