999 Text Service to Assist Hill Walkers and Climbers

© Alan James
photo
Mobile Phone
© Alan James

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is urging everyone who walks climbs and skis in the Scottish mountains to register with the 999 emergency text service.

This service has been set up to allow people to text 999 when voice calls cannot be made, but where there is sufficient signal to send a text.

Heather Morning, the MCofS Mountain Safety Advisor, is urging mountaineers to register for the new service. She said: “You can now contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. This is going to be particularly useful for those needing 999 assistance in the hills when mobile phone reception is often intermittent and there is not enough signal to make a call.”

However, you will only be able to use this service if you have registered with emergencySMS first. The MCofS is urging mountaineers to register now rather than wait for an emergency. To register, text 'Register' to 999. You will get a reply and will then need to follow the instructions you are sent. The text system is meant to be used only when voice calls cannot be made and the system does not guarantee that texts will be delivered, so users should wait until they receive a reply from the emergency services before assuming help has been summoned. The system was originally set up to help deaf and hard of hearing people. Further details, including guidelines on how to register, can be found at www.emergencysms.org.uk.

MCofS Membership Development Officer Mike Dales said: “This is a great idea that is bound to save lives. I've just registered myself and it took less than two minutes."

For further information contact Mike Dales on 01738 493 942 or go to the MCofS website at: www.mcofs.org.uk.


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30 Nov, 2010
That sounds like a pretty good idea. Can I just check - will this work in England and Wales too? The link implies it is UK-wide, but the article only mentions Scotland.
30 Nov, 2010
You're right. I registered last week. Their website suggests it originated as a way for the deaf/hard of hearing to contact the emergency services.
30 Nov, 2010
With most modern phones being GPS capable it would be good if there was a simple way to put your easting and northing in to the text message too. I have a nokia phone and while i can easily view my latitude and longitute it would be a task flicking back and forth to put that in a text. Even then it's a different navigation system to eastings and northings. This would actually be a useful, life saving app for the modern smart phone.
30 Nov, 2010
several iphone apps do that, including giving a uk grid ref.
30 Nov, 2010
This is a brilliant idea!! has anyone had to use this servcie yet? I would be keen to here about its use in an emergency. As I think it would be good to implement it within the wind industry which I work in. Wind farms are often out in the same remote locations as we as walkers/climbers find ourselves. So will be helpful in an emergency situation. Ryan
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