Placer County 911 callers can now send a text instead if they are unable to speak
Placer County residents or visitors traveling through the area can now send text messages to 911 during emergencies when callers are unable to speak to dispatchers on the phone.
The new text messaging function gives hearing and speech-impaired residents the ability to communicate with dispatchers, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday on social media.
Sheriff’s officials also said people in situations where it is too dangerous to talk can take advantage of this “potentially lifesaving option.” Text messages will be routed to a nearby 911 dispatch center the same way a 911 call is routed. But officials said people with an emergency should call 911 if they are able to.
The first text message to 911 should be brief and contain the location of the emergency and type of help needed, and you should be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 911 call taker. Dispatchers will not automatically know your location.
The text messages to 911 should be in English, as there is currently no language interpretation available for text messages, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Photos or videos cannot be sent in text messages to 911, and the text messages should be written in plain language; not with popular abbreviations or emojis that can’t be recognized. Text messages to 911 cannot be sent to more than one person, so don’t send 911 messages to anyone other than 911.
Sheriff’s officials said callers who are deaf or hearing-impaired should use a TTY or telecommunications relay service when text messages to 911 are not available. Text messages to 911 will not be available if the wireless carrier cannot determine a location of the device sending the message, and it’s not available if the device is “roaming.”
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 5:10 PM.
