WatchRoom SMS

WatchRoom sends operational text messages to volunteer and part-paid firefighters about their own department's schedule: that a shift needs covering, and the confirmation (or the “already taken” reply) when the member responds. Members may separately turn on, one switch each, a text when another member asks them to take a shift, the decision on a request they made, a reminder the evening before a shift they are working, and (officers) a request that needs their approval. A member may also text the number themselves — to ask about their own schedule, to start a shift swap or a time-off request that then waits on the department's normal approvals, or to send a photo of a fuel receipt — and receives a reply on the same number. Nothing else is sent by text.

We do not send marketing or promotional text messages, and we never text anyone who has not entered their own number and checked the consent box.

Only individual firefighters and officers at fire departments that subscribe to WatchRoom, who have entered their own mobile number and checked the consent box in their own account. Consent is not a condition of membership, employment, or of the department’s subscription, and a member who declines receives the same notices by email.

A department entering a member’s phone number into personnel records does not enable text messages. Only the member can enable them, and only for their own number.

1. A member of a subscribing fire department signs in to their own WatchRoom account at getwatchroom.com.
2. They open Settings → Notifications and scroll to the section headed “Text messages.”
3. They type their own mobile number into the “Mobile number” field. The consent checkbox stays disabled until a valid US mobile number is entered.
4. They check the consent box. It is unchecked by default, and it is separate from accepting the Terms of Service — accepting the Terms does not enable text messages.
5. They turn on the “Open shifts by text” toggle. That toggle cannot be turned on until the consent box is checked.
6. Consent is stored against that member with a timestamp. Changing the mobile number withdraws consent and requires checking the box again for the new number.
7. Any further kind of text (a swap request sent to them, the decision on their own request, an evening-before shift reminder, or for officers a request needing approval) is a separate switch in the same section, off by default, that only the member can turn on. Replies to a message the member sends the number are answered on the same number.

This is the exact wording on the consent checkbox, reproduced here character for character — the page and the checkbox render the same string.

The box is unchecked by default, is disabled until a valid US mobile number has been entered, and is separate from accepting the Terms of Service.

Message frequency varies with your department's schedule activity.

Message and data rates may apply.

Reply STOP to any message to opt out. Reply HELP for help, or contact support@getwatchroom.com.

A member can also turn text messages off at any time in their own WatchRoom profile under Settings → Notifications. Replying STOP and turning the setting off have the same effect; neither requires contacting the department.

Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Mobile numbers and text-message consent are never sold, rented, or shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. A mobile number is shared only with the messaging provider that delivers the message on our behalf, and only to deliver it.

Full detail is in section 5 of our Privacy Policy and section 7 of our Terms of Service.

• WatchRoom: [Piedmont FD] has an open shift [Sat Sep 12, 6a-6p] on [Engine 1]. Reply Y to take it, or open https://getwatchroom.com/schedule. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply.
• WatchRoom: You're confirmed for [Sat Sep 12, 6a-6p] on [Engine 1] at [Piedmont FD]. Reply STOP to opt out.
• WatchRoom: That shift was already taken by another member, so nothing was scheduled for you. Reply STOP to opt out.
• WatchRoom: You're signed up for open-shift alerts from [Piedmont FD]. Msg frequency varies. Msg&data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

Bracketed values are filled with the member’s own department, shift, and apparatus.

WatchRoom text messages are not a dispatch, alerting, or emergency-notification service. Delivery is not guaranteed and may be delayed or prevented by carriers, devices, or network conditions. Departments must continue to operate their existing dispatch and alerting systems.

The consent screen can be viewed without an account: open getwatchroom.com/demo, start a demonstration department, then go to Settings → Notifications. Text messages are disabled in the demonstration department, so no message is sent.

support@getwatchroom.com · Ladiga Studios LLC, 113 Morgan Avenue, Piedmont, Alabama 36272