What is 9-1-1?

 

911 is the number most people call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. A 9-1-1 call goes out over a dedicated phone line to the 9-1-1 answering point closest to the caller, and trained personnel then send the emergency help needed.

 

What is Enhanced 9-1-1?

 

Enhanced 9-1-1 or E 9-1-1 is a system which routes an emergency call to the appropriate 9-1-1 center AND automatically displays the caller's phone number and physical address. The 9-1-1 Communications Officer will ask the caller to verify the information which appears on his or her

 computer screen.

 

What is the difference between a landline call and a cell phone call?

 

Calls for assistance from a residential or business landline will come into the E911 center with a name, call back number and a physical address. However, the Communications Officer will still verify this information to make sure it is correct and that the responding agencies needed are directed to the proper location. (Please remember when moving to contact your local telephone company and advise them of your new physical address.)

 

 When calling from a cell phone the information that shows up depends of the type of cell phone that you have and whether or not it is GPS  capable. GPS capable phones should provide an estimated physical location of the caller, but not exact. The cell phone caller's name, location, and call back number may or may not be available to the Communications Officer, therefore this information will have to be verified. When calling from a cell phone, the caller should provide landmarks, mile markers, and general location descriptors to help speed a response to your

 location.

 

When should you call 9-1-1?

 

9-1-1 is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from law enforcement, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It's better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 Communications Officer determine if you need emergency assistance.

 

If you have an emergency:

 

>Stay calm and answer all questions asked by the 911 Communications Officer, even though the Communications Officer will continue to ask questions throughout the duration of the call, REMEMBER assistance will have already been dispatced to the location you provided.

 

 >Speak loudly and clearly. Give the 911 Communications Officer your name, phone number, and the address where help is needed.

 

 >Remember to continue to answer the Communications Officers questions. Stay on the telephone as long as it's safe to do so, and don't hang up until the Communications Officer tells you to.

 

 >When placing a 9-1-1 call from a cell phone provide the Communications Officer your location immediately. Your location is vital to getting the appropriate emergency personnel to respond. Pay close attention to your surroundings and know what city or county in which you are located.

 

Do Not Call 9-1-1 for the Following:

 

>For information.

 

 >For directory assistance (call 411).

 

 >Utility Outages - water, cable, power, phone, etc.... (Call the appropriate service provider.)

 

 >When you are bored and just want to talk.

 

 >To report a crime that occurred yesterday. (Call the non-emergency number          912.437.3912)

 

Additional 9-1-1 Tips:

 

>If you do not have an emergency, but still need a police officer to come to your home or business, call the Non-Emergency number of the

 Communications Center, 912.437.3912.

 

 >If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the Communications Officer what happened so they know there is no emergency. If the Communications Officer is unable to verify that no emergency exists, law enforcement will be sent to the location of the caller.

 

 >Be sure that your 9-1-1 address can be seen easily from the street by emergency personnel. Posting your 9-1-1 address at your driveway entrance and on your home will help alleviate any confusion from responding emergency personnel.

 

 >Do not assume since your mailbox is marked that you have posted your address. Mailboxes are not always at the entrance of a driveway and usually are not marked clearly on both sides.