PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Citizens in Waupaca County can now send a text to 911 in case of an emergency.
Officials say while voice calls are best when contacting 911, the text option can be used when placing a call is not possible, for example, if the caller is deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech impaired or when speaking out loud would put the caller in danger.
If there is an emergency and you are unable to make a call, remember these steps:
- Don’t text and drive
- In the first text message send the location and type of emergency.
- Text in simple words – send a short text message without abbreviations or slang.
- Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 911 call taker.
Just like dialing 911, texting to 911 is for emergencies only. It is a crime to text or call 911 with a false report. Prank-texters can be located.
If you decide to text to 911, keep these things in mind:
- A text or data plan is required to place a text to 911.
- If you do not receive a text response from 911 to confirm it has been received, try to contact 911 another way.
- Text to 911 services are not available everywhere in Wisconsin or the US.
- Text to 911 cannot include more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 911.
- Text to 911 is only available in English. If you require services in another language, call 911 to be connected with a translator service.
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