April is 911 Education Month which is giving the 911 Communication Center in Knox County a chance to express their gratitude.
An increase on Knox County’s 911 sales tax from a quarter percent to a half percent that went into effect last July paid for the new digital system at the call center at the Galesburg Public Safety Building.
Amanda Jennings tells Galesburg’s Evening News on WGIL that the new system is much faster than the old analog.
“We no longer actually pick up the phone, we have our headsets on,” Jennings said “It’s more of a database system so instead of long dialing numbers we can just hit a button and it will speed dial the number.”
The new system also allows 911 to receive text messages which Coordinator Vicki Miller says better enables the call center to serve the hearing and speech impaired.
She says anyone whose carrier allows it can text 911, but if you’re in a situation where you’re able to, it’s better to call.
