Call Emergency Services

• TASK: Call emergency services in order to get assistance as quickly as possible during an emergency.
• CONDITIONS: Given an emergency that requires the assistance of the police, the fire department, or an ambulance, a phone with which to call and enough information to give the first responders the ability to deal with the situation when they arrive.
• STANDARD: You must be able to contact the emergency services operator and provide the information necessary for them to dispatch the correct first responders to handle the emergency.

The people that answer the calls made to 911 are well trained and prepared to gather the information necessary to send the proper first responders to the site of an emergency. You can count on them to ask you the questions they need answers to in order to send the right responders with the right equipment to the right place. Having some basic pieces of information ready will do a lot to help them do their job better.

By its very nature, any situation that requires a call to emergency services is going to be stressful and emotional. It’s critically important that you stay calm so that you can pass information back to the operator. If you’re panicking and crying, you’re not giving information and you’re not helping the situation. Stay calm. Speak clearly. Your ability to keep a level head is what will enable you to to the most good.

Give Your Location
The point of calling emergency services is to be able to have help arrive at your location so naturally you need to be able to tell the operator where you are at that moment.

Town or City
In a town or city, you should look for street signs, businesses, or other notable landmarks that are as close to the  scene as possible.

“I’m at the corner of 5th and Main next to the statue of Abe Lincoln.”

Highways or Country Roads
If you’re traveling on a highway or country road, you’ll need to know which road you’re on and which direction you are heading. You should also track intersections, mile markers and exits as you travel.

“I’m on I-205 North just before the I-84 off-ramp.”

Countryside
If you’re in the wilderness, you should also already have a good idea for where you are. Look for landmarks like rivers or mountains or valleys and you should be able to give an approximation for your distance and direction from that landmark.

“I’m on the north side of Larch Mountain about a quarter mile from the peak.”

Describe the Event
You need to be able to describe the situation with as much detail as is possible. Different situations have different priorities that you should keep in mind and be able to pass on to the operator.

Traffic Accident
At the scene of a traffic accident, keep track of how many and what type of vehicles are involved. Pay special attention to any injuries that people may have sustained. Also be on the lookout for any fuel leaks or hazardous cargo as this will pose a serious risk to the people involved and the first responders.

“There’s been a 3-car crash. It looks like the middle car was pretty mangled and there’s someone still inside, but the doors are jammed and won’t open.”

Active Crime
If you encounter an active crime, make sure that you’re in a safe place before calling. If you’re in a safe place, you should keep track of how many people are committing the crime, what they look like, whether they’re armed, and if there are any innocent people involved.

“There’s a robbery at Joe’s Cafe. There are two men wearing ski masks with brown T-shirts and blue jeans. They’ve got pistols and there are about a dozen people inside.”

Medical Emergency
In the case of a medical emergency, it’s important to be able to describe the person’s condition as accurately as possible and to give a timeline of the events from the moment you realized something was wrong until the point you called. If you know that the person’s medical history, be sure to mention that as well.

It’s likely that the person needing assistance is someone close to you. You’re going to be stressed and worried. At this point, the best thing you can do to help this person is to get help as quickly as possible and the best way to do that is to get as much information to the operator as quickly as you can. Stay calm.

“My dad is having trouble breathing. He’s 78 and has had two heart attacks. He’s still conscious, but is wheezing and gasping for breath.”

Stay on the Line
Once you’ve passed back your information, be ready to answer any additional questions that the operator may have for you. Don’t hang up the call unless the operator instructs you to or you’re in danger. It’s likely that the operator will ask you to stand out on the side of the street to flag down the first responders when they get to the area. The operator will be in contact with the responders and with you and will pass on any questions that the responders may need answered in order to deal with the situation.