TEXT with 9-1-1 a new service offered by police by Tim Whitnell Metroland Media West 3 | Friday, January 30, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Halton Regional Police is launching an emergency telephone service for individuals that are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. TEXT with 9-1-1 is a new service that provides people with those impairments the ability to communicate with 9-1-1 emergency personnel. Wireless based service The wireless-based service lets a 9-1-1 operator know that a deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired (DHHSI) caller needs to communicate using text messaging rather than by voice. The service, to begin Feb. 3, is currently only available to people who have hearing or speech impairment and are pre-registered with their wireless service provider. Once registered, the caller will be able to dial 9-1-1 and converse with an emergency call operator via text. Texting via 9-1-1 Registered DHHSI community members will have the ability to text with an emergency operator only after a 9-1-1 voice call is made. When the emergency operator receives the 9-1-1 voice call, a prompt will appear on the screen advising the caller is a registered DHHSI member and then a conversation can continue via text. Texting directly to 9-1-1 is not an option for either the registered DHHSI member or anyone from the wider cellular community. The text will not reach an emergency services operator in that way. If a non-registered cellular device attempts to use TEXT with 9-1-1, they will receive an automated text message that says in English and French, "Voice dial 9-1-1 directly, as texting 9-1-1 is not supported." Halton police frontline dispatchers and communicators have received training on the new system to ensure a streamlined process when emergency calls are completed by text. "Providing the TEXT with 9-1-1 service to our community will increase accessibility to emergency services, and in turn increase the safety of our region as a whole. "Whether a call for police, fire or ambulance, the call is important, and we need to have the resources to ensure our response is accurate and timely," Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner stated in a press release. For more information about TEXT with 9-1-1 in Canada, visit http://textwith911.ca/ service-availability. inside today's Editorial Artscene Beaver www.insideHALTON.com Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! Exceptional footcare for all ages. · Routine footcare · Corns & calluses · Plantar warts · Heel/arch/foot pain · Diabetic footcare and education · Thick or ingrown nails · Nail surgery · Sports related foot problems & injuries · Custom made orthotics · Sigvaris® compression stockings · Evenings and saturday appointments available · New patients welcome! J. Richard Werkman chiropodist 6 23 Sports Classified 26 29 Home Hardware Oakville Marketplace Real Estate New Homes Barbara Beers, Real Estate New You Dr. Subani Seivarajah Starsky Fine Foods Florida Homes & Lifestyles *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Don't suffer from dry cracked heels any longer! Schedule an appointment today! located on the north/west corner of maple grove dr. and cornwall rd. 1495 Cornwall Rd., Suite 33, Oakville T: 905-845-4817 www.werkman.ca Ladies... Heading South? FashioNs HAve Arrived visit watch us woMEN first! new Spring $ your next Purchase of $100+ on regular Priced merchandise 10 OFF up to the sale that makes all our other sales nervous. upto 70%off. 60% oFF ClearanCe OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Speers Rd. 4th Line Your WInter Just Got even better WIth the burroWs WInter sale. vIsIt us startInG december 26, 2014 to experIence fIne, european mensWear collectIons, expert alteratIons and professIonal advIce, rIGht In the heart of oakvIlle's herItaGe core, at up to 70% off. stop bY and Warm up WhIle You see What our WInter sale has to offer. sale on now.winTer sale. starts december 26,2014. The burrows Pilgrams Way N. Service Rd. QEW Nothinghill Gate 1131 NottiNghill gate Glen Abbey 905-827-2271 WATCH US WOMEN 905.842.0232 burrowscloThiers.com 200 lakeshore road e, oakville