Newsgram

Every year during the second full week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community are honored. This week is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. This time is used to increase public awareness about the hard work and dedication of our 9-1-1 Call Takers and Dispatchers. Their commitment to their profession is appreciated by all.

This is also a good time to review some tips for calling 9-1-1.

• When calling 9-1-1, do your best to stay calm and answer all questions. Staying calm can be one of the most difficult, yet most important, things you do when calling 9-1-1. It is very important that you stay as calm as possible and answer all the questions the 9-1-1 call taker asks. The questions 9-1-1 call takers ask are important in helping get the first responders to you as fast as possible.
• Help the 9-1-1 call taker help you. Listen and answer the questions asked. By doing this, it helps the call taker understand your situation and assist you with your emergency until the appropriate police, fire or medical units arrive.
• 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.
  • When describing a vehicle, the dispatcher will ask for color, year of vehicle, make of vehicle, body style, license plate (number and state) of the vehicle and any additional description. If you don't know any of the above information, a general description of the vehicle will help.
• Teach your children how to call 9-1-1. Be sure they know what 9-1-1 is, how to dial from your home and cell phone, and to trust the 9-1-1 call takers. Make sure your child is physically able to reach at least one phone in your home. When calling 9-1-1, your child needs to know their name, parent's name, telephone number, and most importantly their address. Tell them to answer all the call taker's questions and to stay on the phone until instructed to hang up. Experts recommend that you begin teaching your children this important information at about age three.
• If you do call 9-1-1, even by mistake, do not hang up the phone. 9-1-1 call takers are trained to get the most important information as quickly as possible to get help on the way to an emergency situation. In an emergency situation, allow the call taker to ask you all the questions they need in order to get help there in the timeliest manner before you hang up or leave the phone. If you happen to call by accident, stay on the line until you can tell the call taker that you called by accident and there is no emergency. This saves the call taker from having to call you back and confirm there is no emergency or possibly sending police with lights and sirens to check your address for an emergency.

9-1-1 telecommunicators have a tough job and face some difficult situations. Make sure to acknowledge them this week.

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