Crime & Safety
Arlington Launches Text-to-911 Service, Giving Voice to People Who Can't Call Police
Arlington is the latest in a series of police departments to do so, while warning people to call if they can.
Arlington County has just launched "Text-to-9-1-1," allowing people who aren't able to call the option to text their emergency and get help.
The tagline is "Call if you can; text if you can," and it is aimed at people who have hearing or speech impairments, according to a statement from the county.
In an emergency, authorities prefer that you call, so don't use the service unless you absolutely have to. The reason why voice calls are preferable is that dispatchers are able to give commands easier, especially timely ones like CPR and basic first aid instructions.
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Arlington is the latest in a string of jurisdictions nationwide to start using Text to 9-1-1. As we reported in January, police in Roswell, Ga. posted on Facebook a real exchange they had with a deaf person using the service who alerted police to two children left unattended in a car near a mall at which she was shopping.
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