This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8045503.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Text lifeline to help deaf people | Text lifeline to help deaf people |
(about 4 hours later) | |
By Elaine Okyere BBC News, London | By Elaine Okyere BBC News, London |
Walking to her home in east London after a night out Damaris Cooke saw a motorist hit a cyclist. | |
The trial of a 999 SMS text service will be launched this autumn | The trial of a 999 SMS text service will be launched this autumn |
Like any passer-by she knew she had to call for help. | |
"Someone was walking ahead of me and she attended to the cyclist," said Ms Cooke. | |
"When I approached I could see clearly that she wanted me to call 999. | "When I approached I could see clearly that she wanted me to call 999. |
"I didn't want to tell her that I was deaf because I felt it would have added more hassle to the situation." | "I didn't want to tell her that I was deaf because I felt it would have added more hassle to the situation." |
The 25-year-old had to run down two streets before she found someone who could call an ambulance. | |
'Feeling helpless' | 'Feeling helpless' |
Most Londoners take it for granted they can use a phone to call 999 whenever they want, but deaf people can face difficulties. | Most Londoners take it for granted they can use a phone to call 999 whenever they want, but deaf people can face difficulties. |
"I do not like feeling helpless," Ms Cooke said. "If an accident occurred I would feel guilty for not being able to do anything because of my deafness, even though it is not my fault." | |
There may now be a solution for people like Ms Cooke. | |
A national trial is being launched this autumn to help deaf people send text messages to contact the police, ambulance, fire rescue and coastguard. | A national trial is being launched this autumn to help deaf people send text messages to contact the police, ambulance, fire rescue and coastguard. |
The new system will allow hard of hearing people to send a text to 999 to contact the emergency services. | The new system will allow hard of hearing people to send a text to 999 to contact the emergency services. |
If the trial is successful the service could be up and running in 2010. | If the trial is successful the service could be up and running in 2010. |
For the estimated nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK the new service will transform the way they call for help in an emergency. | For the estimated nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK the new service will transform the way they call for help in an emergency. |
Access to the emergency services can be a matter of life and death. People who find themselves in difficult or tricky situations cannot help Guido Gybels, director of technology at the RNID | Access to the emergency services can be a matter of life and death. People who find themselves in difficult or tricky situations cannot help Guido Gybels, director of technology at the RNID |
Ruth Akins, from Barkingside in east London, experienced the same feeling of helplessness when a friend fell ill. | Ruth Akins, from Barkingside in east London, experienced the same feeling of helplessness when a friend fell ill. |
"I was dumbstruck and horrified at my inability to help my friend. | "I was dumbstruck and horrified at my inability to help my friend. |
"I realised I couldn't call the ambulance because of my deafness. It had never occurred to me before, and perhaps stupidly I never thought I'd be in this situation." | "I realised I couldn't call the ambulance because of my deafness. It had never occurred to me before, and perhaps stupidly I never thought I'd be in this situation." |
Fortunately another person was able to make the call and Ms Akins' friend made a full recovery. | Fortunately another person was able to make the call and Ms Akins' friend made a full recovery. |
Currently deaf people can use a textphone to contact the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade via Text Relay. | Currently deaf people can use a textphone to contact the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade via Text Relay. |
The service, run by Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) and paid for by BT, enables people with textphones to type a message to an operator who makes the voice call on their behalf. | The service, run by Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) and paid for by BT, enables people with textphones to type a message to an operator who makes the voice call on their behalf. |
The downfall of this system is that a hard of hearing person without a textphone nearby would have to find someone to call 999 on their behalf. | The downfall of this system is that a hard of hearing person without a textphone nearby would have to find someone to call 999 on their behalf. |
BT advises deaf people who use an ordinary phone to call the emergency services to try to make as much noise as possible or tap on the handset, but there is a danger the operator could cut off the call if they do not believe it is genuine. | BT advises deaf people who use an ordinary phone to call the emergency services to try to make as much noise as possible or tap on the handset, but there is a danger the operator could cut off the call if they do not believe it is genuine. |
Text trial | Text trial |
In some parts of the country, including the South West and Hampshire, a similar text service is in operation. | In some parts of the country, including the South West and Hampshire, a similar text service is in operation. |
In these areas the emergency services are already responding to texts sent to 80999. | In these areas the emergency services are already responding to texts sent to 80999. |
The messages received are sent directly to the police control room and a controller then calls for assistance from any of the emergency services. | The messages received are sent directly to the police control room and a controller then calls for assistance from any of the emergency services. |
Guido Gybels, director of technology at the RNID, said: "At the moment we have a very fragmented regional service, and, in an emergency, deaf people may not remember the number or even know it. | Guido Gybels, director of technology at the RNID, said: "At the moment we have a very fragmented regional service, and, in an emergency, deaf people may not remember the number or even know it. |
Guido Gybels believes an emergency text service could help save lives | Guido Gybels believes an emergency text service could help save lives |
"Quite clearly access to the emergency services can be a matter of life and death. | "Quite clearly access to the emergency services can be a matter of life and death. |
"People who find themselves in difficult or tricky situations cannot help - this is a real barrier in 2009." | "People who find themselves in difficult or tricky situations cannot help - this is a real barrier in 2009." |
For the past six years government bodies, telecommunications groups and the RNID have been working to find a way to install a national emergency service text or SMS number. | For the past six years government bodies, telecommunications groups and the RNID have been working to find a way to install a national emergency service text or SMS number. |
Mr Gybels believes the new text message system could help save lives. | Mr Gybels believes the new text message system could help save lives. |
He said: "We hope to create a solution so that people with hearing impairments are on an equal footing with the rest of society. | He said: "We hope to create a solution so that people with hearing impairments are on an equal footing with the rest of society. |
"It is not a perfect system, but it is better than having nothing." | "It is not a perfect system, but it is better than having nothing." |
Previous version
1
Next version