In today's text savvy world, there are literally a billion different ways to get ahold of someone. Communication is always open and constantly evolving. Emergency services are no different either.

I just recently learned that gone are the days having only one way to get ahold of the police.

Did you know that if you find yourself in trouble in Maine, you can text 911 for assistance, according to Maine.gov?

Well this feature, in my opinion, is a mega game-changer in critical situations, providing a lifeline when traditional calls may not be feasible.

Of course, if time is of the essence, just texting your location is good enough. But after texting that location make sure you try to stay there so they can find you.

You may ask, why not just call 911? Well, it’s crucial for people who may be in dangerous situations where speaking on the phone isn’t safe or possible.

For example, if you are in a situation where someone is inside your house and if you speak, they will hear you, texting is helpful. This could include more scenarios such as domestic violence or other situations where silence is extremely essential.

The ability to send a text can mean the difference between getting help quickly when you are not able to give them a call.

Here's how it works, according to Maine.gov,

How to send a Text to 911 in Maine

  • Start a new text message just as you would if you were sending a normal text
  • In the recipient field or the "to" field type in 911.
  • Type out your message with your location. Explain your emergency and add oyur location. If you cannot type out exactly what's going on just add in your location or say "Need Help"
  • Hit send, and wait for a response. Remember to put your phone on silent if you don't want anyone to hear you, because they will send a text back. It also may take a moment for the dispatcher to reply, so stay alert.

There it is, if you are in trouble and are unable to call 911, you do have another option to text them, as per the state. 

And just so this isn't already clear, don't text emergency services for the fun of it. Remember, the time they take dealing with people that don't need help takes away from the people that do.

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