Dialing Tips and Procedures

If an emergency situation arises (a crime, a fire, a serious injury or illness) ask yourself whether POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, or MEDICAL assistance is needed RIGHT NOW to protect life or property. If the answer is yes, then immediately dial 9-1-1 and tell the Telecommunicator what has happened or is happening. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It's better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 Telecommunicator determine if you need emergency assistance.

When Dialing 911 You Should:

• Stay calm. Give your name, location, and nature of the emergency.
• Listen carefully to the Telecommunicator for helpful information.
• Answer the Telecommunicator's questions as accurately as possible. Speak clearly and slowly.
• Never hang up on the 9-1-1 Telecommunicator until you are told to do so.
• If there's a fire, stay low in the smoke and get out of the house. Call from a neighbor's house or pay phone.


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Ideas To Help At Home

• Keep your phone at an easy to reach level, like on the coffee table.
• A cordless phone offers you mobility in your home.
• Write your address and telephone number in large print on or near your phone.
• Make sure your address is on the FRONT of your house.
• Do not program 9-1-1 into the speed dial. It can inadvertently be dialed.
• Be sure and teach your children how to use 9-1-1 for emergencies.


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Hearing / Speech Impaired Callers

• Communications centers that answer 9-1-1 calls have special text telephones to respond to 9-1-1 calls from deaf or hearing/speech impaired callers.

  If A Caller Uses A TTY/TDD, The Caller Should:

  • Stay calm, place the phone receiver in the TTY, dial 9-1-1
  • After the call is answered, press the TTY keys several times. This may help shorten the time necessary to respond to the call.
  • Give the telecommunicator time to connect their TTY. If necessary, press the TTY keys again. The 9-1-1 telecommunicator should answer and type "GA" for go ahead.
  • Tell the telecommunicator what the emergency is and what assistance you require.
  • Tell him or her if you need the fire department, police, or EMS.
  • Give your name, phone number, and the address where help is needed.
  • Stay on the telephone if it is safe. Answer the telecommunicator's questions.
  
  
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Types of Phones You Can Use

• Touch Tone
• Cordless
• Rotary
• Cellular/Mobile
• Pay Phones (No money is needed--simply press the numbers 9-1-1)
• TDD/TTY (Deaf and Hearing/Speech Impaired)


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Calling 911 On A Cellular Phone

• If you are in your vehicle, pull off to the side of the road and Dial 9-1-1
• Tell the Telecommunicator the location of the emergency and your call back cellular phone number.
• Be Patient.


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Ready To Call 911?

• 9-1-1 Telecommunicators are trained to get as much information as possible regarding 9-1-1 calls. To be ready to answer their questions, read these examples of the three most common 9-1-1 calls.

Automobile Accident

• Give the Street and block number or the nearest major location.
• Tell if there are injuries
• Report information such as fuel spills, possible fire danger, etc.
• Suspicious Person
• Give the sex, race, age of the person(s).
• Give a clothing description
• Describe the suspicious activity.
• Descrive the suspicious Vehicle
• Get the vehicle description, color, make, model, year, and anything unusual about the vehicle.
• Try to tell all that you can.
• Are there people in the vehicle? If so, how many? Age? Race? Sex? Clothing description?
• Is the vehicle parked or moving? If it's moving, tell the direction of travel.


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What To Do If You Can't Speak

• Stay calm.
• Dial 9-1-1
• Either leave the phone hanging or make some sort of noise to let the dispatcher know there is an emergency.


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In An Emergency, Remember To...

• Dial 9-1-1
• Stay Calm.
• State which emergency service you need: Police/Sheriff, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Service.
• Speak Clearly.
• State your emergency.
• State your address--it's very important to verify your address.


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Remember Reasons To Call 9-1-1 Are:

• Crimes in progress. (This means shots fired, disturbances, suspicious persons or activities, crimes involving serious injury)
• Accidents, accidents with injury.
• Life and Death Situations.
• Medical Emergencies.
• Someone is Injured.
• To Prevent a Crime.
• To Report a Fire.


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Tips For Seniors

• Invest in a touch-tone phone with large, easy-to-read numbers.
• Put a DIAL 9-1-1 reminder next to the phone.
Keep your medical history and a list of the medications you are taking in an envelope taped to your refrigerator with your doctor's name and phone number on it.
• Do not dial "0" for help. DIAL 9-1-1