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Iowa 911 Now Accepts Texts

By the Associated Press

Posted Aug 5, 2009 2:18 PM CDT

(AP) – An emergency call center in the basement of the county jail in Waterloo, Iowa, today became the first in the country to accept text messages sent to 911. "I think there's a need to get out front and get this technology available," the county's police chief says, adding that 911 texting should be of particular help to deaf and hard-of-hearing residents, who have had to rely on more cumbersome methods.

There have also been several cases around the country of kidnap victims summoning help by surreptitiously texting friends or relatives, who then called 911. With direct texting to 911, they should be able to get help faster. An exec at the firm that upgraded the call center said calling should still be the preferred way to reach 911, but texting is a useful complement. A lot of kids already think they can text 911, he said.

A text to 911 in one Iowa county can now summon law enforcement.
A text to 911 in one Iowa county can now summon law enforcement.   (AP Photo)
Emergency services in one Iowa county can be summoned with a text to 911.
Emergency services in one Iowa county can be summoned with a text to 911.   (Wikimedia Commons)
Emergency services in one Iowa county can be summoned with a text to 911.
Emergency services in one Iowa county can be summoned with a text to 911.   (Wikimedia Commons)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Fondue
Aug 6, 2009 12:25 PM CDT
This is a good idea. Let's just hope we don't see anything like: 9-1-1, follow us on twitter.
Alexandria
Aug 6, 2009 7:51 AM CDT
It's a good idea. Especially in a situation where talking could get you hurt or killed.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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