Vice President of Corporate Communications, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Text First PSA Linda Collins Smith
About Linda Collins
In a 2016 public service announcement, Linda Collins Smith, then Vice President of Corporate Communications at Arthur J. Gallagher, promoted a "text first, talk second" approach during emergencies. She stated that phone lines can become overwhelmed during disasters and recommended using texting shorthand, such as "R U OK" and "IM OK," to check on loved ones. Collins Smith encouraged practicing cell phone safety drills and reminded the public to dial 911 in an emergency but otherwise to keep phone lines open for responders.
Transcript (1 segments)
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Linda Collins0:00
Hello, I'm Linda Collins. During disasters, phone lines can often become overwhelmed. To reach loved ones, use Safe America's texting shorthand: text the letters 'R U OK?' and encourage them to respond by texting 'I'M OK' if they're safe. Practice this via a cell phone safety drill, and remember: in an emergency, dial 911. Otherwise, text first, talk second, and keep phone lines open for emergency responders.