Sandusky County EMA adds 9-1-1 texting option
FREMONT - Sandusky County Emergency Management Agency has added a new dimension to its system upgrade that it rolled out last week — texting to 9-1-1.
Lisa Kuelling, Director of Sandusky County EMA, said she was waiting for the State of Ohio to include the county on its statewide map of available emergency services. Once it was listed a week ago, the local EMA posted an announcement on its Facebook page that texting to 9-1-1 could now be used in Sandusky County.
"Text to 9-1-1 is a newer module the state agreed to two years ago," she said.
Kuelling said there are situations where residents and patrons may not feel comfortable or safe calling 9-1-1.
"There could be multiple situations," she said, noting someone may think there is an intruder or be involved in a domestic violence situation. In both instances, a person can text 9-1-1 on their cell phone and no one will hear them speaking. Another situation could be an injury in a vehicle accident where a person cannot talk but is able to text.
System will provide location of signal's origin
Whether a 9-1-1 call or a 9-1-1 text, the phone dials into the emergency system and goes through what Kuelling called a "rebidding process." That process gives dispatch a location where the signal is coming from and therefore the location of the person contacting a dispatcher for help.
"We started this process between the state and cell phone carriers about a year ago," she said.
Kuelling added that all cell phone carriers are included in the 9-1-1 texting system. "Anything that can dial 9-1-1," she said.
To text for help, put in 9-1-1 instead of a phone number.
"We ask when sending an initial text to 9-1-1, it should be the emergency and an address."
Kuelling said the message to the dispatcher should be short and concise, such as "212 State Street, intruder".
"They won't call back," she said about dispatch. "The dispatcher will come back with (text) questions."
Dispatcher will keep in contact through texts
The dispatcher who receives the 9-1-1 text will text back instructions that the person needing assistance should follow.
"The dispatcher will keep in contact with them," she assured. "They can keep in constant contact with them."
The dispatcher will send emergency services to the location and text back to the person needing assistance on updates about the situation — such as police have checked the house, intruder found, or even come out of hiding to assist emergency personnel.
In certain situations, receiving texts can help people stay safe, she said.
"It's another tool in our tool box," Kuelling said, one that offers a way to lessen the risk for people in certain situations.
"We've already done test calls with it," the director said about the Sandusky County system.
In the past week, Sandusky County EMA posted instructions for 9-1-1- text on its Facebook page at SanduskyCounty EMA.
In coming weeks, Kuelling said her office will be working to get the word out on the new service through the agencies it works with, including Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, area foodbanks, and the United Way of Sandusky County.
rbrooks@gannett.com
419-334-1059
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Sandusky County EMA adds 9-1-1 texting option
