Local residents learn about a new emergency call and text service in Guiyang, Guizhou province on Jan 10. [Photo/epaper.gywb.cn]

Residents in Guiyang, Guizhou province can now “call” the emergency services by sending an SMS, or text message, to 12110.

Before the new text system came into force on Jan 10, people needed to call 110 to report an emergency, while 12110 was reserved for non-urgent cases. However, this caused problems for people with hearing and speaking difficulties, or in situations where people needed to alert the authorities silently, such as a person being held captive.

Now, as long as people insert an “L” at the start of their SMS and send it to 12110, the emergency services will treat the case as an emergency and will respond immediately.

Edited by Dominc Morgan