Dial 9-1-1 in an Emergency

DIAL 9-1-1 in an Emergency!
The following information is for those areas served by a 9-1-1 System!

The 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System makes an important difference in our community everyday. It is your first source of help in times of crisis and it can mean the difference between life and death. When used properly, 9-1-1 saves seconds and those seconds can save lives.

Dialing 9-1-1 is the fastest and easiest way to communicate with local fire, police, and medical services during an emergency. You do this by simply waiting for the dial tone on your telephone, cell phone or public telephone, then dialing the numbers 9-1-1.

WHEN TO DIAL 9-1-1

"An emergency is when IMMEDIATE fire, police or medical assistance is needed to protect life or property."

If an emergency situation arises - a fire, a crime, a serious injury or illness - ask yourself whether fire, police or medical assistance is needed right now to protect life or property. If YES, then immediately dial 9-1-1 and advise the 9-1-1 operator or what has happened or is happening.

Call 9-1-1 whenever you believe there is an emergency. If you are not sure it's a real emergency, dial 9-1-1 and the 9-1-1 operator will make the final determination.

If the 9-1-1 system receives several calls at the same time, emergency services handle these multiple calls on a priority basis. The most serious emergency will be handled first.

No money is needed to call 9-1-1 from a pay phone. If there is an emergency, you can just pick up a pay phone, wait for a dial tone, then dial 9-1-1 without depositing a coin.

Dialing 9-1-1 from your cell phone incurs no cost ... it is a free call ... you will not be charged for dialing 9-1-1.

WHEN CALLING 9-1-1

Stay calm ... give your name, location and the nature of the emergency.
Listen carefully to the 9-1-1 operator.
Answer the 9-1-1 operator's questions as accurately as possible. Speak clearly and slowly.
Do exactly as the 9-1-1 operator tells you during the call.
Never hang up on the 9-1-1 operator until you are told to do so. If you hang up and redial, your call will go to the end of the line of people waiting for service.

NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Do not dial 9-1-1 for non-emergency situations. For non-emergency situations such as noisy neighbors or stolen hub caps, use your police department's regular phone number, never 9-1-1.
Never tell a 9-1-1 operator that a situation is more serious than it really is. It is against the law to intentionally and knowingly give false information to fire, police or medical emergency services. Abuse of 9-1-1 may delay someone else's access to emergency assistance.

SPECIAL 9-1-1 TIPS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Invest in a touch-tone phone with large, easy to read numbers. Put a 9-1-1 reminder near the phone.
Dialing "0" will not connect you with a near-by operator. It may connect you to an operator hundreds of miles away. Always dial 9-1-1 for local fire, police or medical emergency assistance.
The 9-1-1 system ("Enhanced" system - check for your area) allows the dispatcher to "know" where you are calling from even if you cannot speak - for instance, if you are experiencing a stroke of if there is an intruder in your home. Just dial 9-1-1 and leave the phone off the hook ... do not hang up.
Keep your medical history taped to the refrigerator in an envelope clearly marked with your doctor's phone number(s).