Have you ever texted 999 ?

Wibbles
Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
I am a non-speaker
I am suposedly registered on my mobile to get emergency help via text
I have no idea whether this will work - or whether I get priority treatment
Have any of you ever used this service via Text ?

Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi I'm not aware of this but I would think the NHS website will have info about contacting emergency services for someone in your situation 
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    edited November 2022
    I registered via RNID about 5 years ago but have never used it..........

    How to send an emergency SMS to 999

    Text the word ‘register’ to 999. You’ll need to register again if you change your phone number.

    Find out more about emergency SMS and how to use it on the Relay UK website.

    I assume that it still works as a standalone txt - independant of RelayUK ?
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    I have emailed RNID to ask them whether a txt still works - because RelayUK takes time to set up and use !
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    edited November 2022
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Thanks for sharing that will be very useful for lots of people 
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    It could even save a life ?
  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 63,129 Championing
    It looks very useful for a lot of people, I wasn't even aware of it
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    edited November 2022
    I have asked Admin to advertise the fact - so everybody is aware
    But - be aware that you do need  to register, prior to the emergency (which does take a while) - so REGISTER TODAY !!

    Text register to 999 and follow the instructions on the received response !

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 15,316 Championing
    Thank you for sharing this.

    I find it hard using the phone but probably could do so in an emergency but this is useful to know!

    I wonder why you need to register, though? Why not make it so everyone can just use it if needed?

    E.g. someone who can usually use the phone but is stuck in an abuse or burglary situation and doesn't want to be heard, it could save a life like you say.
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    66Mustang said:
    Thank you for sharing this.

    I find it hard using the phone but probably could do so in an emergency but this is useful to know!

    I wonder why you need to register, though? Why not make it so everyone can just use it if needed?

    E.g. someone who can usually use the phone but is stuck in an abuse or burglary situation and doesn't want to be heard, it could save a life like you say.

    I guess that it probably goes through to a specialist call handler - but don't really know
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    Also - I understand that in areas of low signal, a txt may get through due to needing a lower bandwidth than speech !
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,027 Championing
    I wonder whether a txt to 999 would still be dealt with as a priority case today?
    With ambulance strikes 
  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,392 Championing
    I wasn't aware of this but will register now.  Thanks.  :)


    I can no longer speak effectively.  Found myself in an awful position recently when someone broke into my property through the front door.  They had a master key and we were supposed to have been notified by the landlord.  (I only learnt this after the event, I definitely wasn't notified in advance, but I can't prove that).  Anyway, I couldn't speak to tell them to leave, or to call anyone, and I have virtually no strength to put up any sort of physical fight.  Just as they were trying the door handle I managed to turn the lock and they left.  One of the most vulnerable situations I've been in though, and I felt shaken for days afterwards.  It's genuinely made me wonder if there was anything if I could have done if there had been criminal intent behind it...
  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    Commiserations @OverlyAnxious, take care old chap.
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    @OverlyAnxious I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope you've had the locks sorted since then? 

    It's brilliant that @Wibbles has shared this for those who have difficulty speaking.