UK 999 service needs updating
A FLAW IN the UKs emergency services system has been highlighted by a silent emergency call – what happens if you can’t speak?
The Guardian reported today the case of a girl named Hannah who, by making a desperate attempt to contact the police by dialing 999 on her mobile, has revealed a fault in the system.
Hannah was unable to speak when she made the call, and in line with the national procedure for silent calls was put through to an automated system at Scotland Yard.
One of those unbearable recorded voices then asks the caller to either tap the phone or dial “5” twice – as Hannah was unable to perform either of these actions, her call was disconnected within 50 seconds.
This process can be overridden by emergency operators, under a code of practice approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers - but only if they can detect suspicious noises.
Because of this obvious flaw in the system, which clearly denies help to those in shock, the government is having to come up with a solution.
One proposal is a texting service for people with hearing or speech impediments, or indeed like Hannah, who was merely in too much shock to speak.
If this BT supported service goes ahead, it will only be available to those who register with their provider – it is thought that this could be a national option as early as next year.
Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, Adrian Sanders is one of the driving forces behind this operation as he was concerned about how a person suffering a stroke could call an ambulance.
"I got my office to do a little research and found that the government had actually given the matter some thought but hadn't progressed matters very far," he said.
According to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform the work is progressing. µ
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but can dial 999 in the first place... Come on get a grip..
The only solution to this is for the phone to have a user-settable function built-in that when it dials 999, it will play back a preset sound file
with emergency details if it doesn't hear anyone speaking within 20 seconds?

Would be easy for a Android or iPhone developer to do this. Maybe someone could sell an App?

Just slip me a tiny percentage... OK?
Don’t quite understand. Ok, she was in shock. But if she can dial 999, why couldn’t she then dial 55 for the automated response?
that Hannah was Hannah Foster who couldn't speak into the phone because she was being murdered.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7748046.stm
Another reason to carry a weapon instead of calling for help.
I really think it needs to be mentioned re Hannah being a murder victim. She obviously thought she could dial 999 discreetly in her coat pocket and hope someone could hear her or "suspicious" noises. Hence why she couldn't hear the instruction to tap the phone or press 5 twice the shock possibly being real shock i.e. loss of blood rather than "fear" shock.

Perhaps some of the previous posters aren't from the UK so don't know, otherwise shame on you. There's links in the guardian article linked to above to details of her murder and her murderers jailing for those who are not UK based.
I've never heard of the '55' option. Is this a common feature in the UK?

Some serious advertising by the Government needs to be made if it is the case.

My previous suggestion is also valid.

Perhaps if all mobile phones put out a recorded message after pressing the emergency numbers and then 55?

Perhaps also giving the Rescue services a volume enhancing amplifier as well so they can increase the volume if need be.
Surely it must be obvious to all that 999 should also turn on the phone camera, if it has one!

This would help a lot of circumstances, especially if you are witnessing a crime