Call 9-1-1 if a person, animal or property has been harmed or is in danger of being harmed.
Call 9-1-1 if you need a police officer, firefighter or ambulance.
Call 9-1-1 before you burn - after you get a permit from the fire department.
Can I call 9-1-1 from any phone?
You can call 9-1-1 from a land line or mobile phone.
If you call from a mobile phone, 9-1-1 dispatchers do NOT receive your location automatically.
Know where you are: an address, intersection or highway mile marker.
Know your phone number! If emergency personnel cannot find your location, we can call you back for more information
If I call 9-1-1, will there be an immediate response?
All life-threatening emergencies are responded to immediately.
Other calls are handled by priority; the situations which could cause the most harm to people or property are handled before those with no safety issues.
What should I do if a dispatcher doesn't answer immediately?
Stay on the line. 9-1-1 calls are answered in the order received.
Be ready with your information - address, telephone number and problem.
If you hang up or are disconnected, the call still comes through to the 9-1-1 dispatcher. They will try to call you back. If no one answers, law enforcement officers will be sent to the address on the call.
Do 9-1-1 dispatchers provide emergency medical instructions?
9-1-1 dispatchers can help with:
CPR on someone who isn't breathing and may not have a pulse
Emergency childbirth
Severe bleeding problems
Being prepared for the emergency crews
Does 9-1-1 work with poison control?
The 9-1-1 dispatcher will ask you questions to determine if an ambulance is needed.
Your call can be transferred to poison control.
The 9-1-1 dispatcher will monitor the call in case the patient's condition gets worse and EMS would be needed.
When should I teach my child about 9-1-1?
If a child can read numbers and dial the phone, he/she can be taught to call 9-1-1. Some children can do this at age 2 to 3 years old, others are 5 years old before they understand.
Teach them when to call 9-1-1. Children can recognize emergencies such as fire or someone unconscious. They can also be taught when law enforcement officers are needed.
Remind them 9-1-1 is for emergencies only.
Can 9-1-1 handle TDD (telephone device for the deaf) calls?
9-1-1 can be used for both TDD calls and hearing calls.
Telephone equipment immediately identifies TDD calls and the 9-1-1 dispatcher is able to go right into TDD mode.
What if the caller does not speak English?
The 9-1-1 dispatcher immediately connects the call to an interpreter.
9-1-1 dispatchers have 24-hour access to interpreters for more than 100 languages and dialects.
As soon as the 9-1-1 dispatcher determines there is an emergency, help will be sent.