FAQ | Emergency Call

Questions about deaf-sos and Emergency Call Services

Does deaf-sos work only at home or on the way, too?
Use deaf-sos with any cell phone and it works all over the country (GSM coverage needed).

Do I need a special cell phone?
deaf-sos works fine with nearly every cell phone (GSM band must be compatible).

Does deaf-sos place an immediate telephone call to emergency services, or is there any delay in the call?
deaf-sos supports immediate connections to the nearest emergency call service center. There is no delay and no relay interposed.

Does deaf-sos have its own emergency call center?
No. deaf-sos supports the national emergency services (112 or 911) worldwide. Your emergency call automatically routs to the nearest dispatch center.

Do I need a legalization to use deaf-sos and national emergency services?
Everybody has the right to use national emergency services worldwide without any special legalization. deaf-sos assists these services to help you quick and safe.

How is it possible, that works worldwide?
Hearing and speaking people can use national emergency call services worldwide on condition that
1) they know the correct emergency call number of local country (in most cases 112 or 911),
2) they have a cell phone with compatible GSM band.
Deaf people must meet the same requirements. Additional to that,
3) deaf-sos is needed to compensate speech impairment, and cell phone must be able to send and receive SMS*.

In other words: deaf-sos is nothing less than an upgrade of deaf’s emergency call abilities to the level of hearing ones. It simulates the absence characteristic, and speaks for the deaf.

How easy is it for emergency services to cooperate with deaf-sos?
Dispatchers don’t need any information in advance about the used alert system or the user. deaf-sos uses exactly the same communication channel as hearing people do. That’s why Deaf attract attention immediately (no unnoticed emergency faxes any more!). In the process deaf-sos carries out a smooth change from spoken speech communication to SMS* communication, which is available for both, Deaf and dispatcher. That’s the “genially and revolutionary simplicity” of deaf-sos.

Have you contacted every emergency service center worldwide to tell them about ?
deaf-sos is the first global deaf alert system, that works fully self-explanatory. There is no need to inform anyone in advance. Emergency service center don’t need any special equipment and no expensive modification is necessary. To answer an emergency call from a deaf, the service center only needs a simple cell phone to contact the Deaf via SMS*. That’s simple, easy and cost-efficient. It works fine all over the world in countries with GSM coverage.

Could I send the spoken emergency message to other phone numbers, too?
We don’t know other emergency services, which guaranty you more professional and perfect help than the national 112/911 emergency services. So we highly recommend to trust in these organizations. Although it is possible to send your emergency alert to any other phone number.

I use TTY for emergency calls and it works good. Do I need deaf-sos?
Never change a running system ;-) - be happy and tell others about your good experiences. But ensure that your system runs all over your country and the countries you will be travelling in future, too. If you are not really sure, we recommend to add deaf-sos to your emergency equipment. Us only: Read the following information (FCC).
And think about this, too: Can you reach emergency services all over the country with only one number (911 or 112)? If not, add deaf-sos to your possibilities. All over the world you need only one or two emergency call numbers: 112 or 911! It makes emergency calls easy and safe, because you must never search the correct phone number to alert a lifesaver! deaf-sos automatically connects you to the nearest dispatch center - that works fine worldwide :-)

US only: Important emergency call information for consumers from FCC. Read carefully: Wireless and E911.

Questions about membership

Why do deaf people have to pay this international member card? Hearing people can call emergency services for free. Can you explain this?
A very important question, indeed! A phone call to your national emergency service is free for Deaf, too! But in many countries the emergency services are incompatible for Deaf (because it is often too expensive to adapt the running systems!). To compensate your speech impairment you need deaf-sos. But you must pay a little for this additional equipment (e.g. if you need a pair of glasses, because you have an impaired vision, you must pay for it in most cases...). Many national Deaf organizations are fighting for better conditions for a long time. In some countries Deaf get a monthly state grant to absorb their costs of disability. If not, you could try to claim benefits from national authorities for your deaf-sos unit. It could be successful especially
1) if you can improve your working ability (mobility!) in combination with a cell phone, or
2) if you have both, deafness and a dangerous illness with attacks.
Our recommendation: Don’t wait any longer for national solutions. Organize more safety for yourself. Get your own deaf-sos unit. You investigate in your life (how many do you have thereof?)

Questions about deaf-sos and cell phones, pager and TTY

My Pager Sidekick 2 and , how does it work, TTY?
Your Sidekick is not only a pager, but also a cell phone with speaker and microphone. deaf-sos uses microphone and SMS* but not TTY. TTY is not implemented in all emergency services worldwide. In regions without TTY you can use deaf-sos:
1.) Dial the correct emergency call number of your country (e.g. 911 in North America, or 112 in Europe). Do it exactly in the same way as hearing people dial a phone number to talk to somebody. You get a connection to the nearest (!) dispatch center automatically.
2.) Put your deaf-sos unit near to the microphone of your sidekick and push the only button. Now it speaks for you a personalized alert message to the dispatcher.
3.) The alarmed dispatcher sends a SMS* to you.
4.) Push <Answer> on your sidekick and send a SMS* including all important emergency data (who? what? where?)

You must never search a fax machine! Send your emergency call directly from place of accident. That safes time - and perhaps your life!

Does work with TTY or TDD?
deaf-sos works with automatic spoken speech communication and SMS*. If you are in a region where you don’t know anything about emergency call possibilities, you should use deaf-sos method. Via SMS* you can ask the dispatcher for the correct TTY/TDD calling number to continue your emergency communication.

Is my wireless TTY compatible to TTY systems in other countries?
TTY systems are not surely compatible. So it’s possible that you can’t connect to emergency services in other countries. TTY emergency services are not available in all countries worldwide.
Our recommendation: Organize more safety for yourself. Get your own deaf-sos unit. It is compatible to 112/911 emergency services worldwide. Us only: Read the following information (FCC).

* in US SMS often called “text messaging”

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