When to use the
9-1-1 System
and when not to...
Dial 9-1-1 only for an
emergency!
An emergency is:
- Any serious medical problem
(chest pain, seizure, bleeding,
serious wounds)
- Any type of fire
- Any life threatening situation
(fights, person with weapons,
gas leaks, etc.)
- Any crime in progress (whether
or not a life is threatened).
The 9-1-1 System is the quickest
and easiest method of reaching fire
rescue, the police department or
ambulance service in cases of
emergency. Additionally, the 9-1-1
System lets the dispatcher know
where the call is coming from
automatically.
Dial 216-621-1234 for Police
non-emergency.
Non-emergency incidents include:
- Delayed or "not in progress"
offenses
- Intoxicated persons who are not
disorderly
- Cars blocking the street or
driveway
- Non-injury auto accidents
- Minor complaints
You should not program '9-1-1'
into your telephone's speed dial.
You won't forget the number, and
programming the number invites
accidental dialing.
Never dial 9-1-1 to "test"
your phone or the 9-1-1 system. This needlessly burdens the
dispatchers and system with
non-emergency calls.
If you dialed 9-1-1 in error,
do not hang up the
telephone!!!
Instead, stay on the phone and
explain to the dispatcher that you
dialed by mistake and that you do
not have an emergency. If you hang
up, the police must be dispatched to
the caller's address. This will
needlessly take resources away from
genuine emergencies.
When the dispatcher answers,
briefly describe the type of
incident you are reporting, then
stay on the line with the
dispatcher, do not hang up until the
dispatcher tells you. In some cases,
the dispatcher will keep you on the
line while the emergency units are
responding to ask additional
questions or to obtain ongoing
information.
Let the call-taker ask you
questions. Dispatchers have been
trained to ask questions that will
prioritize the incident, locate it
and dispatch an appropriate
response. Your answers should be
brief and responsive. Remain calm
and speak clearly. If you are not in
a position to give full answers to
the call-taker (the suspect is
nearby), stay on the phone and the
dispatcher will ask you questions
that can be answered "yes" or "no."
REMEMBER: If
you're not sure it's a real
emergency, dial 9-1-1.
When in doubt - call 9-1-1.
Chief Union Steward
