Registrations open today for an emergency 111 text service for Deaf and hearing impaired people.
New Zealand Police has been working closely with Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand, the New Zealand Fire Service and St John for the past few months to develop the new service.
National Manager of the Police Communications Centres, Superintendent Andy McGregor, says the emergency 111 text service will considerably improve Deaf and hearing impaired people's access to the three emergency services.
"Until now, Deaf and hearing impaired people have relied on faxes or TTY (teletypewriter) phones to contact emergency services. This technology is still in use, but it depends on the person being at home when the emergency happens.
"Deaf and hearing impaired people are big users of text, so we're delighted to be able to offer them a service that will put them on a par with the hearing population and better meet their needs."
In September, the three emergency services and Deaf Aotearoa held a series of meetings around the country with the Deaf and hearing impaired community to explain the 111 emergency text service.
"We got an enthusiastic reception. People have been waiting for this for quite a while," Superintendent McGregor says.
The system installed into the Police Communications Centres has been developed by IBM based on the Whispir Platform.
Police will receive and respond to all emergency texts on behalf of the New Zealand Fire Service and ambulance services. If it's a medical or fire emergency, Police will pass details electronically to the Fire Service or ambulance communications centres for dispatch.
The emergency text service is available only to the Deaf community and hearing impaired people who can't use a phone to call 111.
"The 111 text service is for Deaf and hearing impaired people who register with us.
"It's not an option for the general public, who should continue to call 111 if they have an emergency as speaking with callers remains the quickest way for us to get information," Superintendent McGregor says.
Police Minister Hon Judith Collins is launching the 111 text service at 11am today in the Police Northern Communications Centre in Auckland.
For more information from 1pm onwards, see www.police.govt.nz/deaf-txt
Contacts:
Police
Debbie Corney 02743 55005
Darragh O'Riordan 027 2236743
St John
Robyn Bern 021 364484
NZ Fire Service
Karlum Lattimore 027 5918837
Deaf Aotearoa NZ
Kathryn Heard 021 629 774