- 9-1-1 is the universal telephone number designed for emergency situations. The 9-1-1 system provides residents with a quick and efficient way to get help when they need it most. Those requiring assistance can initiate police, fire, or a medical response by simply picking up the phone and dialing 9-1-1.
- The first priority of the operator that answers your call is to find out what type of emergency you are having. To do this the operator will ask you a set of questions designed to gather the necessary information quickly. Each question asked by the operator is important and necessary to get you the help you need.
- Based on your response to each question, the 9-1-1 operator will determine what type of assistance you need and connect you with either the fire department, in the event of a fire or medical emergency, or the police department if a crime is in progress.
- Calling 9-1-1 is very easy; just pick up the phone and dial the number. Depending on the type of situation, the operator may need to ask for specific types of information. If might feel like the operator is asking too many questions but don’t be alarmed, this process will NOT delay the emergency response in any way. Instead, it will help determine the appropriate response or level of care needed to take care of your emergency. If is important to remember that help is on the way while the operator continues to gather information from you.
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Unresponsive when talked to or touched
- Drowning
- Unexplained seizures or convulsions
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
- Mental change (confusion, difficulty walking or speaking)
- Unexplained severe headache
- Sudden or intense pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Choking
- Severe burns
- Motor vehicle accident
- Trauma
- Poisoning
- Neck or back injury
- A crime is in progress
- Fire
- All work stations at the communications center are equipped with Telecommunication Devices for the Dead (TDD). These devices allow typed communication with the hearing and/or speech impaired.
- If a caller doesn’t speak English, our center has Spanish-speaking operators on-duty most of the time that can take your call. However, if there is no one available (or the caller speaks a language other than Spanish) our center has access to Language Line Services that provide 24 hrs/day over the phone interpretation of over 175 different languages. The process of getting an interpreter on the phone with the caller usually takes less than one minute.
- 9-1-1 is a FREE call from any phone including pay phones and cell phones.
- If you dial 911 by mistake, Do Not Hang Up! Remain on the line and tell the operator it was a mistake. This will avoid a callback or response from the police department.
- Do not allow your children to play with home phones or cell phones as many of them dial 911 accidentally.
- Make sure your house and/or mailbox are numbered with the correct address. Reflective numbers work best in the dark and if painted on the curb.
- If it is dark outside, turn some outside light on.
- Put away any pets living inside your home that might get int he way of the responding units.
