People in the Culver City Real Estate area, along with the rest of Los Angeles County, can now send text messages to 9-1-1. This new feature will help hearing and speech impaired residents, as well as those in situations where making a phone call could be dangerous, to access life saving help during emergencies. Martin Feinberg, Culver City Realtor, is pleased to know that community members have this new Text to 9-1-1 option.

To text 9-1-1 during an emergency remember the following:

• Please only use Text to 9-1-1 as a last resort. Call if you can-text if you can’t.
• Enter the numbers “911” in the “To” field. Do not include any other recipients.
• The first text message to 9-1-1 should be brief and contain the location of the emergency and the type of assistance you need (Police, Fire, or Medical).
• Text in simple words-do not use abbreviations, acronyms or emojis. Do not include photos or videos. Texts must be in English.
• Push the “Send” button.
• Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 dispatcher.

Here are a few things to remember concerning Text to 9-1-1 in general:

• Do not send a test text to the system. Keep the system open to receive emergency texts only.
• A text or data plan is required to send a Text to 9-1-1 message.
• Text to 9-1-1 location accuracy varies by cell phone provider and may be unreliable. Text to 9-1-1 is not available if your phone is roaming.
• If Text to 9-1-1 is not available or is temporarily unavailable, you will receive a bounce back message: “Text is not available, please make a voice call to 9-1-1.”
• 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.
• Please do not text and drive.

If there is an emergency, fire, or a life and death situation, then do not hesitate to call or text emergency services. Anytime there is a medical problem or something that requires the Culver City Fire Department, calling or texting 9-1-1 is completely appropriate. During situations that are not an emergency but which require the response of the police, use the local non-emergency 7-digit telephone number.

Martin Feinberg, Realtor, also reminds readers that calling or texting 9-1-1 when there isn’t an emergency is against the law. It is a “misdemeanor under California Penal Code Section 148.3 for any person to willfully use the 911 system for any purpose other than reporting an emergency. It is a felony if someone is injured or dies as a result of emergency service response to a false call.”

For more information on Text-to-911, please visit http://www.caloes.ca.gov.