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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
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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?
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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:
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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
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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
       Source: Wood County 9-1-1 Telecommunications Center
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