Emergency! 9-1-1

What is the universal emergency number for all telephone services in all areas?

If you said 9-1-1, you are correct. The universal number was created as part of the 1999 Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act to improve public safety. It directed the Federal Communications Commission to make 9-1-1 the universal emergency number.

Did you know that the first 9-1-1 call was placed in Haleyville, Alabama, 31 years before passage of the act? Another Alabama connection is former Opelika Fire Chief G. A. Mitchell, who is credited in the fire service community as being a key leader in the effort. The universal emergency number is now a critical part of the nation’s emergency response and disaster preparedness system. The 9-1-1 lines are designated for emergency calls such as reporting a fire or a crime in progress or for requesting an ambulance.

How does 9-1-1 work? Calls to 9-1-1 are routed to a Public Safety Answering Point dispatcher (emergency operator) trained to route the call to local emergency medical, fire, and law enforcement agencies. The dispatcher verifies the caller’s location, determines the nature of the emergency, and decides which emergency response team should be notified.

Enhanced 9-1-1 is a capability of most traditional 9-1-1 systems. E9-1-1 automatically reports the telephone number and location of the call to the PSAP dispatcher. This allows the dispatcher to call back if the 9-1-1 call is disconnected. An E9-1-1 call also provides the dispatcher with location information for emergency services personnel.

What number do I call in nonemergency situations? Some communities in Alabama use 3-1-1 for nonemergency calls to police and other government services. Other communities use regular telephone numbers. Check your phone book to find the nonemergency number(s) used in your community.

What if I use a wireless phone? All 9-1-1 calls are transmitted to a PSAP dispatcher even if they originate from a wireless phone. However, because wireless phones are mobile, they are not associated with a fixed address. A wireless phone call may come from anywhere. The information retrieved by the automated system is usually not specific enough to pinpoint a caller’s location. Wireless service providers have until 2012 to phase in the capability to provide accurate location information to the closest PSAP.

What information should I give the dispatcher if I am using a wireless phone?

• Tell the dispatcher your location right away.
• Give the dispatcher your wireless phone number so you can be called back if you get disconnected.

Are there other tips for 9-1-1 calling?

• Learn and use the designated number in your state for non-life-threatening accidents. The designated highway emergency number for wireless callers in Alabama is *47 (*HP).
• Do not program your phone to automatically dial 9-1-1 when one button is pressed. Turn off the auto-dial 911 feature if your phone is turned on.
• Lock your keypad when you’re not using the phone.
• Create a contact in your wireless phone’s memory with the name “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) listing the phone numbers of people you want to be notified in an emergency.

Sources:  Federal Communications Commission and the Opelika Observer

More interesting information:

History of 911

Voice Over IP and 911

Who Designed and Installed the First US 911 System?

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