Do you we have a "silent solution" if you ring 999 and can't talk?

_Whimsical_

On the night of the London bombings I noticed some tweets reminding UK residents of the "silent solution" - it's a protocol for when someone rings 999 and cannot speak due to injury or danger of being heard by an attacker. When someone does not speak on a 999 call they're automatically put through to an automated service. There they can dial 55 and this alerts services that they must go to the location the call is from.
If someone rings 999 and doesn't speak at all and doesn't dial 55 the call is ignored. People not knowing about dialing 55 has resulted in deaths by murder over there in recent years.

Apparently most countries have a version of this. Does anyone know if we have one ?

There's articles about it in UK newspapers but nothing for here when I search. Here's on about the UK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4116194/Little-known-Silent-Solution-enables-danger-call-999-isn-t-safe-speak-phone.html

bear1

Boom

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.her.ie/amp/news/next-call-112-999-cant-talk-328919

Fiery mutant

So that says touch yr handset screen and you will be put through to AGS.

Then what? Are they gonna try ask you what's wrong or what?

Sounds like a typically Irish solution.

_Whimsical_

Yeah that's not exactly clear and doesn't account for you ringing from a landline. Do they want to hear a tap, or is there some automated forwarding service?
They really need a clear set instruction for that circumstance.

bear1

It's stupid really.
It mentions to push random numbers on the phone.. wouldn't it be simply easier to implement 55 and that's it?

bear1

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Yeah that's not exactly clear and doesn't account for you ringing from a landline. Do they want to hear a tap, or is there some automated forwarding service?
They really need a clear set instruction for that circumstance.

I read it 3 times and I think they mean to tap the numbers on the keypad.

_Whimsical_

bear1 wrote: »

It's stupid really.
It mentions to push random numbers on the phone.. wouldn't it be simply easier to implement 55 and that's it?

Yup I agree! And if it's done pretty much everywhere it's better for foreign people or deaf or people with voice problems or serious injuries to just know what they have to do.

Who do we talk to to implement it I wonder.

bear1

Department of justice I'd imagine.

_Whimsical_

bear1 wrote: »

I read it 3 times and I think they mean to tap the numbers on the keypad.

It could be that!
We need someone who has done it or work there to tell us for sure. They're certainly not advertising it as they do in other countries anyway.

NIMAN

You'll never need it, don't panic.

ED E

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Who do we talk to to implement it I wonder.

IIRC BT operate the Emergency Answering Service. Calls route to them and then are allocated to the ES required. Each service can "add on" other services so if its a crash and somebody is bleeding out it goes to NAS control but they may also request a garda dispatch to close the road.

To implement the change you'd have the EAS divert to an IVR(answering machine) which would then need to have a text based messaging interaction with AGS, NAS, DFB, MR/CG etc and the training to go with it.

Wossack

Fiery mutant wrote: »

So that says touch yr handset screen and you will be put through to AGS.

Then what? Are they gonna try ask you what's wrong or what?

Sounds like a typically Irish solution.

Please press the number corresponding to the nature of the emergency
1 if you are being fed feet first into a wood chipper
2 if you are in the process of falling out of a 3rd storey window
3 if you are falling from a 4th storey window or higher
4 if you are currently drowning
5 if you are suffocating in a clear plastic bag
for all other colours of bag, and further options please press 6
press 7 to return to the main menu

_Whimsical_

NIMAN wrote: »

You'll never need it, don't panic.

Here's hoping!
There's lots of instances in which it would be useful though, like from illness to injury, home robberies... like lots of assorted circumstances I hope never to be in.
It'll definitely be useful to some people every year though so it'd be good if there was a sure answer and definite thing to do.

LordSutch

Maybe you could quietly tap on the handset using morse code?

_Whimsical_

LordSutch wrote: »

Maybe you could quietly tap on the handset using morse code?

Or keep a carrier pidgeon with an emergency message on your person at all times in case of such a catacylism.

Learning morse code probably isn't a bad idea, or at least SOS. Would the operator recognise it though!

mylittlepony

Yes. Emergency text service 112.

https://www.112.ie/Sending_a_text_to_112/144
http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=8606

Chuchote

mylittlepony wrote: »

Yes. Emergency text service 112.

https://www.112.ie/Sending_a_text_to_112/144
http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=8606

It doesn't seem to have gone ahead, though:

Press Release from Launch of 112 SMS on the 13/1/12

The pilot is for six months.

Widdershins

Shame the text service didn't go ahead. Interesting thread. Just a couple of things it brought to mind.
My friend was involved in a domestic violence situation and she managed to call 999 but couldn't speak, as she was in the room with a violent individual. She let the phone call run and thought they would hear what was happening and somehow trace her call. I actually would have assumed they might do something like that, but they didn't. I wonder if the text service might have helped.

Another slightly random thing that the thread reminded me of, is that I had to call an ambulance not too long ago and my fully charged phone said ''attempting to make emergency call'' and then shut down. I made 3 or 4 attempts and it did the same each time. It's the only time it's ever done anything like that. Fortunately there was another person present who was able to call from his phone (Vodafone). I'm on the 3 mobile network and should probably contact them about it. I thought others on the 3 network might be interested in the information.

snoopy84

Chuchote wrote:

It doesn't seem to have gone ahead, though:

It says it was extended then subsequently made permanent

KungPao

You have selected regicide. If you know the name of the king or queen being murdered, press one.

Samuel T. Cogley

Unfortunately having had occasion to use it more than once our 999 line is a total joke. The operators rarely have any idea where you are and there seems to be no system for investigating hang-ups. It's something that urgently needs to be looked at.

A few years ago I witnessed someone being robbed near Jervis - I **** you not the line was engaged. I'd been better off trying to ring Sky.

_Whimsical_

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Unfortunately having had occasion to use it more than once our 999 line is a total joke. The operators rarely have any idea where you are and there seems to be no system for investigating hang-ups. It's something that urgently needs to be looked at.

A few years ago I witnessed someone being robbed near Jervis - I **** you not the line was engaged. I'd been better off trying to ring Sky.

Wow that's a very scary thought. I'd have thought they'd have full addresses automatically for any call from a landline and could pinpoint a mobile location with a good degree of accuracy. Find my Phone apps can do that pretty simply.

Widdershins wrote: »

Shame the text service didn't go ahead. Interesting thread. Just a couple of things it brought to mind.
My friend was involved in a domestic violence situation and she managed to call 999 but couldn't speak, as she was in the room with a violent individual. She let the phone call run and thought they would hear what was happening and somehow trace her call. I actually would have assumed they might do something like that, but they didn't. I wonder if the text service might have helped.
.

Again I'm pretty shocked at that. I'd have assumed the operators were ready to deal with people in awful positions and would be listening carefully for situations like that.
There definitely needs to be something in place in these situations.

wordofwarning

Wossack wrote: »

Please press the number corresponding to the nature of the emergency
1 if you are being fed feet first into a wood chipper
2 if you are in the process of falling out of a 3rd storey window
3 if you are falling from a 4th storey window or higher
4 if you are currently drowning
5 if you are suffocating in a clear plastic bag
for all other colours of bag, and further options please press 6
press 7 to return to the main menu

You forget the compulsory 'for service As Gaeilge' please press 1 with an 5 second wait or just hold on the line.

_Whimsical_

Widdershins wrote: »

Shame the text service didn't go ahead. Interesting thread. Just a couple of things it brought to mind.
My friend was involved in a domestic violence situation and she managed to call 999 but couldn't speak, as she was in the room with a violent individual. She let the phone call run and thought they would hear what was happening and somehow trace her call. I actually would have assumed they might do something like that, but they didn't. I wonder if the text service might have helped.

.

For interests sake was her call recorded to use as evidence?

biko

When you call 112 and cannot talk
https://www.her.ie/news/next-call-112-999-cant-talk-328919

Recently, various news sites outside of the Republic of Ireland reported on what to do if you are in an emergency but cannot speak. The procedure outside of Ireland is to ring 999 as you normally would, and if you cannot speak, you press ''55''.

However, this is not the case in the Republic or Ireland. If you are in an emergency and need to call the emergency services for help, but cannot speak, the process is different.

Instead of pressing 55 at a specific point in the call, the caller is asked to tap their handset screen if they require emergency assistance. If the caller does this, the call will be forwarded to the relevant emergency service instantly.

This means that the caller should go to their keypad on their phone when asked, and press any buttons on the keypad to ensure you are kept on the line and connected to An Garda Siochana.

NickNickleby

KungPao wrote: »

You have selected regicide. If you know the name of the king or queen being murdered, press one.

Darn it, beaten to it by 12 hours!

xabi

biko wrote: »

When you call 112 and cannot talk
https://www.her.ie/news/next-call-112-999-cant-talk-328919

Recently, various news sites outside of the Republic of Ireland reported on what to do if you are in an emergency but cannot speak. The procedure outside of Ireland is to ring 999 as you normally would, and if you cannot speak, you press ''55''.

However, this is not the case in the Republic or Ireland. If you are in an emergency and need to call the emergency services for help, but cannot speak, the process is different.

Instead of pressing 55 at a specific point in the call, the caller is asked to tap their handset screen if they require emergency assistance. If the caller does this, the call will be forwarded to the relevant emergency service instantly.

This means that the caller should go to their keypad on their phone when asked, and press any buttons on the keypad to ensure you are kept on the line and connected to An Garda Siochana.

And is completely useless, if you cant speak to 999, you cant speak to AGS.

Widdershins

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

For interests sake was her call recorded to use as evidence?

Not that I know of, she never thought of checking as nobody turned up, and the gardai certainly didn't bring it up at any time.

(It was reported to the gardai after the event)

Del2005

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Wow that's a very scary thought. I'd have thought they'd have full addresses automatically for any call from a landline and could pinpoint a mobile location with a good degree of accuracy. Find my Phone apps can do that pretty simply.

It's an EU privacy directive that we can't have your location sent when you dial 112/999 so it doesn't matter what country you are in in the EU if you can't talk the emergency services won't know where you are.

As for hitting random numbers on the screen. Hitting 5 5 is the same as hitting 1 6 etc. So you can dial 5 5 in Ireland for a silent emergency call, but it won't get the emergency services to you in any EU country so it's a useless feature.

osarusan

Del2005 wrote: »

It's an EU privacy directive that we can't have your location sent when you dial 112/999 so it doesn't matter what country you are in in the EU if you can't talk the emergency services won't know where you are.

So what does hitting 55 achieve (in wherever that is the system/code)? The police now know there is an emergency in which the caller cannot speak, but don't know where?

Chuchote

osarusan wrote: »

So what does hitting 55 achieve (in wherever that is the system/code)? The police now know there is an emergency in which the caller cannot speak, but don't know where?

I assume they can track a mobile call easily to its location. Touching 55 (which doesn't make a sound if your phone is mute, unlike tapping the screen) is a signal for them to keep the line open; it's only for use when you are too afraid to talk, for instance when you're trapped in a hiding place while some lunatic roams around looking for you with a machete or the marble rolling pin.

Supercell

When I did my first aid course the teacher told us that because of the data protection act, unless the caller states their location somehow, the emergency services have no access to location information from the phone companies, so you are screwed if you cannot. If its true, hope you can text someone quietly!

Del2005

Chuchote wrote: »

I assume they can track a mobile call easily to its location. Touching 55 (which doesn't make a sound if your phone is mute, unlike tapping the screen) is a signal for them to keep the line open; it's only for use when you are too afraid to talk, for instance when you're trapped in a hiding place while some lunatic roams around looking for you with a machete or the marble rolling pin.

They need to contact the operator to see what cell tower you are on, neither fast or accurate. There is a way that they can text you to get your location if you don't know where you are but no idea if they will do that for a silent call.



https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/112-united-kingdom

Del2005

It looks like Android is going to be able to text your exact location when you dial 112 or 999 in a few weeks.


http://www.thejournal.ie/mobile-gps-text-emergency-services-3440742-Jun2017/

Widdershins

Del2005 wrote: »

It looks like Android is going to be able to text your exact location when you dial 112 or 999 in a few weeks.


http://www.thejournal.ie/mobile-gps-text-emergency-services-3440742-Jun2017/

That's great news

Stigura

Widdershins wrote: »

That's great news

No it's not! I'm in the cupboard under the stairs. They're out there, searching for me. I don't think I'm gonna last two weeks in here

Pac1Man

I can throw my voice. I'd throw it up into the attic.

The guy runs up into the attic and I come behind him and close the hatch. I then proceed to play a loop of Kate Bush's most famous hits which I pipe into the attic from the hotpress.

3-4 hours later I open the hatch and the previously dangerous intruder has now become a meek damp squib of a man.

We hug, I open the front door, slap him on the arse and send him on his way.

The neighbours just see the arse slap and presume I'm a male prostitute with a passion for balaclavas.

I'm not. I'm a Kate Bush rehabilitation aficionado.

Rushden

The large majority of the population really have no idea of the level of technology our emergency services are using, stone age stuff and are decades behind our top level EU neighbours . Everything from uniform to computers to vehicles , terrible stuff.

bear1

If you've a Samsung smartphone then it can also send out an emergency text to a chosen contact.
It sends a message with your location, a picture and a video.
Think you hold the volume and central key to do it.