Emergency Services has announced that it is to radically change the way people can request the need for help.
It has become a critical requirement for the Emergency services to be brought into the Digital Age and provide alternative methods of getting in touch. The tradition of ‘making a call’ has changed dramatically over the decades, with the rise in mobile usage. Therefore it has become more relevant to be able to send a text message or contact 999 through an app. There are additional benefits to this form of communication, for instances where a silent alert would be more appropriate than the current voice-based call.
With the GPS functionality, the emergency services could also locate a person in need through the phone, enabling a more efficient and accurate response rate.
Superintendent Mark Nottage, from the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme at the Home Office, said progressing with the use of digital technology is a priority.
“Many people, particularly young people, are using a range of social media applications to communicate, and many rarely make voice calls in their daily lives. This means that we need to adapt and be responsive to ensure that when people need to contact the emergency services or other public services they can quickly access the right information and the most appropriate service first time, and in the way that they choose and are familiar with.”
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