Txt 9-1-1- 4 H-E-L-P

Black Hawk County, Iowa became the first county in the nation to receive text messages, in addition to calls, at its 911 center. Apparently this benefits kidnapping victims, the deaf and hard-of-hearing residents of the county, and kids who thought the call center already used this technology and waited pointlessly for help in the past. Sorry teens and tweens.

By all accounts, it’s doing gangbusters. Here’s a recently released transcript of one texter’s exchange:

James Tanglewood > Caught under crop duster, help!
911 > Ouch! Stay calm ;-)
911 > What zip code are you in?
James Tanglewood > Not sure. In a cornfield. Just c corn
911 > More specific?
James Tanglewood > Middle of the corn field
911 > Street address?
James Tanglwood > No, 1 second flying, then plowing, now trapped
James Tanglewood > Smells like a manure lagoon nearby. Helpful?
911 > : (
James Tanglewood > Or a tire fire
911 > Plane on fire?
James Tanglewood > Actually yes
911 > :O
James Tanglewood > Lots of smoke. Maybe helicopters can c it?
911 > Big county, 567.11 square miles
James Tanglewood > Can’t feel leg. Bleeding.
911 > Apply pressure?
James Tanglewood > Crop duster applying plenty
911 > Hang in there, stay with me
911 > James?
911 > James u still with me?
James Tanglewood > Hear noise
James Tanglewood > Gunfire?
James Tanglewood > Corn exploding with flavor! Popcorn field
911 > Call just in about overwhelming smell of popcorn
911 > Coincidence? :)
911 > Help on way K