What is 911?
Nine-one-one is the number most people in the U.S. and some in International countries call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. In some places, you may be able to be connected with Poison Control by calling 911, but you should check with local officials in your area to make sure. A 911 call goes over dedicated networks to the appropriate 9-1-1 answering point (PSAP) for the caller's location, and trained personnel then send the emergency help needed.
What is Enhanced 911?
Enhanced 911, or E911, is a system which routes an emergency call to the appropriate 9-1-1 answering point (PSAP) for the caller's location, AND automatically displays the caller's phone number and address. The 911 call taker will typically ask the caller to verify the information, which appears on his or her computer screen. In most areas, phone number and location information is available for 9-1-1 calls made from a cellular/wireless phone.
Who pays for 911?
There are many funding mechanisms that fund 911. 911 Communication Centers can be funded by a county wide sales tax or a phone tariff. Communication Centers may also be supplemented by County General Revenue and/or Dispatch fees.
When should you use 911?
Nine-one-one is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 911. It's better to be safe and let the 911 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.
Do not call 911:
•for information
•for directory assistance
•when you're bored and just want to talk
•for paying traffic tickets
•for your pet
•as a prank
If you call 911 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn't an emergency.
What about 911 prank calls?
It's a prank call when someone calls 9-1-1 for a joke, or calls 9-1-1 and hangs up. Prank calls not only waste time and money, but can also be dangerous. If 9-1-1 lines or call takers are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency may not be able to get the help they need. In most places, it's against the law to make prank 9-1-1 calls.
How do I make a 911 call?
•In an emergency, dial 911 on your phone. It's a free call. You can use any kind of phone: push button, rotary, cellular/wireless, cordless, or pay phone. (With some pay phones, you may need coins to get a dial tone; with many wireless phones, Enhanced 911 does not yet work.)
•Stay calm and state your emergency
•Speak loudly and clearly. Give the 911 call taker your name, phone number and the address where help is needed.
•Answer the call taker's questions. Stay on the telephone if it's safe to do so, and don't hang up until the call taker tells you to.
What if a 911 caller doesn't speak English?
When necessary, a 911 call taker can add an interpreter from an outside service to the line. A non-English speaking caller may hear a short conversation in English and some clicking sounds as the interpreter is added to the line.
What if a 911 caller is Deaf, or hearing/speech impaired?
Communications centers that answer 911 calls have special text telephones for responding to 911 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 911.
•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 call taker time to connect their TTY. If necessary, press the TTY keys again. The 911 call taker should answer and type "GA" for Go Ahead.
•Tell what is needed-police, fire department, or ambulance. Give your name, phone number and the address where help is needed.
•Stay on the telephone if it is safe. Answer the call taker's questions.
If a Deaf or hearing/speech impaired caller doesn't have a TTY/TDD, the caller should call 911 and don't hang up. Not hanging up leaves the line open. With most 911 calls, the caller's address is displayed on the call taker's screen and help will be sent.
Nine-one-one is the number most people in the U.S. and some in International countries call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. In some places, you may be able to be connected with Poison Control by calling 911, but you should check with local officials in your area to make sure. A 911 call goes over dedicated networks to the appropriate 9-1-1 answering point (PSAP) for the caller's location, and trained personnel then send the emergency help needed.
What is Enhanced 911?
Enhanced 911, or E911, is a system which routes an emergency call to the appropriate 9-1-1 answering point (PSAP) for the caller's location, AND automatically displays the caller's phone number and address. The 911 call taker will typically ask the caller to verify the information, which appears on his or her computer screen. In most areas, phone number and location information is available for 9-1-1 calls made from a cellular/wireless phone.
Who pays for 911?
There are many funding mechanisms that fund 911. 911 Communication Centers can be funded by a county wide sales tax or a phone tariff. Communication Centers may also be supplemented by County General Revenue and/or Dispatch fees.
When should you use 911?
Nine-one-one is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 911. It's better to be safe and let the 911 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.
Do not call 911:
•for information
•for directory assistance
•when you're bored and just want to talk
•for paying traffic tickets
•for your pet
•as a prank
If you call 911 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn't an emergency.
What about 911 prank calls?
It's a prank call when someone calls 9-1-1 for a joke, or calls 9-1-1 and hangs up. Prank calls not only waste time and money, but can also be dangerous. If 9-1-1 lines or call takers are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency may not be able to get the help they need. In most places, it's against the law to make prank 9-1-1 calls.
How do I make a 911 call?
•In an emergency, dial 911 on your phone. It's a free call. You can use any kind of phone: push button, rotary, cellular/wireless, cordless, or pay phone. (With some pay phones, you may need coins to get a dial tone; with many wireless phones, Enhanced 911 does not yet work.)
•Stay calm and state your emergency
•Speak loudly and clearly. Give the 911 call taker your name, phone number and the address where help is needed.
•Answer the call taker's questions. Stay on the telephone if it's safe to do so, and don't hang up until the call taker tells you to.
What if a 911 caller doesn't speak English?
When necessary, a 911 call taker can add an interpreter from an outside service to the line. A non-English speaking caller may hear a short conversation in English and some clicking sounds as the interpreter is added to the line.
What if a 911 caller is Deaf, or hearing/speech impaired?
Communications centers that answer 911 calls have special text telephones for responding to 911 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 911.
•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 call taker time to connect their TTY. If necessary, press the TTY keys again. The 911 call taker should answer and type "GA" for Go Ahead.
•Tell what is needed-police, fire department, or ambulance. Give your name, phone number and the address where help is needed.
•Stay on the telephone if it is safe. Answer the call taker's questions.
If a Deaf or hearing/speech impaired caller doesn't have a TTY/TDD, the caller should call 911 and don't hang up. Not hanging up leaves the line open. With most 911 calls, the caller's address is displayed on the call taker's screen and help will be sent.