First steps of Text To 9-1-1 arrive in Saline

Saline County E-911 has become the first location in the region to offer Text To 9-1-1 Services.

The system is provided by InDigital of Indiana and currently is set up to allow the dispatch center to Text a 9-1-1 caller.

The first step is known as Outbound Text from 9-1-1. Outbound Text from 9-1-1 allows the telecommuncator to initiate a Text 9-1-1 call to the caller.

"If a situation occurs where the dispatch center receives a voice or traditional 9-1-1 call and the caller is unable to continue talking - such as in a home invasion - a call taker can text the caller and continue with the 9-1-1 call," said Saline County E-911 Director Tracy Felty, in a prepared release.

"We receive many calls from the Garden of the Gods area, where the cellular signal is not very good, and it takes less of a signal for a text message than it does for a voice call," Felty said in the release.

"A telecommunication can use the Outbound Text from 9-1-1 to continue getting more information, without losing the caller or running down a cellular phone battery, while attempting multiple voice calls to the caller."

Once the local wireless phone companies complete their technical work, soon the ability to receive Text To 9-1-1 calls will also be available. Right now those in an emergency will still need to dial 9-1-1 and start a voice call.

A voice call is always preferred, will allow for a location to be easier displayed and is still quicker than a text message.

If a caller attempts to initiate a Text To 9-1-1 call, the caller will receive a message back stating that the service is not available and to make a voice call to 9-1-1. In addition, during the Outbound Text from 9-1-1 session, once the session has ended the caller will receive a text message stating that the session has ended and that if the caller has a further emergency, they will have to dial 9-1-1.

Currently, only Northwest Central Dispatch in Arlington Heights is providing Text to 9-1-1 services. Saline County becomes the first downstate 9-1-1 center to implement 9-1-1 Texting Services.