Laguna Woods Council hears presentation on text 911

The Laguna Woods City Council wants residents to know there’s another option to get emergency help, other than calling 911.

Mayor Cynthia Conners says Chief of Police Services Lt. Fred Thompson made a presentation on text to 911.

She says it enables those who are hiding somewhere, hearing impaired or are unable to speak, to text 911 to seek emergency services. And those who do text need to type in their location, the emergency services requested and as many details as possible.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website, text to 911 can’t be used in a group text, nor can dispatchers accept pictures, video or icons.

Conners says Thompson told the Council text to 911 has already been a life saver.