A new text-to-911 service launched in Miami-Dade allows residents to request emergency assistance via text. This service is accessible throughout the county and benefits individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or in situations where calling is challenging. Text alerts must strictly follow formatting rules and advise against slang or multimedia, ensuring clarity in emergencies. While efficient, dispatchers may find it harder to determine the location of texters, highlighting the need for precise location details. This initiative took over five years to implement and involves trained dispatchers experienced in managing both voice calls and texts.
To use the texting service, messages must be addressed to 911 without any additional spaces, dashes or other characters. Text messages should not include abbreviations, slang, emojis, photos or videos.
It's extremely important when you are texting, keep it simple. [Text] 'I have an emergency,' provide the exact address [and] city location.
This initiative was in the works for over five years. Those handling 911 texts are the same trained dispatchers who'd be handling calls.
It's just another tool in the toolbox for someone in a situation where they can't do a voice call, that they're able to, you know, text their emergency.
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