CALL IF YOU CAN TEXT IF YOU CAN'T LAKE COUNTY 911 LAUNCHES TEXT-TO-911 Most citizens in Lake County can now send a short message service (SMS) text message to 911 for emergency help when unable to make a 911 voice call. This new public safety service has been brought to Lake County by OEM Director Steve Stanley and is available to wireless customers of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless cell phones. which is critical during a life-threatening Wireless customers must have mobile emergency. It may take slightly longer phones that are capable of sending text to dispatch emergency services in a text messages. The solution is available for to-911 situation because of the time customers who use the native SMS provided involved: Someone must enter the text; by wireless carriers. Customers should the message must go over the network and consult their over- the-top (OTT) messaging the 911 Dispatcher must read the text and provider to determine if and how text-to-911 then text back is provided by the OTT application. The texting function should only be used Text-to-911 was not developed as a replacement to a voice call to 911 in an emergency situation, but rather as arn enhancement to reach 911 services in certain situations: The caller is hearing/voice impaired; a medical emergency renders the person incapable of speech; when speaking out loud would put the caller in danger, such . as a home invasion, a domestic violence incident, or an active shooter scenario; a or when on the edge of the cellular network. where there might not be voice coverage, but tex situation, all wireless callers should . Providing detailed and exact location information and nature of the emergency in for emergency situations that require the first text message is imperative, since an immediate response from police, fire Lake County 911 will initially only receive or emergency medical services. For non- emergency situations, customers should contact their local public safety agency via a 10-digit non-emergency number: 406-249-2893 the location of the cell phone tower closest Text abbreviations, emoticons or slang should never be used so that the intent of the dialogue can be as clear as possible. Out-of-Service cellphones will not be able to Text-to-911; there must be an active data plan for Text-to-911 to work. nd/ Customers must be in range of cell towers in Lake County. If customers are outside Do not joke around. If you text to 911, or near the edge of the county, the message responders will be dispatched. get through. When in an emergency remember to "Call 911 if you can; Text 911 ifmay not reach Lake County 911. Text-to-911 should only be used to . Texts to 911 from areas where the service is not communicate between emergeney help Lake County citizens should keep the following important information in mind if they send a text-to-911 available will receive a "bounce back" message explaining that Text-to-911 is not available in that area, and to make a voice 911 cal and the texter No pictures, video, other attachments, or other recipients can be appended to the message. .Texts sent to 911 have the same Customers should use the texting option only when calling 911 is not an option Lake County 911 Steve Stanley lakeoem@lakemt.gov 160-character limit as other text messages. Wireless customers who use Usage Controls should remove this feature to e Using a phone to call 911 is still the most efficient way to reach emergency help. Texting is not always instantaneous nsure ful text-to-911 capabilities.