Emergency Services; What if you can't speak?

[drivin_me_nuts]

My missus might well lose the use of her voice soon. There are potentially a number of severe side effects and complications that are already beginning to manifest themselves.

How does the emergency service handle calls from people who cannot speak? How does the operator know which service to contact? Is there something that can be put in place in advance - like a 'flag' on the phone number to indicate that a call is from someone who cannot speak?

I'd appreciate to read from anyone who has experience of this. I need as something needs to be in place soon.

Cheers

[Shaw Tarse]

From home or mobile phone?
I think pressing 5 on a mobile initiates a response?
If from home maybe consider a pendant alarm?

[bluto]

Ring and speak to BT and tell them the situation, they will flag your number up for the emergency services or provide a text phone for your house for your wife to use in an emergency. If they cant help then contact your local police station who will sort it for you.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Thanks for the replies. I shall call BT today.

[Shaw Tarse]

http://www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/telecare/ May be of interest?

[Muska]

I'm in the fire brigade and we often get calls that come through as *CARELINE PERSONS REPORTED*

This comes from a personal alarm either on a pull cord in the home of a pendant on the person, and I believe the alarm company then instructs the BT operator to contact the emergency services. All three are sent automatically.

[Gareth79]

or http://www.textrelay.org/

[K77 CTR]

Careline is an option (in our area it will only activate the ambulance service) but I'm sure there is some service that allows you to text the emergency services, not sure what the number is (searching on google it appears there was a trial allowing people with communication problems to send a text message to 999, not sure if this was made live or if the trial is still continuing).

I know in the ambulance service we can flag numbers with different instructions but that involves the call actualy being directed to us in the first place, try contacting your local ambulance service (you'll find the details on their websites).

[OllieWinchester]

Either get a careline or if you could speak to your local out of hours service, they could speak with your counties ambulance service on your behalf. They would get what is known as a 'DI' or an 'SS' (Special situation) attatched to your address, so if they recieved a 999 call from your address there would be a little warning flag up detailing the problem. Good luck!

[mph1977]

minicom textphone on landline ? and there are schemes in some places that allow the use of SMS to contact the emergency services

http://www.textrelay.org/