Imagine your home is being broken into while you’re inside. There are potentially dangerous people in the room next door and you don’t know what to do or who to contact. Calling the police could identify you to the people inside your house, so a lot of times that isn’t an option.

Similarly, if you were in an enclosed area where a person was carrying weapons and was approaching, you certainly would not be able to call 911. In these cases, what can you do? Text 911.

The Federal Communications Commission recently announced the idea of text-to-911 to people in different parts of the country. Although not all towns and states are currently using text-to-911, the FCC is encouraging all states to implement the service, as it can help people in emergent situations.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced on Aug. 23 that the state will offer the text-to-911 service to residents.

“Text-to-911 is only intended to be used when absolutely necessary or needed, which is why the new system’s theme is: Call if you can, text if you can’t,” Malloy stated in a tweet about the recently adopted service.

The FCC asks that users text 911 with their exact location and a brief description of what kind of help is needed. Once your message is delivered and received, users are asked to be aware of any replies with questions and instructions.

Once a town suggests text-to-911 in their area, cell phone providers have six months to implement the service to their customers located in that town.

Not only can this service benefit people stuck in situations where a phone call is not possible, it can also help those who are hard of hearing and cannot speak over the phone. People with disabilities now have a convenient and realistic way of contacting emergency call takers in an urgent situation.

Even with the text-to-911 service available to people in different areas, the FCC still recommends that people call 911 in an emergency if able.

Providing this service to people in the country just proves that things need to change with the times. With more options to contact emergency services, more people’s lives could be saved. People who are unable to call 911 in an emergency may now be able to contact them over text, which could be the eventual cause of less fatal accidents in emergency situations.

Any time a new service, such as text-to-911, is introduced, there could be no hurtful effects. When a new service is introduced, unless its sole purpose is to hurt others, all outcomes and advancements will be beneficial in some way to some people.

At this point, the service is only available to users who communicate in English and no photos or videos can be attached in your message. With time, more functions will become available to users. At this point, since the service was recently launched, the FCC needs to work out any kinks in order to advance to a more accessible version of text-to-911 for all.

Text-to-911 can only benefit our society, as it acts as a way to help those who cannot speak in emergent situations. Hopefully with time, more services like the convenient text-to-911 will be developed and used in our country.