TOLEDO, Ohio - Lucas County residents will now be able to connect with 9-1-1 in a new way.
WTOL 11 reports that you can now text 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency. County leaders say they wanted to provide an option for calling for help in situations where talking on the phone isn't safe.
County leaders have been working on the program for about a year and have been training staff since the summer. The new service is aimed at assisting those with hearing impairment or those in domestic violence situations get help.
Officials emphasize that calling 9-1-1 is still the most efficient way to get assistance from dispatchers and that you should only text 9-1-1 in situations where you are unable or it is unsafe to call.