Calling 911

What is an Emergency?

An emergency is defined as: “An event or occurrence demanding immediate action; or any condition endangering or thought to be endangering life or property”

Emergency

Accidents with Injuries
Fire (or smell of smoke)
Crime in Progress
Breathing Problems
Choking/unconscious person
Poisoning
Drowning
Stabbing, shooting
Fights or displays of weapons
Other life-threatening situations

Not An Emergency

Minor accidents (no injuries)
Barking dogs
Late report of crime
Power outage during a storm
Abandoned vehicle
Loud Parties
Weather and road conditions
Keys locked in vehicle
Runaways
Legal advice

For a Non-Emergency call (304) 485-8501

Download the 911 Information Sheet

DO NOT call 9-1-1 for information, directory assistance, when you’re bored and just want to talk, for paying tickets, for your pet, as a prank.

What About 9-1-1 Prank Calls?

It’s a prank call when someone calls 9-1-1 for a joke, or calls 9-1-1 and hangs up. Prank calls not only waste time and money, but can also be dangerous. If 9-1-1 lines or Telecommunicators are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency may not be able to get the help they need. In most places, it’s against the law to make prank 9-1-1 calls.

If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, DO NOT hang up. Tell the Telecommunicator what happened so they know there is not an emergency.

Dialing Tips and Procedures

If an emergency situation arises (a crime, a fire, a serious injury or illness) ask yourself whether POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, or MEDICAL assistance is needed RIGHT NOW to protect life or property. If the answer is yes, then immediately dial 9-1-1 and tell the Telecommunicator what has happened or is happening. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It’s better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 Telecommunicator determine if you need emergency assistance.

When Dialing 911 You Should

Stay calm. Give your name, location, and nature of the emergency.
Listen carefully to the Telecommunicator for helpful information.
Answer the Telecommunicator’s questions as accurately as possible. Speak clearly and slowly.
NEVER hang up on the 9-1-1 Telecommunicator until you are told to do so.
If there’s a fire, stay low in the smoke and get out of the house. Call from a neighbor’s house or pay phone.

Ideas to Help at Home

Keep your phone at an easy to reach level, like on the coffee table.
A cordless phone offers you mobility in your home.
Write your address and telephone number in large print on or near your phone.
Make sure your address is on the FRONT of your house.
Do not program 9-1-1 into the speed dial. It can inadvertently be dialed.
TEACH your children how to use 9-1-1 for emergencies.

Hearing/Speech Impaired Callers

Communications centers that answer 9-1-1 calls have special text telephones to respond to 9-1-1 calls from deaf or hearing/speech impaired callers. If a caller uses a TTY/TDD, the caller should:

Stay calm. Place the phone receiver in the TTY, dial 9-1-1.
After the call is answered, press the TTY keys several times. This may help shorten the time necessary to respond to the call.
Give the telecommunicator time to connect their TTY. If necessary, press the TTY keys again. The 9-1-1 telecommunicator should answer and type “GA” for go ahead.
Tell the telecommunicator what the emergency is and what assistance you require; tell him or her if you need the fire department, police, or EMS. Give your name, phone number, and the address where help is needed.
Stay on the telephone if it is safe. Answer the telecommunicator’s questions.

Types of Phones You Can Use

Touch Tone
Cordless
Rotary
Cellular/Mobile
Pay Phones (No money is needed–simply press the numbers 9-1-1)
TDD/TTY (Deaf and Hearing/Speech Impaired)

Calling 911 on a Cellular Phone

If you are in your vehicle, pull off to the side of the road
Dial 9-1-1
Tell the Telecommunicator the location of the emergency and your call back cellular phone number.
Be Patient.

Ready to Call 911?

9-1-1 Telecommunicators are trained to get as much information as possible regarding 9-1-1 calls. To be ready to answer their questions, read these examples of the three most common 9-1-1 calls:

Automobile Accident
Give the Street and block number or the nearest major location.
Tell if there are injuries.
Report information such as fuel spills, possible fire danger, etc.
Suspicious Person
Give the sex, race, age of the person(s).
Give a clothing description.
Describe the suspicious activity.
Suspicious Vehicle
Get the vehicle description, color, make, model, year, and anything unusual about the vehicle. Try to tell all that you can.
Are there people in the vehicle? If so, how many? Age? Race? Sex? Clothing description?
Is the vehicle parked or moving? If it’s moving, tell the direction of travel.

What to do if you can’t speak?

Stay calm
Dial 9-1-1
Either leave the phone hanging or make some sort of noise to let the dispatcher know there is an emergency.

In an emergency, remember to…

Dial 9-1-1
Stay Calm
State which emergency service you need: Police/Sheriff, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Service
Speak Clearly
State your emergency
State your address–it’s very important to verify your address

Remember reasons to call 9-1-1 are:

Crimes in progress (this means shots fired, disturbances, suspicious persons or activities, crimes involving serious injury)
Accidents, accidents with injury
Life and Death Situations
Medical Emergencies
Someone is Injured
To Prevent a Crime
To Report a Fire

Tips for Seniors

Invest in a touch-tone phone with large, easy-to-read numbers. Put a DIAL 9-1-1 reminder next to the phone.
Keep your medical history and a list of the medications you are taking in an envelope taped to your refrigerator with your doctor’s name and phone number on it.
Do not dial “0” for help. DIAL 9-1-1