Turn off Hold Side Button. By calling your programmed emergency number, your call goes straight to the police or fire and when you start telling about a crash at “Fourth and Mendo,” the dispatcher will know what city you’re talking about. Around 5,000 of the 20,000 silent 999 calls made daily are put through to an automated system. If you are able to call 911 from a landline, you should. In some parts of the country, you can text 911. But what happens if you dial 55? Callers will then hear an automated police message which lasts for approximately 20 seconds and begins with the phrase “you are through to the police”. However, officers will need to check on you to verify that there is no emergency. In Massachusetts, callers can press “1” for police, “1” for the fire department, “3” for an ambulance, “4” to say “yes,” and “5” to say “no.” This procedure is unique to Maryland, however. If you turn off this setting, you … However, there are some instances where you may be unable to speak to the police dispatcher after calling the emergency number. Most of those are either hoax calls or accidental dials, but occasionally, they’re from someone who needs help and cannot communicate during the call. If an individual is unable to speak aloud, the IOPC advises them to try whispering. : originally appeared on Quora: The best answer to any question. If you can't speak when calling 999 (the UK's version of 911), pressing 55 will alert the operator to your emergency. Here’s everything you need to know about calling the 999 service if you can’t talk: When you dial “999”, the phone call will be directed to a call centre and answered by a BT operator. Here's how it works. EmergencySMS is similar to the police’s Silent Solution and allows deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed on to the police, ambulance, fire rescue or coastguard. Article continues below advertisement It doesn’t work the same way in the U.S., though. This Is What Happens When You Photocopy Water. If you were to dial 911 and then 55, it would not alert police dispatchers to your situation. Duration and intensity can be tailored to suit. Press 1 if you need police, 2 for fire and 3 for an ambulance. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. You might think you know all you need to know about calling 911 after using a firearm for self defense. Stay safe out there, folks! Pressing 55 does not allow police to track your location.”. What happens if 911 gets a call and there's nobody talking? It will usually take about two minutes before you get a reply. Work your way through more than 500 yoga poses with clear instructions or choose one of the 100-plus classes complete with background music. However, there are ways to silently contact the police in an emergency situation — in certain parts of the U.S. Since 2002, a system known as Silent Solution has been in place in the U.K. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. If you were to dial 911 and then 55, it would not alert police dispatchers to your situation. If you attempt a 911 text and it’s unsupported, you will receive a bounce-back notifying you of the failure. A smart alarm clock app which uses soothing soundtracks to wake you from your lightest sleep phase, after working out your personal sleep patterns by recording your movements during the night. “Give the name of the road, house number, postcode, or nearby landmark, if possible,” Action on Hearing Loss explains.