Tied Up in Someone's Trunk? Now You Can Text 911 for Help.

“WTF my frend iz not breathing ther iz a bottle of pills on the flr, plz help .”  ”plz send location, can u do CPR, LMK thx.”

That is an example of a what a text conversation between a wayward teenager and a 911 operator might look like.  But soon we’ll know for real, because 911 texting is the latest thing in mobile trends!  Black Hawk County, Iowa, is the first locale to offer 911 texting – free and unlimited!  It’s the best development in emergency calling since rollover 911 minutes.

Easy to make fun of, maybe, because texting is kind of dumb and stuff, but there are surprising advantages to a 911 texting service…

He said 911 texting should be of particular help to the county’s deaf and hard-of-hearing residents, who have had to rely on more cumbersome methods to reach 911.

There have also been several cases around the country of kidnap victims summoning help by surreptitiously texting friends or relatives, who then called 911. With direct texting to 911, they should be able to get help faster.

Also, texters will soon be able to send pictures of the crime or accident scene, which will help first responders prepare.  The downside, besides that this obviously beneficial service is only available in one county in Iowa, is that

For now, only subscribers to i wireless, a local carrier affiliated with T-Mobile USA, will be able to use the service, and only within Black Hawk County.

“You ever want to see your family again?  Then sign up today for the new i-wireless service from T-Mobile USA!  Sign up now, because offers like these don’t last forever!”

Soon you’ll even be able to Twitter @911 to get help, just like Perez Hilton.

Source: AP via OhGizmo.