[Durham INC] Durham 911 Center Launches T-Mobile Texting

[PublicAffairs]

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CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701

News Release


News Media Contact:
Amy Blalock
Sr. Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 11253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov>
http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://YouTube.com/CityofDurhamNC


For Immediate Release: September 10, 2014



Share!  T-Mobile customers can now text Durham 911 Center for emergency help; http://bit.ly/1lTpIUW



Durham 9-1-1 Center Launches T-Mobile Texting

DURHAM, N.C. - T-Mobile has now joined Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint in enabling its cell phone customers in Durham County to send text messages to 9-1-1 in an emergency.

According to Durham Emergency Communications Center Director Jim Soukup, texting "do's and don'ts" for T-Mobile customers are the same as with the other providers. "Text-to-911 should be used only when calling is not possible. Texts should be short, free of abbreviations and factual, providing the location and nature of the emergency," Soukup said.

T-Mobile customers are reminded that communicating by voice is the most effective method for 9-1-1 service and texting should be used primarily in the following circumstances:
*         When calling 9-1-1 is not possible, such as if the caller is deaf or speech-impaired
*         If a caller is otherwise unable to speak
*         If speaking would be unsafe, as in the case of abduction or home invasion

*         During a major weather event the voice pathways for cell phones can become jammed, but often texts can get through

The Durham Emergency Communication Center remains the first 9-1-1 center in North Carolina, as well as the one of the first 9-1-1 centers in the United States, to enable text-to-9-1-1 technology using 9-1-1 digits and live-call takers. Durham is also the first major municipality to enable the direct 9-1-1 texting feature for its residents through four major wireless carriers.

To learn more about text-to-9-1-1 technology, contact Soukup at (919) 560-4191, email at James.Soukup at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:James.Soukup at DurhamNC.gov>, or like at http://www.Facebook.com/Durham911.

About the Durham Emergency Communications Center
The Durham Emergency Communications Center is the primary public safety answering point for the City and County of Durham. Guided by the City's Strategic Plan, the Center helps to ensure that Durham is a safe and secure community by providing around-the-clock 911 access and services to the residents and user agencies in and around Durham County. Services include, but are not limited to, emergency and non-emergency requests for assistance; dispatch of police, fire, and emergency medical services; other city/county support agencies; and other duties as required. The geographic service area encompasses 296 square miles with approximately 250,000 residents. The Center has earned the internationally recognized APCO Project 33 Certification from the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International, Inc.; Emergency Medical Dispatch Accreditation by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch; and accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement  Agencies. The Center was the first, and currently, one of only four centers in the world to hold these three accreditations simultaneously. To learn more, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/op/911/Pages/Home.aspx or like at http://www.Facebook.com/Durham911.

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