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5 October 2005 - Merseyside Launch 999 SMS
Service for the Deaf
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An innovative emergency text service has been launched by
emergency services in Merseyside for the hard of hearing, deaf, or speech
impaired people.
The first of it's kind, the service will provide a prompt and
effective means of contacting fire and rescue, police, ambulance and coastguard
services in an emergency.
Merseyside have approximately 250,000 people with hearing
difficulties, of which 5,000 are deaf. The new emergency text
service will only be available to people who are deaf, have impaired hearing or
speech impairments.
The new system will work in the following way:
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The emergency number is 61051 and will only apply to Merseyside.
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It will only be available to people who are deaf, have impaired
hearing or speech impairment.
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Text will be received at police control room via mobile 'phone
network 02.
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Caller will key in the type of incident and details.
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Reply will be sent with instructions to continue to seek other
help also.
Chief Superintendent of Merseyside Police, Colin Matthews said
of the new text service:
"Merseyside Police are working with other emergency services
and the local community to make contacting the emergency services as easy and as
effective as possible.
"The new SMS texting service takes advantage of the latest changes in
technology, and provides a prompt and effective means of contact for the
emergency services.
"This is one example of how we can improve our service, and I am sure that we
can develop many new and innovative ways for all our communities to improve
access to the services provided by the police, the fire and rescue service, the
ambulance service and the coastguards in an emergency."
Helen Gillespie, a deaf advocate at the fire service, said:
"I believe that it's a very important feature for the deaf
community as, up until the launch, deaf people or people with speech impairments
could not really call 999 unless they went through Type Talk or a third party.
"I do sometimes worry about if something happened to me 'how could I contact
999?'. Well, I've always thought just yell down the phone and hope that the
emergency services trace the call but as figures show it could be too late
before the call is traced.
"This text messaging service is crucial to our independence and freedom, as it
means we are always ready to make a 999 SMS call if necessary, as technology and
society these days means the majority own a mobile phone.
"As SMS is an important way of communicating in the deaf community, we figured
that 999 SMS would be successful."
Further information can be had by contacting the deaf advocates
at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service on voice phone 0151 220 0118, Minicom 0151
220 4143 or Typetalk to Minicom 18002 0151 220 4143.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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