New Text to 911 feature launches in Delaware

A new, potentially life saving program was launched in Delaware on Monday. The first state's 911 centers will now begin accepting emergency requests for help via text message.

"Call 911 if you can, text 911 if you can't," is the slogan behind Delaware's newest 911 feature.

Joe Thomas, the Director of Sussex County Emergency Services said, "We're launching our texting to 911 service across the state, which we are very proud of and very fortunate to have."

Here's how it works: You simply text 911, and your first text should be short. You should tell the dispatcher the location of your emergency and whether you want fire, police, or an ambulance to respond.

A dispatcher will soon be in contact with you and will ask for further details from there.

Thomas said, "So what this allows, it allows someone who either can't talk to us or has some sort of medical condition or may be deaf who can't communicate through a regular voice line, it allows them the ability to text us to 911 and for us to answer them and get them the help they need."

Just like phone calls, dispatchers can track where the text is coming from.

Secretary Robert Koup with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security said, "Not only does it identify here where that callers phone number is, it will also identify where that cell phone is that they're utilizing so that way we can send first responders to their aid."

Officials say Delaware is one of the first states to launch the program.

"There's about 8 or 9 other states that have already introduced text to 911," Secretary Koup said. "So I think it puts us maybe in the top 20 percentile as far as being progressive. It's one of the advantages of being a small state, you know, when we're able to introduce something with our three county partners you know, we can get it done fast."

Despite the exciting launch of the new feature, officials say you should still try to call instead of text.

Thomas said, "Well we would still rather have that voice connection with our 911 operators but if you can't talk, then obviously we want you to text, so we can get help to you as you need it."

Officials say you should not include pictures, videos, or emojis in your texts to 911.

Officials are also issuing a warning to prank texters. They say pranksters can be identified and prosecuted according to local laws and regulations, so save the unique feature for emergency situations only.