HOUSTON – Imagine being in your home when a burglar breaks in. What do you do? You don’t want to risk being heard, or jeopardize your safety, so what are your options?
Did you know you can “call” for help in complete silence?
For generations, we’ve dialed 911 in case of an emergency. But now there’s a new way to ask for help.
“Not a lot of folks know about it, but you are able to text 911,” said Dustin Peeples, the communications supervisor for the League City Police Department. “Initially, it was rolled out for the hearing-impaired community. But it’s also for people who can’t call 911 if they feel they are being threatened or if they can’t speak.”
You simply pull out your phone, enter 911 and press send. A 911 operator will reply via text to help you with your emergency. This service is available in all of Harris, Fort Bend and Galveston counties.
While it has its advantages, 911 operators are quick to point out drawbacks.
“It’s not nearly as fast as a voice call,” said Sonya Clauson, a spokesperson for Greater Harris County 911. “The 911 takers cannot hear background noises, so they cannot get a feel for what’s going on. The average voice call is 90 seconds. Texting can be three to five times longer, so that could be six to seven minutes.”
Text 911 is just the beginning of a group of new services customers may experience someday.
“In the future, there will be a possibility of video chat and photos if there is a crime in progress,” Peeples said. “If we are able to see live video, we can give officers immediate updates with the description of the person.”
Still, people should be aware of various smartphone apps that make false promises. Some claim to call 911 for you and even promise to contact family members in case of an emergency.
Don’t be fooled. Many of those apps have not been tested and are not registered with call centers. The best way to get help is to call or text yourself.
“Our motto is, call if you can, text if you can’t,” Clauson said.
Channel 2 has compiled a list of do’s and don’ts for using this new technology. Watch the video for the best tips to keep you and your family safe.