Although some places have local emergency numbers,
911
is the most common phone number for emergency services. Emergency services provide quick response to various emergency situations. It is a network of agencies and facilities that cater to various emergencies.
An emergency refers to any situation that requires immediate assistance from emergency medical services or an ambulance, fire department, or police. Some of the emergencies that 911 respond to include: a fire, an ongoing crime, a road crash where someone is injured, and various medical emergencies that require immediate medical attention. Every day 911 hotlines from across the country receive thousands of calls. Call operators filter out many of these calls, especially if they are not an emergency.
If you are unsure whether the situation requires immediate response, it is recommended that you call 911 and let the operator determine whether emergency help is needed. In case the situation is not a true emergency, you can either be forwarded to the appropriate agency or will be advised on what to do.
When you call 911 to report an emergency, there are few things for you to remember:
- Be ready to answer the questions of the operator
- Provide information about the nature of the situation or emergency
- Notify the operator of your exact location, if possible give landmarks
- Give the phone number you are calling from
- Provide details about the emergency; for example, provide physical description of the person who may have committed a crime, description of the injury or the number of injured individuals, a description of the fire, and what actions you have taken so far.
It is important that you provide accurate information to the call-taker. This will help them in giving the right kind of help to you.
In some cases, the operator will give you instructions on what to do. Be prepared to follow these instructions. Usually, the call operators are trained emergency personnel and can give you instructions on how to provide initial first aid. For example, they can give you step-by-step instruction on how to aid someone who requires CPR or first aid or who is choking.
DO NOT hang up the phone unless you have been instructed to do so.
If ever, you dialed accidentally dialed 911 or if a child dials 911 when there is no emergency, make sure to inform the 911 officials. Hanging up the phone could prompt the 911 call-taker to send in rescue providers to you. Lastly, remember that our emergency services respond to thousands of calls every day. You do not want to waste their resources responding in non-emergency situations.