RNID team up with Ambulance Services for 999 access via SMS

The emergencySMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard.

Simply by sending an SMS message to 999,  people can call for help and the emergency services will be able to reply direct.

The emergencySMS service has been developed by RNID, BT, Cable & Wireless, the DCLG, OFCOM, the UK Emergency Services and all UK mobile network operators. Phones need to be pre-registered before using the emergencySMS service.

More details are available at www.emergencysms.org.uk  and the emergencySMS leaflet can be downloaded here.