It always seems to me that the United Kingdom, one of the hotbeds of texting in Europe, is always behind when it comes to organisations such as the emergency services or government departments deploying text services.
That’s not always the case though. Hot on the heels of today’s news about Mumbai Police Department issuing a text number for disabled citizens, the emergency services in Cumbria (think North England/Lake District/Lowlands of Scotland) have launched a similar service.
SMS Text News reader Jeremy caught this news (via Hearing Concern):
A new text number is being launched in Cumbria to help deaf and speech impaired people get in touch with the emergency services.
The force said the move will mean all three emergency services will be available through a single number.
The service has been developed with the North West Ambulance Service and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
Currently disabled callers must use a talk type machine and go through an operator to access emergency services.
The force said the new service will strengthen the relationship between the emergency services and Cumbria’s disabled community.
Chief Inspector Stephen Halliday said: “I believe the implementation of this new service is a great step forward for us and the wider disabled community.
“We strongly believe anything we can do to make contacting the police in an emergency situation as accessible as possible is vital to the quality of the service we provide.”
This service will only be available to deaf, hearing impaired or speech impaired people.
The number to use is being distributed through the Cumbria Deaf Association.
Good news, good news. I’m sure this will be a very useful service.
More of the same, please, across the country!
Interested in visiting Cumbria? (You never know).