Dialing 9-1-1 can save lives and mitigate injuries - if you know when to call and have reliable access to emergency services. Consider these tips for calling 9-1-1 in an emergency situation and avoiding potentially life-threatening delays.
Where to Start
- Maintain a reliable phone system that ensures each and every call reaches the emergency call center.
- While technology is advancing, landline phone service provides potentially life-saving benefits by providing reliable and accurate emergency response information for at-home emergency calls.
- Keep at least one non-cordless phone in your home.
- If a power outage occurs, a non-cordless landline phone will maximize your ability to call 9-1-1 and get the emergency response you need. During a power failure, your cordless, cable or Internet phones may not function.
What Happens When I Call 9-1-1 From A Cellular Phone?
It depends on which cell tower picks up the cell phone signal. Your call may not always be routed to the nearest 9-1-1 call center. Cellular communication services continue to seek out new technologies and improvements for mobile 9-1-1 services. As always, be prepared to give your exact location, as it might not be automatically provided.
When Should I Call 9-1-1?
- 9-1-1 is for emergencies, potential emergencies or when an emergency is imminent.
- Before calling 9-1-1, ask yourself:
- — What is the level of urgency?
- — Is there a danger to life or property?
- — Do you have a police, fire or medical emergency?
What Should I Do When Calling 9-1-1? What Will The Dispatcher Want To Know?
- When a 9-1-1 call is made in an enhanced 9-1-1 service area using a landline phone system, the dispatch center automatically receives the caller's address, saving time and sometimes lives. This is especially important if you are incapacitated and unable to speak, or become unintentionally disconnected, as an enhanced 9-1-1 network will continue to deliver your location information to the dispatch center.
- To be on the safe side, keep your address and phone number posted near every phone in your house. Emergency situations can be very stressful, and some callers may momentarily forget this vital information or give incomplete information. By posting your location and call-back number, visitors at your home will also be able to dial 9-1-1 and get help quickly.
- Speak clearly and calmly at all times. Do not yell into the phone.
- Listen closely and answer all the questions that are asked by the trained dispatcher. Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- — What is happening?
- — Where is the situation occurring?
- — When did the incident occur?
- — Who is involved?
- — Is there a weapon involved?
- — Are there any injuries?
Kids and 9-1-1
- Make sure kids of all ages know how to use 9-1-1. Help your children learn their address and phone number at an early age.
- Teach children to dial 9-1-1 only in an emergency. Help them understand the difference between a true emergency and a non-emergency call.
- If 9-1-1 is called by mistake, do not hang up. Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that everything is all right. If you don't, the dispatcher may assume that an emergency has occurred and send a response team to your location.
Where to Start
