911

CELL PHONES and 9-1-1

Know about your cell phone and 9-1-1

Did you know that it is possible to dial 9-1-1 and not even know it?

• Cell phones kept in purses or pockets may call 9-1-1 when bumped or sat on.
• A cell phone with no service is still able to dial 9-1-1.
• Cell phones locked in “emergency mode” may call 911.

Here are some ways to avoid dialing 9-1-1 by accident:

• Do not give old cell phones to children to play with.
• Know if your cell phone has an “emergency mode” and learn to use it properly.
• Lock your keypad on your cell phone when it is not in use.

Texting to 9-1-1 will NOT work

Although wireless phones are capable of doing much more than just making phone calls, such as texting, sending photos, sending videos, and surfing the web to name a few,  the 9-1-1 system is designed to only accept voice communications at this time.  Other types of data sent over a cell phone cannot be interpreted by the system and cannot be received by a 9-1-1 call center.

Be sure your family and friends are educated on what a cell phone can and cannot do in an emergency!

Tips for 911 Calling

• Tell the emergency operator the location of the emergency right away.
• Provide the emergency operator with your wireless phone number, so if the call gets disconnected, the emergency operator can call you back.
• If your wireless phone is not “initialized” (meaning you do not have a contract for service with a wireless service provider), and your emergency call gets disconnected, you must call the emergency operator back because the operator does not have your telephone number and cannot contact you.
• Avoid programming your phone to automatically dial 911 when one button, such as the “9” key, is pressed. Unintentional wireless 911 calls, which often occur when auto-dial keys are inadvertently pressed, cause problems for emergency call centers.
• A cell phone with no service is still able to call 9-1-1!

9-1-1 for Kids

In an emergency, the best thing to do is tell someone you trust right away.  This could be your parents, a teacher, or another grown-up.  If there is no one around to help you, you should call 9-1-1 for help.

• What is 9-1-1?

9-1-1 is the telephone number you can call from any phone when you need help or you see someone else who needs help right away.

• When should you call 9-1-1?

You should only call 9-1-1 for an emergency, such as when a person is hurt or property is in danger and you need emergency help from the police, fire, or an ambulance.

Examples of when to call 9-1-1 include:

• A serious medical emergency
• Any kind of fire to a building, vehicle or brush
• Any crime in-progress, including suspicious people and fights
• Traffic accidents
• Any other life threatening situations

Examples of when NOT to call 9-1-1:

• Nuisance issues such as loud music
• Weather or road reports
• Earlier thefts
• Just to see if it works!
• Animal disturbances

The number to call for non-emergencies is 815-432-4918

• What will the 9-1-1 Operator will ask you?

After you dial 9-1-1 the dispatcher will ask you what your location is.  It is very important you know your address or where you are located when you place the call to 9-1-1 so the dispatcher can get help to you as soon as possible.  The dispatcher has special training to make sure you get the help you need.  They will ask you questions or tell you to do things that will help you and the police, firefighters, or EMT’s who are coming to the emergency.

• What if you call 9-1-1 by accident or just to see if it works?

If you accidentally call 9-1-1 you should stay on the line and explain to the dispatcher that it was a mistake.  In Iroquois County if 9-1-1 is mistakenly dialed a police officer will be sent to your home to verify there is no real problem.  This takes valuable time away from answering real emergency calls.  This is also true if you call 9-1-1 just to see if it works.  An officer will be sent to your home to verify there is no real problem, so don’t call 9-1-1 unless you have a real emergency!

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