Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office To Implement Text-T0-911 To Enhance Emergency Accessibility
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has announced that Text-to-911 will be coming to the county over the next 90 days (courtesy of National Emergency Number Association)
The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office today announced the implementation of text-to-911, a vital emergency communication service that allows residents to text message 911 dispatchers when calling is not possible.
Text-to-911 provides deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired individuals direct access to 911 and can be beneficial when it is unsafe for the caller to speak with telecommunicators. The technology also provides automatic translation for more than 200 languages, allowing both the caller and the telecommunicator to communicate in their primary language.
This new service will improve access to emergency services in Saratoga County and improve response times for those with hearing or speech impairments and non-English-speaking callers.
Officials stress that in an emergency, community members should continue to dial 911 as their first option, following the national guidance: “call if you can, text if you can’t.”
“The ability to text 911 in an emergency when someone may be unable to make a phone call can potentially save many lives and is particularly beneficial for those who are hard of hearing, deaf, or speech impaired,” said Saratoga County Undersheriff Jeffrey Brown. “Not only does implementing this new technology improve service for people with disabilities, but it also helps ensure Saratoga County remains at the forefront of Next Generation 911 technology, as New York State implements the digital system statewide.”
“With the addition of text-to-911 functionality, we are ensuring that every member of our community can access emergency services whenever they need them,” Steven Gordon, Director of Emergency Communications, said. “This technology provides our telecommunicators with an additional tool, helping to ensure they receive critical information when someone cannot make a voice call. The platform allows 911 to send a secure link for callers to share video and photos, providing 911 and first responders with enhanced situational awareness and more accurate information.”
Text-to-911 in Saratoga County is being implemented in collaboration with Disability Rights New York and powered by Prepared, an emergency response platform.
The technology is expected to be fully operational in approximately 90 days, and notifications will be provided to the public as various cell phone providers complete the process.