Text to 9-1-1

Mobile users in Orange County now have the ability to send text messages to 9-1-1, giving hearing and speech impaired residents, or those in situations where it is too dangerous to dial 9-1-1, a potentially life-saving option. This new tool is available to the public using a mobile phone or device. The location services on the mobile device must be enabled. All Orange County, California public safety agencies can now accept texts to 9-1-1. As always, “Call if you can. Text if you can’t”.

Text to 9-1-1 Guidelines

See below for guidelines provided by Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA):

  • Enter the numbers "911" in the text "To" field.
  • The first text message to 9-1-1 should contain the location and brief description of the emergency and the type of help needed (police, fire, ambulance).
  • Push the "Send" button.
  • Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 text taker.
  • Text in simple words. Do not use abbreviations, emojis, or slang.
  • Keep text messages brief and concise.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC provides additional details on contacting 9-1-1 via text in an emergency:

  • If you can, always contact 9-1-1 by making a voice call, "Call if you can…text if you can't."
  • If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech disabled, and Text-to-9-1-1 is not available, use a TTY or telecommunications relay service, if available.
  • Location accuracy varies by carrier and should not be relied upon. Be prepared to give your location.
  • Text-to-9-1-1 service will not be available if the wireless carrier cannot ascertain a location of the device sending the message.
  • Text-to-9-1-1 is not available if you are roaming.
  • A text or data plan is required to place a text to 9-1-1.
  • Photos and videos cannot be sent to 9-1-1. They cannot be received at the 9-1-1 call center at this time.
  • Text-to-9-1-1 cannot be sent to more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 9-1-1.
  • Text must be in English. There is currently no language interpretation for text available. It remains in development.

How to Build a Text Template

A text template or SMS template is a text that you can use over and over. After you create your template, you should be able to select it, copy it into a messaging conversation, tweak it if you need to, then send it. SMS templates can contain words, punctuation, and, depending on what method you use, emojis and GIFs. SMS templates save you time. Instead of typing out an entire message, you can simply access a text template and insert it. It can also help you reduce the chances of making a mistake with spelling or grammar that might happen if you text quickly.

You have a few options for building your SMS template in either your iPhone, Android or Samsung device. Your choice will depend on what you need to make text templates for and whether you’re satisfied with your phone’s built-in options. If you’re not, you may want to consider downloading an app. (We suggest testing out the free options first.)

You also have the option to choose a third-party texting app with Android or iPhone. Pulse, for example, is a popular option. While the template setup steps will look different for each app, you can expect it to follow a similar process:

  1. Open the app and navigate to a texting conversation.
  2. Select an attachment or insert option.
  3. Choose your pre-written template or create a new one.
  4. Avoid using real words as shortcuts. You might want to make up a word to avoid mistyped texts.
  5. Insert the template into the conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Using Text-to-9-1-1 in an emergency might be helpful if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, or if making a voice call to 9-1-1 might be dangerous or not possible. However, if you are able to make a voice call to 9-1-1 and it is safe to do so, you should call instead of sending a text. Voice calls are usually the fastest, most efficient way to reach emergency help.

No. Texting 9-1-1 is different than making a voice call. When you call 9-1-1 from a mobile phone, the call center will usually receive your phone number and your approximate location automatically. But if you text 9-1-1, the call taker may not receive your phone number or location. So, if you text or call 9-1-1, it’s best to provide a correct address or location as quickly as possible.

Yes. While all wireless phones have the capability to dial 9-1-1 regardless of if that phone is active on a network, you can only send a text to 9-1-1 if you use a cell phone that has an active texting plan. Your mobile carrier’s regular texting rates will apply.

Simply type “911” in the “To” field of a new text message. Be sure to provide your location as soon as possible, along with a short description of the emergency. Use simple words and no abbreviations. Do not try to text while driving. Do not try to send a text to 9-1-1 that is part of a group text.

No. At this time, 9-1-1 call centers are not equipped to accept photos or videos attached to a text message. In addition, you shouldn’t try to send emojis to 9-1-1.

If you attempt to send a text to 9-1-1 where that service is not available or your phone is in “roaming” status, you should receive a “bounce-back” message informing you that the service is unavailable.

Calling 9-1-1 when there is no emergency is against the law. The same applies to texting 9-1-1. Do not “test” it to see if it works. You could tie up resources and prevent someone from receiving the help they need.