BOISE -- If you find yourself in an emergency, your first thought is normally to call 911, but texting for help could soon be an option.
It's the way most of us communicate these days, and in some cases, it could be the only way to alert authorities without alerting a suspect.
In Idaho, Bonneville County is the first to offer the direct service to a 911 dispatcher through a text message. The message comes in through a free software program, displaying the text just seconds after it's sent.
"It has a sound to it, so it brings our attention to that program. Depending on who is not busy, they would answer it," said supervising dispatcher Andi Anderson.
The general location within a couple blocks of the person texting is sent immediately as well.
We tried it ourselves, and immediately got a response back.
The dispatchers are trained to first ask if you can call in, then ask your exact location.
"We implemented text to 911 just to cover a few gaps we knew were already in the system," said Bonneville County 911 Director Greg Warner.
Warner showed us the technology they've added over the last two years -- beefing up their digital infrastructure to expand their capabilities. Warner says that made the transition easy and cost nothing.
"At the time, I don't think we knew we were leading the charge," he said. "We just were doing the next best thing to help the citizens in our county, but now others are starting to take a serious look at it."
Warner says they wanted to provide the immediate connection to those who can't call in, people who are deaf, those who may still be near the suspect, or one of their most frequent emergencies, someone in the wilderness snowmobiling or hunting without cell service.
"Generally they are outside cell coverage range however they still can text so this covers a big gap where we live anyway. It helps them text straight to 911 so we can get people to the right spot," said Warner.
In Northern Idaho, the Post Falls dispatch center has also found a way to make texting available. They use a free program that allows you to enter a website into a text message that gets directed to 911.
It recently worked for Christina McRae, who had a razor in her hand considering suicide. She remembered that she could get support from a dispatcher, even though she couldn't bring herself to call in.
"I have to say, if there wasn't a number to text, I wouldn't have reached out for anything," said McRae.
McRae texted back and forth with a dispatcher for nearly an hour and says the conversation saved her life.
"Knowing there was someone on the other side of the phone, I couldn't do it," she said.
Police Chief Scot Haug says having one more way to get help was a priority for their agency and their citizens.
"I certainly do think it's worth it. I think our customers or residents expect that," Haug said. "We all have smart phones now. We all text and 911 is a 40- or 50-year old technology now, and it's time to make that next step."
In Ada County, like most areas in the state, if you text 911, you get a bounce back message saying to call dispatchers.
Back in 2011, Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney said texting to 911 would be available in two years. But four years later, it's still not here.
"We just don't have the availability to add any more software, to add any more equipment to the system we have available to us at this time," said Ada County Captain Stephen Bartlett.
Ada County says their antiquated system from the 1970's is simply maxed out. They also doubt the success and accuracy of current texting software.
"In all of our research and history into the conversation, it clearly show us that even though a text message can come in, it is not foolproof. There are still many many bugs that are involved in those systems," said Bartlett.
Both Bonneville County and Post Falls say they've seen no issues.
Capt. Stephen Bartlett says Ada County is also answering tens of thousands more calls each month.
Ada County tells us they receive about 10,000 911 calls a months, and around 40,000 non-emergency calls.
Bonneville County says they get about 1,000 911 calls a month.
Capt. Bartlett says it would cost money to upgrade their infrastructure to allow texting.
Instead, they say they're saving those funds for the new multimillion dollar 911 center scheduled to open in the fall of 2017 that will be capable of adding the texting option.
"We don't want to take that money, use it on a product that is a hit or miss affair. Again, it goes back to even though someone can send a text message, the reliability or accuracy of that text or location is not available at this time," said Bartlett.
Meanwhile, Bonneville County believes the technology they've put in place will save lives.
"The time will come, if it's not now, it will be later, someone somewhere is going to need this service," said Warner.
Idaho has started a work group asking representatives from all 44 counties to be part of the discussion on the future of 911 throughout the state.
They will trying to figure out how to transition to an IP system called Next Generation, that will allow not only text messages, but pictures and video to be immediately sent to 911.
