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Oh, hi!
Did you know that the average teenager sends and receives
about a hundred text messages a day? For some of us
it's a lot more. We text to stay in touch with friends and work on school projects
and sometimes we even text our parents.
With text messaging used for just about everything today,
it make sense to use it to get help in an emergency, like
reporting a fire, requesting an ambulance, or calling the police.
In Vermont, customers of Verizon Wireless and AT&T
can send a text to 9-1-1 in an emergency. Vermont was the first state in the
nation to have statewide text to 9-1-1
and today more than ninety percent of the people in Vermont with cell phones
can send a text to 9-1-1 if they need help. It's important to remember that if you
can make a voice call to 9-1-1,
that's still the best option. Talking to the 9-1-1
operator is the fastest way for them to get the information they need to send
the right kind of help. But, if you're in a situation where you could be in danger
if someone hears you making a voice call to 9-1-1,
or if you have trouble hearing or speaking, then sending a text to 9-1-1 may be
the best option.
Remember: Call if you can,
text if you can't. Because texting 9-1-1 is so new,
even for those of us who text all the time, it's worth taking a moment to learn
how to use it properly.
The first thing to remember is that just like dialing 9-1-1,
sending a text to 9-1-1 should only be done if there is an actual emergency.
9-1-1 operators deal with texts they receive just as seriously as voice
calls,
so we need to take it seriously too. When sending a text to 9-1-1,
you don't need to put in any spaces or dashes between the numbers...
just enter it like you would any other text address. In the message area,
enter your location first. Include a street address
and the name of the town or city. If you don't know the address,
write a short description your location, such as the names of nearby roads or any
landmarks.
Then put the reason for the emergency
and the kind of help you need, such as police, fire department, or ambulance.
Remember, abbreviations or slang can be confusing
so you should not use them when texting 9-1-1. For the text to go through to 9-1-1,
you must be located in your carrier's Vermont coverage area.
If the text didn't go through, you should receive a bounce-back message like this.
If you get a bounce-back message, then call 9-1-1
from either your cell phone or a landline. After you successfully sent the text
message,
you should receive a reply text from the 9-1-1 operator
asking one or more follow-up questions. You should answer the questions as
quickly and directly as possible.
And that's all there is to it! If you have cell phone service
from one of these carriers, text to 9-1-1 is quick and easy to use,
and in Vermont, it's a really great way to get help in an emergency.
The next time there's an emergency
remember: Call if you can, text if you can't.