No

by Lirpa Yadsloof

Created on: April 27, 2008

Absolutely not. Text messaging should not be used to notify 911 in any emergency situation. The cell phone calls that 911 centers receive on a daily basis are overwhelming an already overwhelmed system, and the main part of the problem is lack of information about where the cell phone caller is calling from!

It is a common misconception that 911 centers can easily trace cell phone calls. Many people have read about "Enhanced 9-1-1," or "E911," when signing up for a cell-phone plan, or buying a new cell phone. E911 is usually billed as "emergency location service," and it gives people a false sense of security when calling 911.

When you call 911 from your cell phone, the dispatcher answering the phone will see a location on the screen or map that approximates the location you are calling from. The location is derived from triangulating the callers cell phone signal, the nearest cell phone tower, and the 911 center's receiving tower. This location can be accurate to 50 feet, or sometimes 150 miles. It's far from an exact science. If a 911 center takes a cell phone call, and the person calling doesn't know where they are, or are unable to speak, a cell phone trace is initiated.

First, the cell phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc) is contacted. The 911 dispatcher explains the situation, and asks for a cell phone trace. If the connection is still unbroken, the cell phone carrier can then "ping" the location for as long as there is an open line. Sometimes, due to repeated "pings," the cell phone's location can be narrowed down to a workable area to search. Other times, especially when the line has been disconnected, the cell phone carrier can only provide the home address and contact number of the person who has signed up for that phone number. In situations such as car accidents or medical emergencies, this information is generally not helpful.

Usually, people are surprised at the time delay that a cell phone trace causes. From the time 911 is called, a cell phone trace can take anywhere from five minutes to several hours, depending on the cell phone carrier. Most major cell phone carriers require a "letter of demand" from 911 centers. This means a formal request explaining the situation must be faxed over to the cell phone carrier's office before they will release any information about the owner of that cell phone. Depending on the workload in the 911 center, this can be very problematic, especially when they are trying to find the location of a life-threatening emergency.

The pre-paid cell phones, and defunct cell phones (meaning they only can connect to 911) are typically the most difficult to trace. When someone calls from a pre-paid cell phone, and they do not stay on the line, 911 centers can usually only trace that cell phone to the point of purchase. In extreme situations, where there is obviously a life-threatening emergency, the pre-paid cell phone manufacturer can sometimes look up how that particular cell phone was purchased. If it was purchased with a credit or debit card, then the 911 center can find the owner of the phone and try to go from there. Typically, however, these phones are purchased with cash and there is usually no more information to be found and the 911 center can only send resources to the location on the map, which could range to over one hundred and fifty miles.

If text messaging was added to this mix, and the person needing assistance was to text 911 the location of the emergency, along with other descriptors, every single time, then it's possible that resources could be dispatched to that area. However, in emergencies, most people do not calmly and quickly give the 911 dispatcher their location. It usually takes a dispatcher several questions to narrow down the caller's location. Also, text messaging activates your phone only briefly. There is no constant location or signal for the cell phone carrier to "ping" and once you sent your text message, the link is completely cut off. If your situation were to change, then you would have to send another text message, updating the 911 center. It is far easier for the trained dispatchers to verbally interact, if possible, with the caller and get the most up to date location and information. This is most certainly an area where technology does not outweigh human intelligence.

The safest course of action when calling 911 from your cell phone is to stay on the line if you are able to. If you can get nothing else out, try to tell the dispatcher your location. If the 911 center can get even the road or cross street that you are close to, they will send help to that area and try to find you. If you are unable to speak, and you need to call 911, do not hang up. An open line to a 911 center is far easier to trace than your last location, and the triangulated location on their map is notoriously unreliable. Don't place your safety in the hands of your cell phone.

If you are able to speak, stay on the line and give as much information as you can to the dispatcher. It sometimes seems that the questions being asked of you do not pertain to your emergency. For example, you could be reporting a motor vehicle collision, and the dispatcher is trying to narrow down the location by asking you to look at businesses or landmarks in the area. You could be more concerned about the specifics of the accident, and in a stressful situation, most people don't want to slow down enough to answer questions about the location. This can be very dangerous. Location is everything, so try to get that to the 911 dispatcher first, before any other details are explored.

Never rely on the "E911" feature of your cell phone. If you have a land line inside your home, it is far better to call from that line than your cell phone, especially if you have spotty cell service where you live. If you are calling from somewhere other than your home, remember, get the location out first, then the rest of the details second. The first priority in an emergency is finding out where you are. Families should review this information with each other and any young people who may be using cell phones so as to reduce the likelihood that your cell phone can not be traced in an emergency.

Text messaging is a quick easy way to communicate with other cell phones, and its place in the world of communication is rapidly rising. However, calling 911 is about emergencies, and adding text messaging to the complicated procedure would almost certainly cost lives in the long run.

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