@emergency_services: #sendhelp when 911 is down

Social media hasn't displaced the telephone as the main instrument for calling emergency services, but it's gaining in popularity.

Results from an online survey of 1,058 of adults weighted to reflect U.S. age distribution, conducted in July 2010 and funded by the American Red Cross, finds that 69 percent of respondents believe that during an emergency, agencies should monitor their websites and social media sites and respond to requests for help posted there.

Because the survey sample is based on self-selected participants, no sampling error margin of error could be calculated. However, 49 percent of respondents said they agree, or strongly agree, that a request for help posted on the social media site of an emergency response organization would be acted on by that organization. A lesser percentage--44 percent--said it's very likely that the emergency response organization would not know of the plea for help.

If 911 were busy during an emergency, 18 percent of respondents said they would attempt to use digital media in an attempt to reach the police, fire department, family friends or neighbors, or a hospital. Four percent said they would send a text message.

But, if a text message service were available from response agency, 52 percent of respondents said they would send one. In addition, 44 percent said they would post something on a social network site such as their own Facebook page, or utilize Twitter.

 For more:
- download the American Red Cross survey results (.pdf) and read the press release
- sign up for Alert DC, which provides rapid text notification and update information during a major crisis or emergency in Washington, D.C.

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