Texting to 911 (the US and Canadian emergency services line) is an alternative to making a voice call. While calling is the preferred option, there are plenty of circumstances in which this isn’t possible. These include the person being deaf or hard of hearing, for example.
However, the service has fairly limited functionality. In this article, we’ll look at when you can text 911 and how to do so.
The steps for texting to 911 in an emergency are pretty simple. The most important thing is that it’s still an emergency service, so don’t text 911 in a non-emergency.
Here’s how you use the texting to 911 service.
If you have time, include the following details:
The emergency responder’s first response will usually be to ask you to call. So, to save time, be sure to say why you can’t in your first text. It’ll save time in their information-gathering phase.
3. Remain in contact if you can. It might be helpful to ask how you can help any victims or tell the responder that you need to put your phone away.
As mentioned, calling is always the preferred option, simply because it’s quicker. But it’s not always an option, so here are some examples of when you should text 911 in an emergency instead.
This is one of the more obvious reasons. Say you’re hiding in a building and don’t want to let someone know where you are, texting to 911 can help keep things discreet.
If this is the case, you should make it as clear as possible in your first text that you’re hiding and might not be able to check your phone.
Another big reason for texting to 911 is if you’re deaf or hard of hearing. Of course, text relay devices for phone calls are still preferable, but you might not have access to one.
Again, make it clear in your first message that you can’t communicate over the phone.
Sometimes, phone calls can be blocked but SMS lines remain open. In these situations, texting to 911 is basically your only option. If so, the emergency responders may already know about the phone line issues, so will be ready for SMS messages instead.
Similarly, in areas with poor signal, sending a text is an easier option. If the line is so bad that you can’t stay connected or hear the other person, texting is definitely more efficient.
While being able to text 911 in an emergency sounds like a great idea, it’s not always that easy. There are some glaring limitations of the service, such as:
Some US states don’t support text to 911. Currently, these are Alaska, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and South Dakota. If you try to text to 911 in these areas, you’ll receive a bounce-back text.
It’s a legal requirement for you to receive this, and it’s as obvious as it sounds. A bounce-back message simply tells you that your message wasn’t received and that you need to call. The reason is so you don’t think emergency services are coming.
Text to 911 isn’t available on messaging apps that don’t support texting to US or Canadian phone numbers for obvious reasons.
Also, you can’t use it through self-contained or social media-based messaging apps. For example, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, as you communicate directly through the app. You’d need to text to 911 on your phone’s built-in texting app, for example.
First, communicating via text can take longer than over a call. You have to type the message, send it, and wait for a reply. In an emergency, all this waiting isn’t ideal.
Then there’s the actual act of texting. If you’re in a rush and aren’t thinking straight, you might not notice autocorrect issues or confusing sentences. The more difficult a text is to understand, the longer it’ll take the responder.
Even in areas that use text to 911 for an emergency, not all call centers support it. It’s a more time- and labor-intensive option than calling, so there might not always be a responder available straight away. Unfortunately, with texting, you won’t know this.
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Text to 911 only supports SMS messaging, meaning no photos or videos. While it might be helpful, it’s unfortunately not a feature that texting 911 in the United States offers.
Texting to 911 isn’t available for everyone because it’s quite a resource-heavy thing. Also, emergency services don’t want to rely on texting because of its limitations. If you’re deaf or have a speech impairment, the best way is still to use a text relay device.
