911 call rules that can save lives

In New York, during the quarantine, there were more frequent cases of shooting in the streets and attacks on the subway. The health situation is also alarming. We sincerely hope that you do not have to witness or participate in incidents that require you to call 911, but it is better to have information and not use it than not know what to do when you need to act immediately. Knowing how to make such a call can help the operator quickly direct the necessary assistance. You may be scared, but by following these rules, you will facilitate the process of calling for yourself and for the operator, says on WikiHow.

Procedure

1. Do not panic. This is easier said than done, of course. Obviously, if you call the emergency services, you are in an emergency. Your adrenaline levels are very high, which is likely to affect your speech - you may start talking too fast, too slow, or even stutter. Stay away from the epicenter of the disaster unless there are casualties.

2. Find a phone. It is better to call a landline telephone (except in cases of fire or robbery), which will allow you to determine your location. If you have a fire, do not stay in the building - you need to get outside as soon as possible.

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3. Wait if necessary. You should be aware that communication with the operator is not always established instantly. Don't hang up if you are not answered immediately. Try to think about what you will tell the dispatcher.

5. Know what they will ask you. You should have answers to such questions:

1. Where did the emergency happen? It does not always happen where you call. You must understand where you are. Try to follow the road signs, signs and intersections if you are on the road.
2. The essence of the emergency: Do you need help from law enforcement, doctors and / or firefighters? In some areas, the dispatcher or computer will ask you to type in certain numbers to help them figure out who to put you in touch with.
3. Short but detailed description: what happened? what do you know about the incident? what is most important? As a rule, you should be sure to state why you need help (for example, due to a gunshot wound), and then the reasons for this (for example, a shootout at school).
4. Your phone number. The dispatcher will need instructions on how to get to you, so he may call you again. You must know your phone number.
5. Location Give the dispatcher your name and address.

6. Listen to the dispatcher. Follow the instructions given to you. The faster you complete them, the better the chances of survival for everyone involved in this emergency. Even if it is not fatal (eg broken bones), it is very important. Trust the dispatcher unquestioningly. And remember that while he asks questions and tells you what to do, help is already coming to you.

7. Do not hang up until you are told. Anything can happen, and the emergency services need to know how the situation is. If, for example, a house is on fire, the dispatcher must know if there are people in the building and where the emergency exits are. Therefore, you must be in touch for answers to these questions.

Answers to common questions about 911

What if I need to call 911 but I can't speak?

Call, you will be contacted by a dispatcher who will try to locate your location and send someone to check your condition.

Can I find out the consequences of the car crash I replaced the 911 service with?

It’s best to call the local police station later on their phone number.

When does an ambulance come to children and adolescents?

For children aged 3 to 10 years: suffocation, burns, allergic reactions and seizures.

For children from 10 to 16 years old: allergic reactions and seizures.

What if I'm scared of calling 911?

If you really have trouble, then you need help. That's what 911 is for.

If, for example, an elderly person dials 3 several times (911 or more) because he fell and cannot get up, will there be any consequences for him?

No, if this person indicates his address and condition, the emergency service will understand the situation, as well as the fears and feelings of the elderly person.

What if a person does not speak or uses a special device to communicate?

By law, 911 dispatchers are taught to use TTY and other communication methods, and public emergency points must be equipped with TTY.

What should I do with a person who has a heart attack?

According to the rules, you must dial 911, report that you think the person has a heart attack, and follow the operator's instructions. He will help you cope with situations before the ambulance arrives and will instruct you on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (artificial respiration) if you say you know how to do it. If there is a defibrillator nearby, notify the operator for instructions on how to use it. Please note: if possible, it is better for one person to have a conversation on the phone, and the other to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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What if I accidentally dialed 911?

Tell the operator that there is no emergency, you just dialed the number by accident. In most cases, especially if you called from a mobile, this is where it ends. If you dial from a landline phone (your location is automatically determined), some services may ask the officer to check this address to make sure there is no problem.

Can I call from my mobile?

Yes. Many mobile phones have built-in GPS, where the police can find you and help you.

How does 911 know where I am, if I don’t really know where I am?

If you clearly describe your location, they will recognize it. If your phone has a GPS locator, the dispatcher can track where you are.

What should I do if I am alone / alone with a person who is ill or is injured?

In most cases, the dispatcher will be able to help you over the phone, and emergency vehicles will quickly arrive on call.

How to determine the situation, whether to call 911?

If the situation can wait, then do not rush to call the emergency service, but use the non-emergency number. If the situation is urgent, dial 911 immediately.

Useful Tips

The most important thing is to know exactly where the emergency occurred. Without this information, the dispatcher will not be able to send rescuers. Most mobile phones have built-in GPS, by which you can determine your location and inform the dispatcher about it.

911 is designed for emergencies that are definitely a threat (both incident and potential) for life, health or property. Only dial 911 when your situation calls for immediate police, ambulance or firefighter intervention. In some areas there is an alternative number - often 311. It can be used to report important situations where urgent intervention by emergency services is not needed, but the immediate attention of public security authorities is still needed. Check with your local telephone information company or local authorities if there is such a number in your area and check it out. For example, a fire in a house, a person's heart attack, or a robbery are situations for calling 911. A breakdown of a water supply system, an accident on a telephone line or power line, or the common "cat stuck in a tree" are not situations for calling 911, unless they are can lead to more urgent consequences (for example, a family member is at home on a life support apparatus, and then an electrical failure occurs; or your house is flooded from a broken water pipe).

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Teach your kids to call 911. Practice with a fake phone and make sure they understand that you can only dial 911 in an emergency!

If you witness an incident that requires an immediate emergency call, call 911. Do not hope that someone else will do it - if everyone thinks so, then most accidents will remain without rescuers. Give the dispatcher as much detail as possible about what happened, but don't put yourself at risk in trying to get closer and find out more.

If you are in a large school or company building, you may need to dial another number (for example, 911 + 9) to dial 911. In some of them, the telephone network will allow you to dial the emergency number 911 even without going to an outside line.

Respect the 911 service, but don't be afraid of it. You will communicate with a living person who is trained to help people in an emergency.