Text To 911 Service Launched In Chester County
By Jim Melwert
WEST CHESTER, Pa., (CBS) -- You can now text 911 for help in Chester County, as their service is up and running. But emergency officials say voice calls are still the best way to get help.
The text service is designed for those who can't call 911, for example, someone caught in a violent domestic situation, and also for the hearing impaired. However it has its limitations as compared to voice calls to 911, says Chester County Director of Emergency Services Robert Kagel.
"Call if you can, text if you must. And that is a really important phrase there," said Kagel.
For example, Kagel says, if someone is near the Chester County border, depending on the cell tower, the text could go to the wrong county. Kagel says anyone who does use text-911 service needs to use words and no text abbreviations.
Chester County is the first to have a text 911 service, Montgomery County is expected later this Spring.