Summit County Sheriff’s Detective Joseph Black wants to share important information about the text to 911 program.

In an emergency, seconds count

“This morning, an SSA asked me a great question: ‘Can a deaf person text 911?’ The answer is yes! The Summit County Emergency Communications Center (SECC) has a new system that allows people to text 911 in an emergency.”

If calling 911 is not an option due to hearing impairment, safety concerns, or other reasons, texting 911 is a viable alternative. Texting 911 from a mobile phone or device allows the person to communicate with the Emergency Dispatcher. Deaf people who have a TTY device can also use that to speak with a 911 dispatcher.

Using the Text-to-911 System is as Easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Open your texting app and enter “911” in the recipient field.
2. Type your message like you normally would. Be sure to include your location and the emergency.
3. Press send.

PRO TIP: Keep messages short and skip the back story. Send the basics first: where you are and what you need. That way, the dispatcher can get First Responders to you. Also, try not to use abbreviations when possible to avoid confusion.

Text-to-911 can be an invaluable tool to save lives, so share the message with others in our community.