When should I
call 9-1-1?
-
Anytime An Emergency Response
Is Required By Law Enforcement, Fire Or Emergency
Medical Personnel
You should
call 9-1-1 anytime you believe there is an actual
emergency. If you are unsure, call 9-1-1 and the
dispatcher will make the final determination.
Situations
that are not 9-1-1 emergencies Please do not call 9-1-1
to report that electricity or other utilities are off;
to notify authorities of traffic jams; to inquire about
government services or to learn general information.
Remember:
If the 9-1-1 system receives multiple calls at the same
time, these calls will be handled on a priority basis
with the most serious emergencies being handled first.
Please be patient if your call is put on hold. DO NOT
HANG UP!
How will my call be handled by the 9-1-1
dispatcher?
When you call 9-1-1 to report an
emergency, the dispatcher will ask you five basic
questions . . .
-
Where is this happening?
-
When did this happen?
-
What is happening now? Why?
-
Who is involved?
-
How can we help?
Other
Information You May Need
Include
the exact location or address of the emergency and a
clear description of exactly what is happening. When
giving locations include nearby intersections,
landmarks, building name, floor, room or apartment
number, as well as directions to the address, if
possible.
Remember:
Attempt to stay calm when you are talking to a 9-1-1
dispatcher. Take a deep breath. Listen to and answer
each question. Do not hang up after dialing 9-1-1 until
the dispatcher tells you to do so (even if you did not
mean to dial 9-1-1).
What do I need
to know to give a good description?
In many 9-1-1 emergencies, the
dispatcher will ask you to describe either the people or
the vehicles involved in the emergency.
When describing an individual start at
the top of the head and work your way down.
-
What was the race and sex of the subject?
-
How tall was the subject?
-
What was the hair color?
-
What was the subject wearing? (Start from the top of
the head and go down.)
-
Did the subject have a moustache, beard, accent,
limp, glasses or anything unusual that might make
the subject stand out?
When describing a vehicle, the
dispatcher will ask for the following information:
-
Color
-
Year of vehicle
-
Make of vehicle
-
Body style
-
Additional description
-
License plate on the vehicle
If you don’t know any of the above
information, a general description of the vehicle will
help. Example: A large, dark older vehicle.
Does it make a difference if I call 9-1-1
on a cellular phone?
Yes! When you make a
9-1-1 call from your wireless/cellular phone,
dispatchers DO NOT receive the phone number and address
from where the call originated.
When you make a 9-1-1 call from a cellular phone keep in
mind that you need to know . . .
- Your cellular phone number
If
you provide your cellular phone number to the
9-1-1 dispatcher, the dispatcher will be able to
reach you in case the call is disconnected,
which often happens with cellular calls.
- A good description of your
surroundings
It
is a good idea to always know the name of the
road you are traveling on, which direction you
are headed and how many miles you are from the
nearest town or the nearest cross street.
Remember:
Many people do not have their cellular phone number
memorized. Make sure that you have the number written
down in an easy to find location before you need to call
9-1-1.
What should I teach my child about calling 9-1-1?
While many children are familiar with dialing 9-1-1 in
an emergency situation, they often do not know other
important information, such as their address or how to
reach a parent at work. Here is some of the most
important information children need to know about
calling 9-1-1:
-
Teach your children their names, their parents
names, their home address and phone number.
-
Teach your children the name of your employer and
phone number.
-
Teach your children what an emergency is and when to
call 9-1-1.
-
Teach your children how to hold the phone properly
so that they can speak clearly to the dispatcher.
-
Teach your children that it is against the law to
call 9-1-1 as a joke or prank.
-
Teach your children not to be afraid to call 9-1-1
if there is any doubt as to whether they should.
-
Teaching your children to call you at work before
calling 9-1-1 wastes valuable time. Give them
permission to call 9-1-1 if they think there is an
emergency.
What should I do in case of a fire?
- GET OUT SAFELY
Test doors before opening them. If they are warm,
use an alternate escape route. Crawl on your hands
and knees low under smoke. Keep your head 12 to 24
iches above the floor. If your clothing catches on
fire, remember STOP, DROP and ROLL.
- GET OUT AND STAY OUT
Never
go back inside a burning building. Do not try to
rescue pets or possessions.
- GET HELP
Call
9-1-1 from a different location after you have
escaped.
- REMEMBER YOUR ESCAPE PLAN
Go to
the designated meeting place and wait for the fire
department. Count heads and be prepared to advise
firefighters if anyone is trapped inside.
Remember:
Fire survival
begins long before a fire ever starts. Be sure you have
smoke detectors installed with fresh batteries. You also
need an escape plan that has been practiced and you must
react immediately at the first sign of a fire.
What should I do in case of a natural gas
leak?
- GET HELP
Contact 9-1-1 or your local fire
department if you suspect that you have a natural
gas leak in or near your home.
- STAY OUT
Do not
re-enter the premises until you are told that it is
safe to do so.
What are the
dangers of carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless,
odorless deadly gas created by home appliances,
furnances, ranges, dryers, heaters and other items that
burn fuel. Symptoms of CO poisioning include headache,
fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion and
irritability. Increased exposure can lead to vomiting,
loss of consciousness, brain damage and death. In case
of a CO alarm or suspicion of CO poisioning . . .
- GET OUT
Do not open windows or doors.
Leave them closed so that an accurate reading can be
obtained.
- GET HELP
Contact 9-1-1 or your local fire
department.
- STAY OUT
Do not
re-enter the premises until you are told that it is
safe to do so.
Can I call 9-1-1 if I use a T.D.D.?
Yes. The
Clark County 911 system is equipped with TDD/TTY
equipment. Communications professionals receive
extensive training in handling emergency situations
utilizing this special equipment.
Can someone
call 9-1-1 who does not speak English?
Yes. Clark
County 911 subscribes to the Language Line, which
provides access to interpreters who speak more than 140
languages. The Language Line maintains a 24-hour
communications center. Even when receiving a 9-1-1 call
from a non-English speaking individual, help is only
minutes away.
Will I receive medical information when I
call 9-1-1?
The
information that you receive when dialing 9-1-1 varies
depending upon your location and the type of emergency.
In all cases, dial 9-1-1 for medical emergencies that
require an ambulance.
It is recommended that you know CPR and other
life-saving techniques. Contact your local fire
department or the American Red Cross for more
information.
Should I call 9-1-1 when my utilities
stop working?
- NO
You need to
contact your individual utility companies, who provide
phone, gas, water and electric services to your home.
The 9-1-1 dispatcher CAN NOT help you when these
utilities stop working.
WRITE DOWN THESE IMPORTANT NUMBERS
-
Electric Company
-
Water Company
-
Gas Company
-
Phone Company
-
Other
These numbers can also be found on your
utility bills.
You should also write down the following
information:
VITAL
INFORMATION
-
HOME ADDRESS
-
HOME PHONE
-
NAMES OF ALL HOUSEHOLD OCCUPANTS
PERSONAL EMERGENCY CONTACTS
-
NAME
-
ADDRESS
-
PHONE
-
RELATIONSHIP
PERSONAL
INFORMATION
-
NAME
-
EMPLOYER
-
WORK ADDRESS
-
WORK PHONE
-
CELLULAR PHONE
-
PAGER
-
HEALTH INSURANCE
-
POLICY NUMBER
-
PHYSICIAN NAME
-
PHYSICIAN PHONE
-
BLOOD TYPE
SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS, ALLERGIES, MEDICATIONS OR OTHER MEDICAL
PROBLEMS OR HISTORY.
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