Iowa 911 Call Center Becomes First to Accept Texts

Interesting. I don't know how this is going to work when picture messages become available to send. Kids are gonna be texting things to dispatchers for fun...just like when they play with the phone and try and play dial 911.

 

I can see this as more of a followup service, than an initiating one. The whole point of 911 is that it's a quick 3 number dial and you're talking to a live person pretty quickly. It takes a little time to type out a text, especially on a phone without a keyboard. However, a followup picture, might aid in talking someone through first aid and pictures can have the location embedded in them.

 

Are they going to train the 911 Call Center crew in texting-lingo?

LOL=Laughing Out Loud
BSIH=Been Shot in Head
IUDGHIN5minIGD= If you don't get here in the next 5 minutes, I'm gonna die
2late= nevermind, send a body-bag instead

 

OR...what we would see alot of around here....

SLIDNBTSOMW= Shes Lying. I did not beat the sh** out of my wife.

 

When you have 2 or more of the same texts coming in from an accident on the interstate, it might be more accurate initial info than talking on the phone. I know I was having a hard time understanding the dispatcher & she for me when I called in an accident several weeks ago. My voice is high pitched/kid-like to begin with, then add in the adrenaline fast/shaky speech... I could've texted the location then assisted the victims, rather than give them the little info I had the instant it happened.

 

I'd be nervous my text wouldn't make it....like it would get lost in cell space which can happen from time to time.