BY CAMILA FERNANDEZ
“Call police. I’m gonna die.”
Sent through a text by Eddie Justice during the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, these somber last words only go to represent an urgent, underlying defect in America’s communicating and dispatching system.
Justice was among several victims that night that were unable to text 911 directly because their city did not offer the service. They were not alone. In recent years, especially since devastation can quickly arise and attacks can easily escalate, victims who cannot place a phone call without attracting unwanted attention are forced to text loved ones for help. And oftentimes, it turns out to be too late.
Despite this, emergency call centers are still hesitating to expand on a crucial feature that could potentially save many lives: communicating with 911 via text messaging. The implementation of this service is critical, especially in a world where dangerous situations only increase in frequency by the month.
In recent years, especially since devastation can quickly arise and attacks can easily escalate, victims who cannot place a phone call without attracting unwanted attention are forced to text loved ones for help.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), out of the 6,000 dispatch centers nationwide, roughly 650 can accept text messages.
Passing legislation requiring emergency centers to implement a texting program can be tricky, especially when it comes to raising the funds to support more modernized dispatch systems. Although congressional legislation could speed the expansion of this texting feature, they are lacking bipartisan support.
Additionally, emergency centers have traditionally relied on local and state funding rather than federal, which is why it varies widely by state and even city. Different counties have access to different resources, and some cash-strapped communities may prioritize different features, such as police equipment.
It does seem to be a recent trend, however, for the United States to have strange priorities. But consider an average American’s life for a moment: we can order groceries with a quick tap, find a potential partner with an easy swipe or even livestream our every move to thousands of strangers with the click of a button. Everything is becoming electronic, claiming efficiency and inexpensiveness. What about our safety in the country that swore to protect us?
Everything is becoming electronic, claiming efficiency and inexpensiveness. What about our safety in the country that swore to protect us?
When it comes down to potentially saving dozens of lives from critical situations, such as shootings, abusive relationships, kidnappings, home invasions and more, texting 911 should be extensively considered and built upon. Texting would not entirely replace the calling program– it would be used in said extreme cases, which can provide more options to signal for help than only having one.
During the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February 2018, terrified students had to make hurried, hushed phone calls to authorities. Since then, Broward County has proudly made the text-911 feature available to its residents.
One’s life can change in a flash. Because of this, the safety of the community should be the first concern. Local and even national governments should invest in maintaining this as an ideal emergency option, in order to make help and security more accessible to those who need it.
Photo courtesy of WSVN
